Independent wine merchants and suppliers are to discuss how well the Harpers Best Practice Guidelines are working, along with other key trading issues, at an open debate to be held in London on September 20.

The meeting marks the first anniversary of the Best Practice Guidelines that were set up following open talks and consultations on how suppliers can work most effectively with independent wine merchants.

It followed growing concerns among independents over how they were being treated, and the need for greater transparency over what wines were and were not exclusive to the independent sector.

Harpers is to bring key merchants and suppliers together on September 20 to look at how effective the guidelines are in practice in the trade, what steps individual suppliers have taken and what improvements can be made to make the guidelines even more effective.

Suppliers attending the September 20 meeting include Hatch Mansfield, PLB, World Wine Agencies, Codorníu UK, Les Caves de Pyrène, Patriarche and Mentzendorff
– all of which have signed up to the guidelines.

Merchants and suppliers interested in joining the debate to be held on the morning of September 20 at a central London venue should contact Richard Siddle.