Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Liberty Wines announces leadership reshuffle

Published: 17 December, 2021

Liberty Wines is making some significant change to its core team, including David Gleave MW stepping down as the company’s MD.

Caroline Thompson-Hill becomes Accolade’s European MD

Published: 01 July, 2020

Accolade Wines has unveiled a reshuffle of its top people in Europe – the company’s biggest market.

McKeon parts with Accolade

Published: 04 May, 2020

Accolade Wines has confirmed that Ade McKeon, the company’s regional MD for Europe, will be leaving the company.

New MD for Weavers of Nottingham

Published: 29 January, 2020

Midlands-based wine merchants Weavers of Nottingham has appointed Philip Trease as its new MD.

New MD steps up at Lanson UK ahead of major brand overhaul

Published: 16 January, 2020

Robert Rand has been appointed as The House of Lanson’s new UK managing director as the company prepares to unveil several far reaching changes to its range.

Festive sales boost British on-trade

Published: 15 January, 2020

The festive season brought cheer for Brtiain’s on-trade, with like-for-like sales up 2.5% on the same six-week period in 2018, according to data from the Coffer Peach Business Tracker.

Birse-Stewart joins Berkmann’s Scottish team

Published: 30 October, 2019

Distributor Berkmann Wine Cellars has appointed Billy Birse-Stewart as consultant director.

Ed Baker, managing director, Kingsland Drinks

Published: 18 October, 2019

A refreshed Kingsland Drinks is investing heavily in new formats and product-bottling lines to turbo-charge its bespoke drinks service. Jo Gilbert catches up with its new managing director

Majestic Wine announces first post-sale tasting

Published: 25 September, 2019

Majestic Wine has revealed details of its first tasting event since its acquisition by US private equity firm Fortress for £95 million early last month.

Australian Wine Research Institute in global hunt for new boss

Published: 20 September, 2019

The Adelaide-based Australian Wine Research Institute is looking for new managing director to replace Dan Johnson, who is leaving the organisation.

New MD for Louis Latour Chablis vineyards

Published: 22 August, 2019

Paul Espitalié has been appointed managing director of Chablis vineyard Simonnet-Febvre, owned by Maison Louis Latour.

AXA Millésimes buys top estate in Portugal

Published: 22 August, 2019

AXA Millésimes has acquired the Quinta do Passadouro winery in Portugal for an undisclosed sum, the company has announced.

Major shift-around as Kingsland Drinks re-thinks senior leadership team

Published: 16 August, 2019

Manchester-based bottler Kingsland Drinks has announced high-level executive changes to devote greater focus on its “strategic development and business direction”.

Benchmark in global push on back of new funding

Published: 15 August, 2019

London-based Benchmark Drinks has won new finance to fund international expansion.

On-trade is moving with the times, say suppliers, as Jamie’s and other well-known faces disappear from the high street

Published: 07 June, 2019

The tired, middle of the road, mid-market section of the on-trade is falling away to make way for new, more innovative concepts, suppliers have told Harpers.

The Naked Gun

Published: 11 April, 2019

The Majestic brand has taken a bullet and is soon to be haemorrhaging stores, handing an opportunity to independents to fill the gap. Jo Gilbert reports

Independents prepare to fill the gap left by Majestic

Published: 11 April, 2019

The Majestic brand has taken a bullet and is soon to be haemorrhaging stores – prompting businesses to reconsider their position on the high street.

Bancroft picks up Brokenwood from Negociants UK

Published: 26 July, 2018

Bancroft Wines has picked up the distribution of quality Australian wine estate Brokenwood Wines following the merger of Negociants UK into parent company, Fells.

Liberty Wines bolsters NZ with Marlborough addition

Published: 04 January, 2018

Liberty Wines is bolstering its already strong New Zealand collection in order to keep in step with the continued popularity of Marlborough sauvignon blanc.