News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Portman Group hits back at Labour's public health proposals

Published: 15 January, 2015

The Portman Group has hit back at proposals from Labour on public health, which criticise voluntary industry and government partnerships.

Drinks firms need to collaborate more with suppliers to keep costs down

Published: 15 January, 2015

Ratcheting pressure on drinks firms and suppliers to become more agile and responsive to consumer demands is forcing up costs - meaning the need for collaboration between the two is more important than ever.

Daffy's Gin hopes to win over bars and spirit lovers with its unique mix of botanicals

Published: 15 January, 2015

Daffy's Gin is the latest new launch in to an already bursting category, but claims it uses a unique set of botanicals, including Lebanese mint, to make its own mark.

Wine drinkers pay over the odds as inflation rockets 3.4% in December

Published: 15 January, 2015

Inflation may have fallen to 0.5% in December, but wine drinkers haven't felt the benefit of the drop in the cost of living as inflation on wine rose 3.4% in the same period.

Alliance Wine buys Rhone to Rioja importer

Published: 15 January, 2015

Alliance Wine has bought specialist wine importer Rhone to Rioja, adding seven new Spanish agencies to its portfolio.

Quintessential Brands ramps up its marketing division

Published: 15 January, 2015

Quintessential Brands is growing its marketing division with the addition of Nick Williamson, Claire O'Grady, Sam Chandler and new roles for Sinead O'Frighil and Kate Harrison.

Tesco turns to advertising and management gurus to help rebuild brand's reputation

Published: 15 January, 2015

Tesco is bringing in organisation transformation firm Blue Rubicon and the advertising agency that Sir John Hegarty helped found, Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH), to work with the company's leadership team in an effort to help turn the struggling retailer around.

London coffee and wine bar operator Notes set for expansion

Published: 15 January, 2015

London coffee and wine bar operator Notes is to opening three outlets in 2015, and plans to continue expanding at a rate of two to three sites per year from 2016.

Pub and restaurant groups grow Christmas trading 2.8%

Published: 15 January, 2015

Pub and restaurant groups across the country enjoyed a festive trading boost of 2.8% on the same period last year, with those inside London putting in a stronger performance.

Spain's Vidrala completes Encirc purchase

Published: 14 January, 2015

Spanish bottle manufacturer Vidrala has completed its acquisition of fellow glass manufacturer, filler and logistics firm Encirc.

Waitrose bucks grocery trend for store closures with 14 new openings for 2015

Published: 14 January, 2015

Waitrose is bucking the trend of store closures and job losses in the grocery sector by opening 14 new outlets in 2015, with more in the pipeline for 2016.

France needs to do better at selling itself hears French Wines Discovery tasting

Published: 14 January, 2015

France needs to better communicate its enviable attributes, according to a Harpers trade debate held at this week's French Wines Discoveries fair in London.

Bacardi confirms new leadership team

Published: 14 January, 2015

Bacardi, the largest privately held family-owned spirits company in the world, has confirmed interim chief executive Mike Dolan will fill the role permanently and appointed Dmitry Ivanov to chief marketing officer.

Tattooed bartenders are stars of new Giffard liqueurs and spirits campaign

Published: 14 January, 2015

Eleven tattooed bartenders have been chosen to take part in a new campaign to help raise awareness of the Giffard range of liqueurs and spirits.

Sparkling wine Luc Belaire gets glow-in-the-dark label

Published: 14 January, 2015

Sovereign Brands is launching a limited edition sparkling rosé wine under its Luc Belaire label which will have a glow-in-the-dark label activated via a power button.

Treasury Wine Estates appoints Bob Spooner chief supply officer

Published: 14 January, 2015

Treasury's chief executive has appointed a former Premier Foods colleague to the role of chief supply officer at the wine firm's Australian headquarters.

Carluccio's takes on Neil Wickers as new chief executive for national Italian restaurant group

Published: 13 January, 2015

Neil Wickers is to take over as chief executive of Carluccios's the 105-strong Italian restaurant group with sites across the UK.

London on-trade groups see festive sales uplift

Published: 13 January, 2015

Restaurant group D&D London and Davy's Wine Merchants have seen solid uplifts in performance over the Christmas trading period.

Big four grocers face 'unprecedented' competition, says Kantar

Published: 13 January, 2015

Christmas sales figures are neck-in-neck across the grocery market, according to Kantar's latest data, which shows the retailers are the closest they have ever been since the market research firm began keeping records 20 years ago.

Festive figures: Grocers celebrate small victories despite minimal growth

Published: 13 January, 2015

Despite "modest growth" of 0.6% across the grocery market during the festive period, Kantar Worldpanel says this gives cause to celebrate - representing the biggest boost across the sector since August 2014.