News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Good Wine Shop opens third outlet

Published: 03 December, 2014

Independent merchant the Good Wine Shop is opening a third branch - this time in Surrey's Esher - with plans for up to two more outlets in the pipeline.

London sees boom in restaurant openings in 2014

Published: 03 December, 2014

London has seen "unprecedented" growth in net restaurant openings in the past year, as 101 venues opened up, beating the previous 2006 record of 75.

Enotria appoints Hallgarten's Helen Munday as marketing director

Published: 03 December, 2014

Hallgarten's marketing director Helen Munday is jumping ship to take up the same role at Enotria, starting in January 2015.

Northern Ireland proceeds with minimum pricing policy

Published: 03 December, 2014

The Northern Ireland Executive is pressing ahead with plans for a minimum unit price for alcohol, despite similar plans in Scotland being reviewed the European Court of Justice.

Swedish drinks monopoly Systembolaget 'not about maximising sales'

Published: 03 December, 2014

"We're in this not for maximising sales but eliminating the harmful effects of alcohol. Is this possible? I think so." These words come from Sara Norrel, head of buying at Systembolaget, the monopoly that controls drinks sales in Sweden.

Chinese importer Summergate bought by Australia's Woolworths Liquor Company

Published: 02 December, 2014

Woolworths Liquor Group has bought Summergate, one of the China's most influential wine importers, in a move that considerably strengthens the Australian retail drinks giant's position in the country.

Downward slide in fine wine prices halts, says Wine Asset Managers

Published: 02 December, 2014

The downward slide in fine wine trading has halted with flat prices for the three months since July 2014, but a change in perception has made consumers once ready to cough up £14,000 for Lafite 2008 now reluctant to part with £5,000.

Wine trade needs to wake up to online sales, warns e-commerce expert

Published: 02 December, 2014

The wine trade needs to reconcile the "inexorable shift" in wine sales online and the product's overall route to market, warns wine e-commerce expert Matthew Protti.

Scotch Whisky Association confirms Pernod chief Pierre Pringuet as new chairman

Published: 02 December, 2014

Pernod Ricard's chief executive Pierre Pringuet is the new chairman of the Scotch Whisky Association.

Tesco makes changes to senior management team

Published: 02 December, 2014

Tesco has shaken up its management team with chief executive Dave Lewis taking a hands-on role leading the day-to-day running of the UK supermarkets.

M&S own brand wines wipe the floor at first round of International Wine Competition 2015

Published: 02 December, 2014

Marks and Spencer's own brand wines cleared the decks at the first phase of the International Wine Challenge 2015, taking home 69 medals and outpacing nearest rival Tesco by 37 medals.

Australia matches France's gold medal haul at first phase of IWC 2015

Published: 02 December, 2014

Australia is celebrating a major win at the first tranche of the International Wine Challenge 2015, taking home the same number of gold medals as France and netting 203 medals in total so far.

London Wine Fair on look out for niche wine importers for its Esoterica fixture for independents

Published: 02 December, 2014

Small, independent or niche wine importers have the chance to book a place in the Esoterica feature at the London Wine Fair that has seen 80% of last year's exhibitors book again for the 2015 show.

UK on-trade gears up for bumper festive season

Published: 01 December, 2014

Bars and restaurants are heralding a bumper festive season, with bookings so far 5-10% ahead of last year.

Spanish wines fastest growing in UK bars and restaurants

Published: 01 December, 2014

Spanish wines are the fastest growing in the UK on-trade - listings are up 25% in the last year - at the expense of French wines, whose listings have fallen by 11%.

Accolade Wines going ahead with Grant Burge purchase

Published: 01 December, 2014

Accolade Wines and Barossa's Grant Burge wines have reached agreement on the acquisition of the Grant Burge brand and business, along with its Krondorf winery.

ProWein predicts biggest growth opportunities in the USA and Asia

Published: 01 December, 2014

Global wine trade show Prowein is forecasting stable world demand for wines in 2015 and sees North America and Asia as the largest markets for growth in the coming year.

Pol Roger Portfolio to distribute Kilchoman whiskies

Published: 01 December, 2014

Islay distillery Kilchoman has signed a deal with the family-run Pol Roger Champagne to distribute its range of single malt whiskies.

Guala Closures and MGJ launch screwcap closure liners with varying oxygen permeability

Published: 01 December, 2014

Guala Closures has joined forces with MGJ to develop a new range of liners for closures with different levels of oxygen permeability.

Pernod Ricard UK shakes up senior team

Published: 01 December, 2014

Pernod Ricard has promoted Simon van Moppes to the role of group on-trade director for the global business and Chris Ellis to commercial director for wines and spirits in the UK as it re-examines its market priorities.