Retailers across the UK are being urged to get their entries in for the 2024 Drinks Retailing Awards (DRAs). The deadline for entries is next Friday, August 4. Independent and smaller scale retailers, including those that operate independently of a parent company, can enter a number of categories, free of charge. Those shortlisted will receive an invitation to the awards at London’s Dorchester Hotel on…

The drinks industry has praised watchdog Ofgem’s latest review for highlighting recent behaviour of energy suppliers, which has left some businesses unable to secure contracts. Based on information collected from Ofgem’s stakeholders, the non-domestic market review found that at certain points throughout 2022, the majority of suppliers did not offer fixed term contracts to businesses, with some ceasing to offer any contracts for…

The owners of drinks shop and deli Grape to Grain have announced the closure of the Ramsbottom venue. In a post on Instagram, the hybrid retailer said: “After five years we have finally been forced to pull the plug on our Ramsbottom branch of Grape to Grain. The usual combination of rising costs and dwindling sales in a faltering Rammy market mean we simply cannot…

A round-up of upcoming trade events WineGB Trade & Press Tasting September 5 Battersea Arts Centre, London This year’s tasting will highlight a variety of wines now made in the UK including still wines from the 2022 vintage, 2018 sparkling wines and Pet Nat wines. This event will also be the first…

Virgin Wines UK has said performance for the year to June 30 is in line with expectations. The ecommerce wine retailer said in its FY23 trading update today that total sales for the year reached £59 million, with adjusted profit before tax “no less than £0.5 million” for the period. The latest figures represent a dip in performance for the company, with FY22 overall group…

The Wine Society has released four of its most popular wines in recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) bottles. The latest trial, which includes The Society’s White Burgundy, follows the publication of its Alternative Packaging for Wine report in May. The retailer said plastic bottles are considerably lighter than glass bottles, weighing 63g compared to an average of 460g for glass, “resulting in a lower-carbon footprint,…

In our annual sustainability issue, we’re taking a deep dive into the latest industry initiatives as drinks producers and retailers alike look to put the planet first.  As sustainable packaging becomes a priority for many brands, Christine Boggis explores the impact of recycled plastic wine bottles on ocean pollution (pages 19 – 22). Turning to sustainability credentials, Lucy Britner investigates why some drinks…