The average price of a bottle of wine rose 3.4% in December despite UK inflation increasing by just 0.5% during the month, according to Office for National Statistics figures crunched by industry analyst Tim Wilson. UK consumers are benefiting from increased spending power as inflation increased at a lower rate than the rise in average weekly earnings. Beer and spirits drinkers are reaping the benefits,…

Bordeaux has grown wine exports to the UK by 750,000 cases in the past four years, making it one of the most recession-proof categories around. Latest off-trade figures show sales grew 14.2{7c69fd72f8e2bab9ee87ef5a2685d86c0107c79a8a610a3574925e3ec9a3ba47} in volume and 18.6{7c69fd72f8e2bab9ee87ef5a2685d86c0107c79a8a610a3574925e3ec9a3ba47} in value in the past year (IRI, 52 weeks to March 1). While the total off-trade wine market is down 3{7c69fd72f8e2bab9ee87ef5a2685d86c0107c79a8a610a3574925e3ec9a3ba47} in volume, Bordeaux is riding the crest of…

Retailers will miss out on a huge growth opportunity if they continue to leave blended Scotch whisky in the shadow of single malt, according to a leading supplier. Blended Scotch is worth £814 million to the off-trade, while malt whisky sales stand at £168 million (Nielsen, year to February 1). But Chris Shead, off-trade spirits director at Pernod Ricard, believes retailers are focusing far more…

Old Speckled Hen is returning to TV screens this month in a £2 million ad campaign featuring Henry the fox. The ads are designed to hit 12 million ABC1 men and will play out during the FA Cup semi-final on ITV along with other TV slots. Further advertising on radio, online and print titles will bolster the message. Dom South, Greene King marketing director,…

Australia’s Brown Brothers has launched a range targeted at 22 to 44-year-olds. The 18 Eighty Nine brand is kicking off with two varietal wines – Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 (rrp £12.99) and is available to independent retailers and the on-trade. The Sauvignon Blanc is the first wine in Brown Brothers’ portfolio to be sourced entirely from new vineyards in Tasmania. UK brand manager…

Representatives from more than 40 councils attended a conference hosted by Suffolk Police this week with a view to implementing a ban on “super-strength” products in their areas. At least 90 local authorities have already rolled out, or are considering, a Reducing the Strength campaign, despite warnings from the Office of Fair Trading that some could be illegal under competition law. Despite this, some authorities…

Advertising watchdogs have banned ads for Kronenbourg featuring ex-footballer Eric Cantona because they falsely implied the beer was made in France. The Advertising Standards Authority upheld two complaints claiming the press and TV ads were misleading because they suggested it was brewed in France using French hops. The press ad stated “If you find a better tasting French beer, we’ll eat our berets”, while the…