Entries for the International Cider Challenge (ICC) 2023 will close on March 3. With the aim of platforming the cider industry, the competition is open to cider producers from any part of the world.  Ciders entered into the tasting categories will be blind tasted by a panel of independent judges, while those entered into the design and packaging awards will be judged against a set…

A new report produced for the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has said pubs and breweries will face major losses and closures if the government’s energy bill relief scheme is not extended beyond March 31. The report, by Frontier Economics, found that energy bills returning to their regular rate post-March would put pubs and brewers at a loss of 20% on average. The report…

The British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA) has predicted a return to form for Mother’s Day-related trading, as restrictions are no longer in place. The head of BIRA said today that he expects Mother’s Day, which falls on March 27, to be the “strongest trading period of the year so far” as shoppers make the most of returning to the high street. “For the first time…

Treasury Wine Estates’ wine brand, Wolf Blass, is due to launch a new campaign in collaboration with travel deals company, Secret Escapes. Titled ‘Why Settle When You Can Soar’, the campaign will begin in March, with the brand running a variety of in-store and digital events.  Around 900,000 bottles in the UK will be tagged with prize-winning QR codes, offering consumers the chance to…

The Drinks Retailing Awards will now take place on March 22, as the team works to ensure a safe live event. Drinks Retailing owner Agile Media said today that the awards will be pushed back from February 1 to the new date, in order to allow guests the chance to get their booster jab. The decision is in response to rising cases of the Omicron…

The Specialist Importers Trade Tasting (SITT) will take place in London and Manchester this spring. The event, which is entering its 17th year, will take place in London on February 28 and Manchester on March 2. SITT brings together independent buyers from the on- and off-trade with specialist importers.  The tasting also features a masterclass schedule as well as a ‘Spotlight On’ theme, which this…

Wildjac Distillery’s founders didn’t choose the best time to start their new business, but now they are thriving. Sonya Hook finds out more: With the benefit of hindsight, March 2020 was not the best time to open a new distillery. But the delays caused by Covid-19 also provided more time to explore how to make the business as sustainable as possible, according to Wildjac Distillery…