While the debate in Scottish parliament continues regarding the contentious deposit return scheme, and whether to grant small business an additional year to comply or…
While the debate in Scottish parliament continues regarding the contentious deposit return scheme, and whether to grant small business an additional year to comply or…
The government has confirmed off-licences and shops licensed to sell alcohol have been added to its list of “essential businesses” and can remain open during the coronavirus lockdown measures. These shops, which will also include retail outlets within breweries, will join other businesses which have been allowed to remain open, such as supermarkets, pharmacies, banks and petrol stations. The Wine and Spirits Trade Association (WSTA)…
Think Spirits 2020 will now take place in September. The event, which was due to be held on April 28, has been postponed until September 15, 2020, due to ongoing fears about the coronavirus outbreak. The venue – St Mary’s Church, Marylebone, London – will remain the same, as will the ambassadors for the five sections: Think Gin, Think Rum, Think Whiskey,…
Administrators remain hopeful that they can sell a significant number of stores from the former EFB Retail empire to their preferred bidder within the next month. The owner of Oddbins, Whittalls Wines Merchants and Wine Cellar Trading fell into administration in January 2019. It blamed Brexit, economic uncertainty and poor high street sales over the Christmas period. Administrators Duff & Phelps have been trading the…
The English wine industry looks set for a bumper crop as a result of the hot summer, provided conditions remain favourable. Producers report this year’s warm and dry weather continued through all key stages of the vines’ growth, with flowering occurring about two weeks earlier than usual. As a result, the fruit formed earlier and grapes have been growing consistently. Julia…
Thanks to price rises and the move towards drinking products with a more expensive price tag, off-trade alcohol sales are steadily increasing year on year, but volumes remain relatively static. While, on the whole, British drinkers may be buying less, there are some exceptions. The volume of spirits bought, largely fuelled by gin, has increased by 3.8% compared with last…
Majestic said it has experienced challenging trading conditions in the first three months of 2014 and that like-for-like sales for the financial year will now be flat. After 2.8% growth in like-for-like sales – which do not include new store openings – over Christmas, shareholders hoped the retailer would deliver growth for the 2013-14 financial year. But with two weeks to go until the year…
