As economic pressures continue to squeeze the alcohol industry, independent retailers are being especially impacted, Miles Beale, CEO of the WSTA, said during yesterday’s opening of the London Wine Fair.  While the entire industry is affected by ever-growing tax burdens and declining consumer confidence, Beale noted that smaller merchants are particularly struggling to keep pace with the rapid rate of…

Unlike the wider wine category, rosé is growing, according to the Wine and Spirit Trade Association’s (WSTA) latest Market Report.  Bucking the trend of decline, rosé saw a 3% increase in volume sales last year and a 5% rise in value, generating £882m in sales.  According to the WSTA, these findings span all seasons of the year, showing that the…

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has described the government’s decision to keep increasing taxes as part of the economy’s “doom loop”.  In the latest statement from the WSTA, the association said that duty increases only lead to higher prices for consumers and a reduction in sales.  In turn, it continued, this drains Treasury funds and fuels inflation. As…

The board of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has announced that Caroline Thompson-Hill will be its new chair.  Thompson-Hill, who is the head of beer, wines and spirits at Marks & Spencer, will become the first chair from a multiple retailer to take up the role.  According to the WSTA, Thompson-Hill has a wealth of experience…

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has criticised the Welsh government’s ‘confusing’ proposal to create a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) that includes glass beverage containers.  The trade association said that a separate scheme from the rest of the UK, which does not include glass, would cause significant market distortions and undermine Wales’s existing kerbside recycling system.  The…

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has welcomed four new members to its executive board, bringing over 130 years’ experience in the drinks trade. This week the quartet attended their first WSTA board meeting held at the Penderyn Distillery in Swansea. Joining the WSTA top table were Brian Davis, director at London City Bond, Gillian Murray, commercial procurement director…

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has announced the full line up for its 2025 Industry Summit, featuring key figures from both the off-trade and on-trade.  The summit will contain a panel on “how geopolitical shifts are reshaping the outlook for UK wine and spirits”. Topics will include India’s recent tariff changes, President Trump’s return and the evolving UK trade…