Europe Intelligence Wire articles from April 2008

Europe Intelligence Wire archives from April 2008

High street pair scoop new awards.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Tesco and Marks & Spencer have overcome tough competition to win 19 of the 31 trophies up for grabs in the inaugural Own Label Awards. All major supermarkets and high street multiples, with the exceptions of...

Jolly good show.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) The prize for best diversification at the Countryside Alliance's Rural Retailer of the Year awards went to a deli this year. And a pub. No, it wasn' a tie; they're one and the same business - the Jolly Farmers, in...

Minimum prices on off-trade's agenda.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Graham Holter Minimum pricing regulations could be introduced in the UK off-trade without breaching European law, a Labour MP has claimed. John Grogan, a fierce critic of cheap alcohol and a...

Wine still in the pink but only thanks to rosA sales.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Christine Boggis RosA is still the driving force in the UK wine market, growing at just under 30% compared to 6% for the off-trade light wine market overall, the latest Nielsen figures have revealed. ...

Davenport direct.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) In these spin-driven times it sounds surprising to say you can learn a lot about this country's politics from Number 10's official website. Forget back-slapping about the current Anglo-French love-in, the real...

Feedback.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Who foots bill for tobacco plan? I am writing to express my dismay at the latest proposal about the display of cigarettes in shops which is being considered by the government. Has anyone considered the practical...

WSTA bites back.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) I write in response to Steve Barton's letter of March 21 regarding the Budget and the totally unjust onslaught the industry is receiving from the BMA, other anti-alcohol lobbyists and certain sections of the media...

Team should be supported.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) I found the tone and content of Steve Barton's letter in the last issue of OLN both alarming and rather misguided. I feel certain Mr Barton would be hard pressed to find any informed person in the trade who would...

Can you guess how old they are?
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) A man dressed in a dark suit strolls into your shop. He's clean shaven and sports a yellow tie and ironed shirt. Looking at his face, you can tell he's fairly young - no more than 25. He might be popping in after...

The price is always right.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) On the morning of the Budget I was slowly roused to consciousness by the sound of aJohn Humphrys grumpily interviewing someone on Radio 4 . As sleep fell away, I realised that someone from the drinks industry was...

MARKET MONITOR A graphic guide to the off-trade.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Forty-five per cent of drinkers prefer to drink at home, reveals an independent survey commissioned by the Campaign for Real Ale . Of those, 27% said it was because they preferred drinking cheap supermarket alcohol....

Stocking up on vegetarian options.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Q I am gradually increasing the number of organic wines on my shelves. Are vegetarian wines still talked about these days and should I bother with them? A Vegetarian Week takes place from May 19-25, so it's a...

Wine drinkers prefer cork despite widespread acceptance of screwcaps.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Q Screwcap wines now dominate my range, but the number of wines being supplied with this form of closure seems to have plateaued. How come so many suppliers seem happy with cork, despite the consumer's acceptance of...

the forum.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Q How insistent should I be when offering samples - could I be accused, by the police, of forcing people to drink alcohol? A I am increasingly wary of this, especially as the local scallies have been known to...

France needs a united front.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) The French," General Charles de Gaulle once argued, "will only be united under the threat of danger." The great French leader was talking about physical invasion, an all too recent memory in 1951, rather than an...

Campaign aims to boost sales of PX.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Montilla producers are launching a AGBP200,000 campaign in the UK this yearAtoAboost sales of sweet Pedro XimAnez wine. The three-year Montilla PX campaign,Asupported by Andalucian trade agency Extenda, will...

Producers release Wine Week POS.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Retailers will be given the first glimpse of POS material for this year's English Wine Week at the Annual Tasting of English Wines later this month. English Wine Producers will unveil the new material and show how...

Tesco sets out to educate consumers.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Tesco is trialling new merchandising in 200 of its stores this spring to encourage customers to think more about food and wine matching. The Great With... concept sees fixturesAintroduced to the wine aisle...

Hardys promotes One Love.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Laura Clark Constellation Europe is spending AGBP12Amillion on an above-the-line ad campaign for Hardys. The investment is the biggest ever ad spend for a wine brand in the UK, Constellation claims....

Tasting table.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) La Chasse du Pape RAserve 2006 Redcurrants merge with hints of vanilla on the nose of this medium-weight wine made from a blend of four different red grapes. There is more red fruit on the palate and some sweet...

Experts predict top UK slot for France.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Laura Clark France has the potential to overtake Australia as the top-selling wine producerAin the UK, according to leading industry figures. Speakers at the France Under One Roof Thierry's breakfast...

Moreno's new role.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Moreno Wines has been appointed UK agent for Bordeaux negociant Ginestet. The move will make Moreno agent for a number of Taillan Group wines, including ChAteau Chasse-Spleen and ChAteau Haut Bages. Alex...

Wines from eight EU countries test positive for pesticides.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Residues from 24 different pesticides have been found in wines sold in the EU, an investigation by environmental groups has revealed. Tests on 40 bottles of wine from eight countries found that, on average, each...

Franchisees' anger at deliveries in 'meltdown'.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Thresher franchisees are complaining about stock shortages after the group changed its distribution and delivery arrangements. Easter sales were badly disrupted in some areas, staff have said, following teething...

Minister warns of crackdown.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Graham Holter Shops could be forced to avoid certain types of discounts and promotions to comply with licensing conditions, according to culture secretary Andy Burnham. In a statement assessing the progress...

Gaymer's goes local with its latest County Series.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Gaymer's has launched a range of county-produced ciders to tap into the trend for local produce. The Gaymer's County Series features a classic medium-dry style cider from Somerset and a medium cider from Devon. ...

Older wines given a chance.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Graham Holter Older Bordeaux and Burgundy wines which might otherwise turn to vinegar are being given a new lease of life by London wine merchant The Sampler. The Islington shop - famous for its...

HWC opts for a lateAEaster closure.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Halifax Wine Company was one of several merchants which opted for a late Easter break this year. "We choose to run our business as a family -run business, which provides many bonuses," the company told its...

John Gordons expands bar space.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Cheltenham wine merchant John Gordons has opened up its previously unused cellar to create a new bar area . The business, which was primarily a wholesaler until moving to its Montpellier Walk shop last autumn,...

Harry Horse.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) A selection of wine-themed artwork by Richard Horne, aka Harry Horse, is being made available to internet users by Peebles merchant Villeneuve Wines. "The images were done for us 25 years ago," said director Alister...

Pink drink comes of age.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Incredible as it may seem, the wine market's pink phenomenon is continuing unabated. We first noticed the increase four years ago, and in 2008 it is still snowbal ling at 30% a year. RosA wines now account...

Add variety to spice up your shelves.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) You would need to have been living in Outer Mongolia for the past five years not to know that growth in the market for rosA wine has outstripped all expectations. At first, the increased demand was attributed to the...

Stepping into spring.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Helping visitors understand the wines of Portugal, its regions, DOCs and indigenous grape varieties will be the focus of this spring's annual tasting, with an information zone manned by journalists Charles Metcalfe...

Believe it when you see it.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) There really is a groundswell," says Neville Harris, commercial manager for Stratford's Wine Agencies. "Everyone involved acknowledges the Pacific Northwest is something different, and that we can do something with...

Swedish cider aims for gap in market.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Emma Eversham Swedish cider brand Herrljunga is being re launched under the name +46 in a bid to shake up the cider category. Herrljunga and UK distributor Halewood International are investing...

S&N offers 'pub quality at home'.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Scottish & Newcastle is running an on-pack promotion across its core brands this summer, giving consumers the chance to "enjoy pub quality at home". From May multi packs of John Smith's, Foster's, Kronenbourg...

The race is on - JS decides final riders.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) John Smith's has chosen the 10 riders to compete in its People's Race at Aintree at tomorrow's Grand National. The riders for the charity race were picked from thousands of applicants to receive professional...

Bloke TV's audience attracts Cobra.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Cobra has signed a AGBP2 million one-year deal with TV channel Dave to be its prime-time sponsor. The beer brand will be the exclusive sponsor of all programmes shown between 9pm and 11.40pm seven nights a week....

European brands will shun UK.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Graham Holter aand Laura Clark Retailers of European wines are reeling from the effects of a weakening pound, which has added 10% to 15% to their importing costs in the space of a year. In May 2007, the euro was...

Bargain Booze standing firm on duty increase.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Bargain Booze has defended its stance on duty after a letter to suppliers was leaked to the press, leading to headlines claiming the company was telling suppliers they should absorb excise increases on alcohol and...

Constellation cuts Hardys sub-brands.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Constellation Europe is dropping a number of sub-brands from its Hardys wine range in a move to help shoppers trade up. The company has outlined plans to get rid of some of the Australian brand's 26 SKUs,...

Heineken to take control of last major UK brewer by May.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Heineken will take control of Scottish & Newcastle's brewing operations in the UK at the end of April, after shareholders of the last remaining major UK brewer approved a takeover this week. The AGBP7.8 billion...

Sale hands Pernod an Absolut edge.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Laura Clark Pernod Ricard has won the bidding war for Sweden's Vin & Sprit to become the new owner of Absolut vodka. The French drinks giant outbid three other rivals, Fortune Brands, Bacardi and...

Teacher's offers real 'manspace'.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Beam Global UK is spending AGBP1.5 million on a national ad campaign and on-pack promotion for Teacher's Scotch. Targeting men aged 30-plus, the push is an extension of last year's Create Your Space campaign....

Emporia takes helm of Cutty Sark.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Emporia Brands and Berry Bros & Rudd have agreed to appoint Emporia as the UK distributor for Scotch whisky brand Cutty Sark. Simon Berry, chairman of Berry Bros & Rudd, said: "Cutty Sark is unique because it...

French gin joins vodka for Gireau.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) The Gireau Corporation is introducing a French gin in the UK following the launch of a vodka last year. Both the spirits are made in France from 100% French ingredients and distilled four times. Gireau Premium...

Ministry of Sound has taste for spirits.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Ministry of Sound is rolling out a premium vodka brand in a bid to move away from "the tired connotations of eastern Europe and gimmicky flavours". Retailing for AGBP12.99, it will be available in 240 Sainsbury's...

In brief.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) l Inver House Distillers has announced a limited edition bottling of its 40 Year Old Hankey Bannister blended Scotch whisky to celebrate its 250th anniversary. Containing whiskies including Garnheath, Killyloch and...

The lady still loves Cadbury Milk Tray.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Cadbury Trebor Bassett is hoping to boost sales of Milk Tray with new packaging . The new look, which will roll out on boxes from this month, has been designed to appeal to shoppers looking for a gift. "It has...

Red Bull launches all-natural cola.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Red Bull is entering the cola market with the launch of Simply Cola - a drink made from 100% natural sources. It will be available in the UK from the end of April, with 35cl cans for the off-trade and 25cl cans...

Mars urges Britain to get playing ball.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Mars is giving away 100,000 footballs as part of its latest on-pack promotion. The Mars Balls Get Britain Playing campaign is designed to encourage the nation to get active and play more football. It will run...

Trucks to ape gorilla success.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Laura Clark Cadbury is investing AGBP17 million in a marketing campaign to follow up its Dairy Milk Gorilla ad. The sequel to the commercial, which featured a man in a gorilla suit playing drums to...

Schweppes' soft drinks for adult palate.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Schweppes is rolling out two ranges of soft drinks targeted specifically at adults. Lightly Sparkling consists of sparkling fruit-flavoured drinks in Grapefruit & Mandarin, Pomegranate & Blueberry, and Apple,...

In brief.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) l Maltesers is celebrating its sponsorship of Mamma Mia! The Movie with a major on-pack promotion. Promotional packs will offer one consumer the chance to win free holidays every year for life in an instant -win...

Are smokers a dying breed?
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) It's been a tough year for smokers, and for the tobacco retailers that serve them. Smoking was banned in enclosed public places across the UK from last July, and the weather hardly encouraged smokers to take to...

Up with the Joneses.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) T he Wye Valley, a verdant, twisting, watery divide between England and Wales, has been drawing tourists for centuries. In 1798 Wordsworth composed one of his most famous poems on the hills above the abbey at...

Legislation could mean end of road for tobacco retailers.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Emma Eversham and Christine Boggis Tobacco retailers are braced for legislation which could prove at best costly - and at worst stop them selling the product . Thousands of retailers would face...

The Face of Fitou brings human touch to Tauch.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) French cooperative Mont Tauch has unveiled a new corporate identity under the banner The Face of Fitou. The new look features Mont Tauch growers and a logo created by the word Fitou on packaging and promotional...

Independents offered training.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Skillsmart Retail has teamed up with the Retail Trust to offer 10 management training bursaries for independent retailers. The scholarships cover the AGBP1,500 cost of the Oxford Summer School, a retail training...

Campaign loses its animal magnetism.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Inter RhAne, the body representing producers and negociants in the CAtes du RhAne, is dropping the hippo and hedgehog from its ad campaign over fears they appeal to children. The two illustrated characters have...

London debut for 2006 Chianti Classico Collection.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) The Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico is bringing the Chianti Classico Collection to London for the first time. The collection, which used to be known as Anteprima, will showcase the latest 2006 vintage in a...

Top Tip.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) " For the past three years we've been creating summer party guides - a simple newsletter with everything you need to know about throwing a party in the sun. For example, which wines match to barbecue foods, what...

COMPETITION.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Off Licence News has teamed up with First Drinks Brands to offer seven readers a case of Three Barrels Rare Old French Brandy. First Drinks is looking to drive sales and awareness with new packaging and a...

In brief.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) l Maltesers is celebrating its sponsorship of Mamma Mia! The Movie with a major on-pack promotion. Promotional packs will offer one consumer the chance to win free holidays every year for life in an instant -win...

Dates for your diary.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) April 9 Annual Tasting of Portuguese Wines, Lord's Cricket Ground, London (jkmarketing.co.uk) April 15 Partnering White Wine With Food, London Wine & Spirit School, Bermondsey (courses@wset.co.uk) April 23 St...

NEW oLN CROSSWORD Number 23.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) ACROSS 1 Desired (6); 4 Plaster between tiles (5); 7 In an upside- down position (10); 8 Noisy (4); 9 Find an answer to (5); 11 Dangling earring (7); 13 Period without rain (7); 15 Painful wind suffered by babies...

Budding expectations fail to blossom.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) "I thought the prices seemed remarkably cheap for a guest house in Californian wine country," writes Lee Saged, of Hetton-le-Hole. "As a devotee of Blossom Hill I was desperate to explore the birthplace of my...

Winery on wrong side of EU over fruit liqueur bottle sizes.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Emma Eversham The EU has ordered a producer of English wines, meads and fruit liqueurs to change the size of the glass bottles it uses . Jerry Schooler, owner of Lurgashall Winery in West Sussex, said it could cost...

Adnams' off-trade move.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Adnams is looking to expand in the off-trade in the face of increasingly tough on-trade conditions. This year the company is launching four premium bottled beers a nd is planning five new Cellar & Kitchen stores...

In Brief.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Cabanne leaves AGBP4.3m estate Thierry Cabanne, who died in a car accident last year, left an estate of almost AGBP4.3 million. The founder and chairman of Thierry's Wines Services will be honoured with an award...

Trading Standards reports more fake Glen's vodka.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) More counterfeit Glen's vodka has emerged in the north west, several weeks after Trading Standards officers warned that the fake spirit had been found on sale in 29 areas across England, Wales and Scotland. The...

Newquay scheme cuts down antisocial drinking problems.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Emma Eversham Police in Newquay have seen a "significant drop" in the number of cases of antisocial drinking since joining forces with drinks retailers in the town. The Banned From One, Banned From All...

Packaging audit warns 32 brands.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Producers of 32 drinks brands have been told to make changes to their packaging or face having them banned from sale after an independent audit revealed they may be breaking the Portman Group's code of practice....

Vinovation creates canned wine range.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) A new range of wines packaged in 20cl aluminium cans has been developed by a Dutch company called Vinovation International. The wines, under the Wild Pelican brand, are sourced from Spain, South Africa and...

Sake portfolio gets an airing in the UK.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Japan's Akashi-Tai Brewery is lauching its portfolio of sakes in the UK. The family-owned producer has appointed Malcolm Cowen to handle distribution in the on and off-trades, and Tazaki Foods to cover the...

In Brief.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Scottish shops ban under-21s Three towns in Scotland have banned the sale of alcohol to under-21s as part of a six-week trial to reduce antisocial behaviour. All 11 off-licences in Armadale, West Lothian, have...

Specialists set more store by wider offer.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Graham Holter An independent study has revealed how important convenience products have become for specialist off-licences - and the loyalty customers have to the sector. But while the 2008 SOLTrack...

Jamming musicians push it for Bud.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Anheuser-Busch has this week launched two TV ads as part of its new Budweiser -True Dedication marketing campaign. The 60 and 30-second ads show a group of jamming musicians playing Salt-n-Pepa's 1988 hit Push...

Staff close ranks around Thresher open door policy.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Thresher staff and green campaigners have slammed the group's new open door policy for wasting energy. Managers have been told to keep the shop door open at all times during trading hours, but staff are having...

Davenport direct.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) The findings of HIM's SOLTrack survey provide a much needed vote of confidence for retailers. While the survey does not claim to be reflective of the entire market, it certainly offers valuable insights. In many...

Feedback.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Supermarkets will always win Minimum pricing is indeed on the off-trade agenda, as your front page story of April 4 suggests. But even if a mechanism is found to ban below-cost selling, what exactly is such a...

Parents should take blame for kids.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) W hen immersed in the political maelstrom that is the national alcohol policy debate, it is easy to believe everything you read and hear. Recently, the story has been that alcohol-related disorder blights every part...

Success breeds Absolut success.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) After stumping up AGBP4.4 billion to buy Sweden's Vin & Sprit, Pernod Ricard triumphed in the bidding war to become the owner of the prized Absolut vodka brand. The French producer fought off spirits rivals Bacardi...

Executing a brilliant idea.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) I was in London for a couple of days recently, getting a brief fix of big city life. I have some friends I habitually stay with, one of whom had been spectacularly unwell . In fact, they had a brain tumour the size...