Europe Intelligence Wire articles from January 2008

Europe Intelligence Wire archives from January 2008

Price hikes hit retailers.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Rebecca Evans Independent retailers are likely to be the hardest hit by drinks suppliers' above-inflation price hikes this year. Many suppliers - facing spiralling costs in raw materials and...

December delivers Christmas present to high street traders.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Rebecca Evans Retailers reported encouraging sales growth over Christmas , with December making up for a flatter November. Wine Cellar's general trading manager, Steve Parker, said : "The actual...

Australian wine oversupply a problem.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Oversupply of cheap Australian wine continues to affect the UK market adversely, according to drinks giant Constellation Brands. President and chief executive Rob Sands said in a statement issued around the...

In Brief.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Chianti profile raising Thirty-four independent wine merchants have signed up to Chianti tasting on Jan 26 -27 to help increase awareness of the Tuscan wine region. The Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico's Black...

Orbital Wines administrator optimistic of early deal.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Graham Holter & Laura Clark Administrators for collapsed wine supplier Orbital Wines expect to reach a deal with a buyer by early next week. Paul Corlett, senior manager at administrator Menzies,...

VOX SHOP.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) " How to deal with the various price increases . There seem to be rumours of significant increases in Pinot Grigio and Australian prices. And we have to contend with what is going on in this country with duty. It's...

Another blow for Sainsbury's drinks team as Hirshfeld quits.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Graham Holter Abigail Hirshfeld is the latest buyer to leave the Sainsbury's team after being recruited for an international role at former employer Direct Wines. Hirshfeld, who had established a...

Grolsch barges into C4.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Coors has signed a AGBP3 million deal with Channel 4 for Grolsch to sponsor its prime-time comedy shows. The lager will run break bumpers on Channel 4 and E4 shows on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights,...

Wine Cellar report shows sales losses.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Wine Cellar lost AGBP9.5 million in sales during the year to last January and its pre-tax losses deepened. The drinks retailer's accounts show turnover dropped to AGBP61.1 million in the year to Jan 28 2007,...

Tories call for halt to continuing alcohol regulation.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) The Conservatives have urged the government not to impose any further alcohol legislation. Speaking to BBC Radio 4 in a discussion about alcohol licensing, health spokesman Andrew Lansley said the government...

Immediate approach to tests.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Laura Clark Scottish retailers will be told immediately whether they have passed or failed a test purchase as the scheme is rolled out across the country. It will be down to police to give the news...

In Brief.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Top job for Riley Beam Global UK has appointed former Diageo sales manager Mark Riley sales director. Riley joins the company from Yoplait, where he was grocery sales controller. Paul Elliott, who has been acting...

Like China in your hands.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Chinese brewer Tsingtao has appointed Halewood International sole UK distributor, replacing distribution deals with Westmill Foods and Global Brands. The brewer plan s to drive sales as interest in Chinese...

Gadsby quits top sales job after 15 years with Oddbins.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Oddbins is searching for a new sales director following Andy Gadsby's resignation. Gadsby announced his departure the week before Christmas after 15 years with the specialist retailer , saying he couldn' face...

UK escapes EU vineyard restrictions.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) UK wine producers have welcomed news that the extension to the EU-wide planting ban will not apply to the m. The permanent exclusion of the UK from restrictions on vineyard planting and the disposal of surplus...

New Year resolutions make responsible retailing priority.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Emma Eversham Spar Scotland owner CJ Lang is to introduce a Challenge 25 policy from March 1 to make it easier for staff to prevent under-age sales. The move follows an initiative which saw senior...

Apprentices - you're hired.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Liberty Wines has made its first two appointments under its innovative apprenticeship scheme. Michelle Lawlor and Nicola Cornelius were selected from more than 50 applicants to undertake the intensive 22-month...

Hennings picked out as Rioja ruler.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Sussex-based wine merchant Hennings has been named the Rioja Independent Retailer of the Year, winning two of its team an all-expenses paid trip to Spain. Judges Tom Perry, of the Rioja Wine Exporters Group,...

In Brief.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Durham leads sales Buckingham Vintners has appointed Craig Durham sales director. Durham, who has been with the company for four years, will lead a four-strong team of national account managers while maintaining...

Facebook-style website warns teens about drinking dangers.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Laura Clark The Drinkaware Trust has launched a website designed by teenagers to educate their peers about the dangers of drinking. Truthaboutbooze.com uses a style similar to social networking sites...

Carbon initiative plants more trees.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Myliko Wines has signed up to a carbon offsetting initiative. The importer's wine-producing partners have agreed to plant trees on their land to go towards offsetting emissions created by transporting wines to...

Berry appointed charity chairman.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Drinks trade charity The Benevolent has appointed Berry Bros & Rudd chairman Simon Berry as its chairman for 2008. Benevolent chief executive Cheng Loo said Berry "has a great wealth of knowledge and expertise...

In Brief.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Christmas Day raid Thieves in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, stashed stolen cigarettes, tobacco and lighter fuel in a wheelie bin after raiding an off-licence on Christmas Day. The burglars forced open the back door of...

Shape up to survive in 2008.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Price hikes, duty fears, supplier-retailer tensions and concerns about economic slowdown - it must be the start of a new year. The trade faces some real challenges in 2008, both economic and regulatory. Even robust...

Thoughts on a possible merger.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Are Threshers and Oddbins to merge? It is still being denied, but what might be the implications from a shopper's perspective? Oddbins attracts a slightly younger customer profile than Threshers (28 per cent are...

Demise of Orbital Wines leaves industry searching for answers.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) The collapse of Orbital Wines leaves the trade a sadder, perhaps wiser, place. The Stormhoek and Camden Park business enlivened the industry with its quirky marketing and enthusiastic people determined to break the...

MARKET MONITOR A graphic guide to the off-trade.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Champagne house MoAt & Chandon tops the list of sparkling wine brand awareness among regular UK wine drinkers. According to new research conducted by Wine Intelligence, eight in 10 wine drinkers are aware of the...

Season's bleatings.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) OK, look, I know it's very unjournalistic, but I have to admit that I'm filing this copy late. I'm not proud, but the truth is that the last two weeks of December were, to use a slightly inappropriate word, carnage....

New year = new issues for the industry.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Prime Minister Gordon Brown has recently softened his tone on 24-hour drinking, backpedalling on previous hints that the Licensing Act was to be reviewed, according to national newspaper reports. Don' be fooled...

Home truths don' hurt when it comes to mail order selling.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Q Can you tell me if you need to get a licence - or have the one you currently have extended - to sell alcohol online for home delivery? A Selling alcohol by mail order - either via the internet, or in a more...

You're safer in retail than in school.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Q How dangerous is retail work compared with other sectors? A According to the Health & Safety Executive there were six fatalities in the retail and wholesale trade in 2006-2007 - 10 fewer than were recorded in the...

the forum.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Q Why do so many customers refer to a "crate" rather than a "case" of wine? Is there a technical difference between the two terms? A Whenever I'm asked for a crate, I produce a dirty wooden box with dangerous...

Careless whispers from Oz?
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) What's the fastest way to get your product de-listed by Tesco? Short of doubling your price or telling the UK's biggest wine retailer that you never want to see your brand on promotion, accusing Dan Jago, the...

The trouble with travelling when wine is involved.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Isn' it time someone did something about the ludicrous airport security regulation governing wine? My question is prompted by the recent tale of an absent-minded Foster's regional manager who had to destroy two...

Strike up the bland.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) It is the wine we love to hate . It is the grape most often derided in wine circles and it is gaining ground Aeverywhere from Central Otago to the Languedoc, from Hawkes Bay to Sicily: Pinot Gris. Held captive to...

Make the most of your tasting day.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) More than 150 New Zealand producers will be showing some 650 wines at the annual trade tasting, now in its 27th year. This year the London tasting will be limited to one day and there will be themed "walk-through"...

Everything under control?
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) You'd have to be living on Mars to be unaware of the fact that alcohol - and its consumption - has become big news of late. Even wine drinkers - who like to feel that there's a world of difference between their...

Brews tune in to female palate.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Christine Boggis A real ale targeted at women is to be released in bottles in time for spring. Harry's Beer is the brainchild of teenage entrepreneur Harriet Easton, who teamed up with Shropshire's...

Beer in brief.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) l Scottish & Newcastle UK's off-trade sales manager, Mark Gerken, is expected back at work this week after an operation. Customer marketing director David Goadby took over the role while Gerken recovered. l OLN...

Fuller's website getsAmakeover.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) London brewer Fuller's has redesigned its website - fullers.co.uk. The site now includes an in-depth guide to all Fuller's beers, including where to find leading brands, as well as sections for the media and...

Wadworth brewery welcomes visitors.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Wiltshire's Wadworth brewery has opened a new visitor centre in Devizes. The 6X, Horizon and Bishop's Tipple brewer invested more than AGBP500,000 and spent eight months setting up the centre, which includes...

Beer launch will celebrate brewery.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Suffolk brewer Adnams has launched a beer to celebrate the completion of its new brewery and its moves to cut its impact on the environment. Innovation comes in a single gift-packed bottle and an eight-bottle...

Whiskey celebrates its licence to distill.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Laura Clark Diageo has extended its Bushmills Irish whiskey portfolio to coincide with the brand's first global ad campaign. A special -edition blended Bushmills 1608 has been released to celebrate...

New Year gong for Edrington's boss.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Edrington Group chairman Ian Good has been awarded a knighthood in the Queen's New Year's Honours list. Good, who joined the company in 1969 and the board in 1979, was honoured for his services to industry in...

New law seeks to protect Scotch.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Scotch whisky is to be protected against counterfeiting and other misleading practices thanks to a new law currently under consultation. D EFRA is asking trade bodies, distillers and distributors for their...

Old Tom could be the 'missing link'.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Hayman Distillers has launched a gin it says is the missing link between genever, or Dutch-style sweet gin, and London dry gin. Old Tom was developed by company chairman Christopher Hayman, whose great...

Tyrrells branches into spirit production.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Crisps producer Tyrrells is expecting to have its first bottles of vodka ready by April after it was given the go-ahead to build a distillery on its Herefordshire farm. Councillors granted the company planning...

In brief.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) l Ian Macleod Distillers has launched a miniature tasting kit containing six 5clAbottles. The Macleod's Scotch Whisky Trail contains a selection of 8 Year Old single malts from the Lowlands, Speyside, Highlands,...

UB goes snack to the future.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) United Biscuits is spending more than AGBP10 million on product launches and ad campaigns for its core snack brands. KP Nuts will be extended with a three-strong premium sub-brand called Baked & Seasoned in Thai...

Kick off 2008 with a youth player buy.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Coca-Cola Enterprises' latest on-pack promotion offers football fans the chance to win AGBP25,000 for their club to buy a top youth player. Running for eight weeks from tomorrow (Jan 12), the giveaway will...

Cool customers' premiumisation.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Ice cream manufacturer R&R has added Thornton s luxury ice -cream sticks to its portfolio. On shelves from February, the range is available in two flavours - Toffee Temptation and Chocolate Trio. Senior...

In brief.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) l Northern Ir eland crisp maker Tayto has acquired Sirhowy Valley Foods, which manufactures hand-cooked crisps and vegetable chips at Newport in Gwent under the Real Crisps brand. Tayto said the deal, which will...

Makeover makes most of store.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Last year Keswick-based convenience store and beer specialist Open All Hours won a design consultation with strategic branding and creative design company WPA Pinfold in an OLN competition. Myles Pinfold,...

Spitfire backs national heroes with charity pack profits.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Kent brewer Shepherd Neame has launched a limited-edition charity version of its Spitfire ale. All brewing profits from the 24x25cl packs sold in Majestic, Booths, Nisa Today's and Makro will be donated to the...

England expects Bombardier beer.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Wells & Young's has launched a poster campaign for Bombardier as part of a AGBP4Amillion ad spend on the brand. The It's Like... campaign features on 2,000 six-sheet poster sites around England and carries...

Husky provides incentives to buy ice cold for match.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Fridge manufacturer Husky has revamped its website and is offering display chiller customers a free street shouter to promote cold beer ahead of the Six Nations rugby tournament. Husky's new-look website -...

Tsingtao well placed on sales as China syndrome gears up.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Christine Boggis Chinese brewer Tsingtao has appointed Halewood International as its sole UKAdistributor, replacing distribution deals with Westmill Foods and Global Brands. The brewer is planning...

Theakstons raises cash for charity in minature cask auction.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Yorkshire brewer Theakstons has raised AGBP650 for a hospice in a radio charity auction. Executive director Simon Theakston offered one of Theakston's limited-edition minature casks for auction, plus a meal for...

Top Tip.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) "If you're strapped for cash after a big splurge at Christmas but want to give your shop a bit of a renovation, check out freecycle.org/groups/unitedkingdom . It's a site I stumbled across on New Year's Day when I...

COMPETITION.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Win a case of Roaring Meg Nicknamed the Big Blonde, Roaring Meg is a premium strength, cool-filtered golden beer with a citrus honey aroma and a dry finish. Roaring Meg is handcrafted by one of the UK's few...

You ain' heard nothing yet.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) It's four years since the Californian wine film Sideways came out, and Merlot sales still haven' quite recovered from their lambasting by lead character Miles, played by Paul Giamatti. With 2008 looking like the...

TALKING HEADS.
January 11, 2008... (From Off Licence News) It's our round - what are you having? A bottle of Dom PArignon 1966 please.AIt might set you back a grand though. What do you wish you had known when you started out as a retailer? Next week's Lottery numbers....

And this year's winners are ...
January 24, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Laura Clark The finalists in this year's Drinks Retailing Awards have been revealed following a rigorous judging process. The winners will be unveiled in front of a packed ballroom at London's Dorchester...

Hurtado named personality of the year.
January 24, 2008... (From Off Licence News) The winners of Wines of Chile UK's innovation awards have been named. Concha & Toro's Maycas del LimarA was judged as the most innovatively packaged brand, with labelling reflecting the "freshness and luminosity of...

Philglas launches Aussie own-label.
January 24, 2008... (From Off Licence News) London wine merchant Philglas & Swiggot has created an own-label Australian wine, Rogers & Petersen, as an example of the style of wines it would like to see more of from Down Under. The range will initially consist...

Yapp matches food and wine online.
January 24, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Wiltshire-based wine merchant Yapp Brothers is making it easy for customers to ensure they drink the most suitable wines with their meals - by launching a web-based food and wine matching facility. aSince Jan 17,...

In Brief.
January 24, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Teen efforts go to the mat Hard-hitting messages printed on beer mats are being used to tackle under-age drinking in Lancashire. Slogans include "Had one too many?", "Avoid mixing different drinks" and "Love a...

Hen displays artistic talents.
January 25, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Christine Boggis Greene King's Old Speckled Hen is setting its sights on premium lager drinkers with its biggest ever ad campaign. The AGBP1.5 million campaign positions OSH as "the not so...

Vin de Pays competition helps strengthen trade.
January 25, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Past trophy winners in OLN's Top 100 Vins de Pays competition have told how their win helped them strengthen ties and grow sales in the UK off-trade. "After our win we changed the labelling on our vins de pays...

Modern Rioja shows off its new look.
January 25, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Rioja is aiming for a more contemporary image with a new brand identity, which producers say reflects the modernity and innovation of the region. The Consejo Regulador de la DenominaciAn de Origen Calificada...

First Cape ready for rugby sponsorship.
January 25, 2008... (From Off Licence News) South African wine brand First Cape is sponsoring the British and Irish Lions' rugby tour to South Africa in 2009. The brand, which is owned by Brand Phoenix, is the team's first official wine sponsor in the...

In Brief.
January 25, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Darling lobbied The British Retail Consortium has called on Chancellor Alistair Darling to take action against mounting cost threats to UK retailers. It has proposed measures including rewarding retailers for good...

Gloomy duty hike looms in Budget.
January 25, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Rebecca Evans The drinks trade can expect a tough Budget this year, the Treasury has warned. Officials from the Consumption, Analysis & Sectors team delivered that stark message to the Wine & Spirit...

Signs of change at Oddbins.
January 25, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Oddbins is thought to have split its estate into three, according to size and location, sources have told OLN. The strands are thought to be high street, city stores with car parking and convenience -oriented...

Fasten your seatbelts ...
January 25, 2008... (From Off Licence News) The Treasury has delivered its starkest warning yet to the trade that it should expect duty to rise sharply in March, confirming fears senior industry figures have shared with OLN over the past few months. Duty...

Wine writers should do less listing and more campaigning.
January 25, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Might I be allowed to suggest that the wine trade and its customers may be better served if many of our illustrious wine writers gave up producing lists of wine and concentrated on some pungent criticism. I know...

Positive thinking.
January 25, 2008... (From Off Licence News) I'd like to say how refreshing it was to read a positive review of Christmas sales from Zak Avery in the last edition of OLN. Like Zak, we had a pretty manic Christmas at our shop. Yes it was slow coming, but it did...

Good news for Scotland.
January 25, 2008... (From Off Licence News) It's lucky for Scottish retailers that they will find out immediately whether they've passed or failed a test purchase (OLN, Jan 11). I've recently retired from retail after more than 20 years in the trade, and...

Great Gadsby was right to walk.
January 25, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Oddbins rocked by senior departure" is a headline worth keeping on standby, since it seems to be required so regularly. Andy Gadsby, the widely respected sales director, is the latest person to wave goodbye to...

Not so h-optimistic.
January 25, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Truly, January is the longest month. After the manic burst of trade at the end of the year, the doldrums of January seem more soporific than ever. But what to do? It's not as though we'tre about to indulge in some...

Cheap is not always that cheerful.
January 25, 2008... (From Off Licence News) They say Champagne is a good indicator of the wider state of the economy. It does well in boom time before being discounted to hell when the bust arrives and sales drop.aIf that's the case, then recent bizarre...

Are you too in with the in crowd? And how peas figure.
January 25, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Q I'tve just done an audit of my wine range and found that 74 per cent of what is on my shelves is New World. I'tm curious to know if that's broadly in line with the market or, as I suspect, I'tm Aunder-trading on...

the forum.
January 25, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Q Why do so many customers refer to a "crate" rather than a "case" of wine? Is there a technical difference between the two terms?aaA I was always taught beer comes in crates and wine in cases. But a more important...

How to handle dodgy ID cards.
January 25, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Q Our shop is plagued by teenagers proffering fake ID cards they have bought on the internet. Should we simply turn the m away, or should staff actually seize the cards?aA It is one of those dilemmas that depends so...