One the UK’s most respected winemakers, Emma Rice has set up her own winemaking consultancy company to advise the burgeoning domestic UK wine industry. She will be offering advice on winery design, equipment sourcing, sensory evaluation and troubleshooting, wine style strategy and general winemaking consultancy.

An independent analysis, conducted by farm business consultants Andersons, showed the median cost of producing a kilo of British apples is now £1.26, exposing the true cost of production crisis facing UK apple growers.

Balfour Winery, a producer of award-winning English wines, has recently appointed Adam Williams as chief operations officer and Jack Merrylees from Majestic Wine as it’s new marketing & PR director, as the company prepares to double production to one million bottles a year.

English wine producer Chapel Down has launched a limited-edition sparkling wine to commemorate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, with all profits from sales to benefit the Royal British Legion.

Munckhof Fruit Tech Innovators has expanded its dealer network in the UK with a new dealer in the Southeast of the United Kingdom. From now on, Munckhof’ orchard sprayers, harvesters and box fillers can also be purchased through Seymour Engineers in Cranbrook (Kent).

WineGB, the industry body representing wine growers and producers in Britain, has signed a further three-year partnership with rural insurer NFU Mutual.

NIAB has published its first annual review summarising all the fruit related research and demonstration projects the crop research organisation is currently engaged in.

In a new Business Sustainability Challenge, Growing Kent & Medway (GKM) is making £900,000 available for innovative horticultural, plant-based food and drink businesses with ideas to enhance sustainability in the sector.

Wines of Great Britain (WineGB) has announced the resignation of its CEO Simon Thorpe MW, who has served the organisation for over two years and will now be returning to his roots as an importer and distributor.

Dr Belinda Kemp has joined the crop research organisation NIAB to lead the vine and wine research at its East Malling site in Kent.

Latest statistics from CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) show that 21 pubs a week are closing for business in the UK and face an uncertain future, with customers tightening their belts and energy bills set to hit new highs from 1st April.

Having previously worked in tractor and farm machinery sales, Ash Baldry will be bringing a wealth of experience to his appointment as sales representative at fruit and vine machinery specialists NP Seymour.