Harpers has been bought by William Reed Business Media(WRBM) and will be merged with current title Wine & Spirit.

Completed on 14 November 2008, the deal also includes the Harpers Directory and the title’s website.

Wine & Spirit will be relaunched in the coming weeks after members of the Harpers editorial and sales teams are relocated to WRBM’s head office in West Sussex.

Andrew Reed, managing director of WRBM’s drinks division, said: “It has been a long-term ambition to add Harpers to the stable and we are delighted to have achieved this albeit 130 years down the line. The opportunity clearly lies in enhancing Harpers’ reputation as the information source for the drinks industry.”

WRBM’s existing portfolio includes Morning Advertiser, Off Licence News, The Grocer and Restaurant magazine.

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