As the first month of 2023 draws to a close, Nigel Huddleston rounds up recent findings from both ecommerce and bricks and mortar retailers The pandemic brought a boom in online retailing, but the increased competition in digital and general pressures on consumer spending mean that specialist wine websites are now finding things as tough as businesses in the physical world.  Naked Wines changed…

In the 10 years since Dry January began, drinking habits have become more diverse and there’s no longer a simple polarisation between teetotallers and drinkers. Low and no-alcohol drinks aren’t just for the sober, and consuming moderately is front of mind for many people. Does tapping into this new complexity bring a mass-market opportunity or is low/no still a niche category?  Hayley Spencer, account…

With Christmas 2022 being characterised by inflation and the cost of living crisis, the usually lucrative festive season looked uncertain for drinks retailers.  However, NielsenIQ found that, with aid from the World Cup opportunity and Christmas promotions, beer, wine and spirits sales in supermarkets grew by 0.1% compared to December 2021. Christmas week alone saw an 11.6% increase in BWS sales compared to the…

While many central and eastern European and eastern Mediterranean countries have been making wine for aeons, their indigenous grape varieties don’t roll off the tongue for UK consumers, finds Lucy Britner From Georgia’s Saperavi to Romania’s Feteasca Regala and Lebanon’s Obeideh, there are a lot of grapes to wrap your mouth around in those parts of the world.  But the consumer Venn diagram of experimentation,…

Think Rum is a convergence of enthusiasm from some, a desire to learn from others, and everything in between, finds Think Rum ambassador Peter Holland With every passing year since I left my previous world (outside the industry) it becomes a little harder to retain the viewpoint of the customer – the person buying a drink at the bar or a bottle from a…

As retailers gear up for an influx of consumers in search of gifts, Rachel Badham explores how the drinks industry is giving gifting a refresh With 2022 marking the first Christmas free from Covid-related restrictions, it seems probable that decadent seasonal celebrations and gifting galore will be back on the consumer agenda.  However, as the cost of living crisis puts a dampener on the…

The days of heady growth for gin are over, forcing producers to take a more focused approach, says Felicity Carter Sales of gin have passed their peak and become more sluggish, according to some in the industry. But the more difficult trading environment is driving many to sharpen their focus on quality.  “Most medium-sized distillers are flat on last year, and struggling to stay…