Sales of beer, wine and spirits in supermarkets have dropped over the past four weeks, as consumers rein in post-Christmas spending. Figures released by NielsenIQ for the four weeks to January 28 show a -4.7% dip in value sales for BWS, while volumes are down -8.5%. Overall, Total Till grocery sales rose +7.6%, owing to food price inflation. Volume sales in the four weeks were…

In th­e first of a new technology-focused series, Drinks Retailing takes a closer look at ecommerce. Four-strong London operator The Good Wine Shop is ramping up online sales, while newcomer Mother Vine in Chelsea has recently launched its ecommerce service. Here, the operators share their experiences and expertise. Mark Wrigglesworth, owner of The Good Wine Shop, has been reaping the rewards of ongoing investment in…

A new initiative has been launched to support the global group of winemakers and viticulturists engaged with the world’s oldest vines. The Old Vine Conference in March is the first in a series which will take place throughout 2021, bringing industry professionals together to share knowledge, build alliances and develop new tools to preserve, protect and nurture old vine vineyards.  Leo Austin, Sarah Abbott MW…

West Berkshire Brewery has partnered with Seattle based Reuben’s Brews, to brew and distribute its range of beers for the UK market. The American brewery (founded by Adam and Grace Robbings in 2012) is known for its wide range of styles that includes Wembley IPA and Pacific Pils. The partnership will see Adam Robbings returning to his roots, as a Berkshire native. WBB maintains the…

If Covid-19 has taught us anything about how Brits respond to a crisis it’s this: when the proverbial hits the fan, we reach for the wine. Off-trade wine sales surged by 31.1% during the first six months of the pandemic, putting an extra £815 million through the tills (Kantar, 24 weeks to September 6). Of course, this was partly down to the March closure of…

Following lockdown developments in wine consumption, the spirits giant has new plans for its off-trade presence. Spirits giant Pernod Ricard has revealed plans to ramp up its focus on the UK wine sector as a result of trends that developed during the coronavirus lockdown. The Jameson, Absolut and Chivas Regal supplier currently has a 3.7% share of the wine market, thanks largely to Campo Viejo…

Reh Kendermann has bought a 16% share in North South Wines, matching the amount held by existing shareholders The Wine People and De Bortoli Wines.  As a result of this, North South Wines will manage all of Reh Kendermann’s UK business in the wholesale, convenience, discount, independent wine specialist and on-trade channels, effective from April 1, 2020. Northern Ireland and the UK supermarket channel will…