May 12
Aug 04
While the overall alcohol category grew by 4.2% to £8.4b in the year to 15 June 2008, cider saw sales up by 27% and wine grew by 7.3%.
The increase in wine was due to higher spend per head among purchasers, while cider’s growth was driven by an increase in shopper numbers, TNS said.
Jul 21
Many Britons appear to be handling the prospect of recession and the economic downturn by staying at home to eat ready meals, consumed with New World wines from upmarket stores.
Sales at John Lewis and Waitrose rose last week as bargain-hunters went to summer sales and purchased more instant meals rather than going out to eat in restaurants. Waitrose saw more Britons buying ready meals to eat in, up 1.2% on last year. Its sales of the ‘As Good as Going Out’ range were up 38% on last year and Waitrose shoppers also seem to be stocking up on wines on special offer, with revenues on South African wines up 132% and on New Zealand wines by 40%.
Jul 14
Australia still maintains its No.1 position in the UK wine market, although, inevitably, it has slowed.
At the end of its financial year, volume sales of Australian wine in the UK increased 1%, while the market has grown 3%, slightly lowering its market share from 22.5% to 22%.
Jul 07
Beer and wine bottles should carry graphic images of diseased livers similar to campaigns featured on cigarette boxes in an effort to curb the country’s alcohol abuse, the British Medical Association (BMA) will propose this week.
As part of the BMA’s campaign against “the growing problems of excessive alcohol consumption and of binge drinking in society”, other motions to be tabled at its annual representatives’ meeting in Edinburgh include calls for the government to make units per drink a mandatory requirement on alcohol labels and on bar taps, and encouraging legislation to prevent supermarkets discounting alcohol
Jun 27
Sales of half-bottles of wine are soaring as drinkers respond to warnings about alcohol-related health problems. Supermarkets across London report a 100% rise in sales of smaller bottles and are launching new ranges to meet demand.
Source:Evening Standard 27-06-2008
Jun 13
Coffee Republic has introduced wine and beer at some of its franchises in an effort to emulate the continental-style drinking culture.
UK franchise director Kevin Frostick said the company wasn’t pushing the concept, but where franchises wanted to sell alcohol, they would help with alcohol licence applications.
Jun 02
To coincide with the Summer season, Steam has created a BTL platform to drive awareness and sales of Wolf Blass Green Label.
Positioned as the ‘Al Fresco’ bottle, the PET bottle is perfect for any outdoor occasion. The bottle is smaller than conventional wine bottles despite having the same 750ml volume. It also benefits from being lighter, unbreakable, easier to carry, has significant green credentials and benefits from the usual Wolf Blass quality.
May 22
According to research commissioned by the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, when buying for the same type of occasion men spend more on a bottle of wine than women and wine drinkers aged under 35 spend more on wine than those over 55. The survey of 1,000 wine fans also revealed that wine lovers would prefer to give up sweets, chocolate and beer rather than reduce spending on their favourite tipple. Source: Publican 20-05-2008
May 19
China is set to come to prominence as a wine producing region following the ongoing ramifications of global warming. This was one of the messages that emerged from Dr Richard Smart’s talk on ‘global warming and its impact on vines and viticulture’ at the Climate Change and Wine Conference in Barcelona today (February 15).
Smart, who is a leading global consultant on viticulture methods, said: “In 30 years time, China will be a country better able to adapt to global warming.”