THE WINE MERCHANT. An independent magazine for independent retailers
Issue 100, March 2021
Dog of the Month: Chester Priory Wines, Lymington
Indies believe sales boom will continue beyond Covid crisis Survey shows two thirds of indies saw sales boom in past year, with 87% reporting an increase in customer numbers
M
ore than two-thirds of
independent wine merchants have reported a sales
increase over the past year – and a similar
proportion are confident of an even better performance in 2021.
Among the majority of indies who have
seen their sales go up, the average increase was 38%, according to data from The Wine Merchant’s annual industry survey.
turnover will beat the 2019 numbers by
the new clientele has come from people
Just under 87% of indies report an
to the survey, which was carried out in
40% or so as we hold on to many new customers after Covid disappears.”
increase in customer numbers. Most (29%) are thought to have been recruited from
the supermarkets, with 21% switching to indies from the on-trade. Around 14% of
who were originally buying from the likes of Naked Wines or Laithwaites, according partnership with Hatch Mansfield and
attracted responses from 189 businesses. • Survey coverage starts on page 10 and continues in our April edition.
Almost 17% of all indies are very
optimistic about a sales increase in
the coming year, with just under 50% saying they are fairly optimistic. The
figures represent the most upbeat mood
among indies for three years, despite the challenges still presented by Covid and Brexit.
A quarter of respondents saw a decline
in sales, with an average fall of almost 22%. Typically the decline was smaller than that,
with the overall figure skewed by large falls reported by businesses with exposure to the London on-trade.
One independent in the south east says:
“2020 saw a 250% increase in turnover, peaking at 300%.
“Since October turnover has stayed
consistent with the Christmas peak, with
a 46.6% increase on last Christmas. I can’t see us increasing on that performance. What I think we will see is that 2021
Camilla Wood of The Somerset Wine Company in Castle Cary has been expanding her business, first by taking on the neighbouring store and its courtyard garden, and more recently by opening a concession at a local food market, restaurant and gift shop. Full story on page 4.