The Wine Merchant issue 100 (March 2021)

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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.


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The Wine Merchant issue 100 (March 2021) by The Wine Merchant magazine - Issuu