The Wine Merchant issue 101 (April 2021)

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THE WINE MERCHANT. An independent magazine for independent retailers

Issue 101, April 2021

Dog of the Month: Darcey House of Townend

Hybrid model gathers speed despite a year of Covid turmoil Almost half of indies are now licensed to sell wine on the premises – but some now feel they’re ready to call time

E

nthusiasm for the hybrid wine shop/wine bar model has hit

a new high in the independent

trade, despite the challenges created by

lockdown restrictions over the past year. The Wine Merchant’s reader survey

reports that just over 47% of indies are

now licensed to sell wine for consumption on the premises, up from 40% in 2019. A further 13% say they are thinking

about adopting the hybrid model, with

bar a big challenge will be to maintain the

restrictions start to lift. This has always

sides of the business successfully.”

from them.”

retail momentum we have built recently.

I feel that we will be able to balance both Jonathan Charles, owner of The Dorset

Wine Company in Dorchester, says:

“We usually sell wine for consumption on the premises and expect there to

be an appetite for increased sales once

been an extra string to our bow and

supports retail sales rather than detracts

Richard Everton of Bottles in Worcester

adds: “After nearly six years of operating

as a hybrid, the effects in the last year have been very significant. A lot of our turnover and margin is generated through our

another 3% saying they will definitely take the plunge this year.

“Drinking in is a critical part of the

business mix,” says James Brown of The Wine Loft in Brixham.

“It punches above its weight in terms of

profit contribution but most importantly

it anchors your business in a community, allows you endless ways of talking about wine and in so doing cements loyalty,

which is often is the difference between a supermarket purchase and an indie purchase.”

Bob McDonald of Salut in Manchester

says: “Obviously every business has

different sized premises and anyone

with limited space may struggle in the

short term depending on Covid-related

restrictions, but the hybrid model is still definitely hugely viable.

“When we are allowed to reopen the

HarperWells, the Norwich independent, opened a second branch recently at a delicatessen in Diss. The expansion has led to one unexpected development: the creation of a wine brand made from local organic grapes and sold in pouches. Full story on page 6.


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