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.