JUST WILLIAMS
Chain mail David Williams reports back from the autumn flurry of press tastings. Which of the mults, if any, pose the biggest threat to indies these days – or is the trend to boring, industrial ranges continuing?
A
s we head into the most
important trading period of
the year, I’ve been doing a little
industrial espionage on your behalf. After tasting the ranges of the major multiple
grocers (and the last surviving, still justabout-standing multiple specialist), I’ve
smuggled out a few ideas about what your customers will be offered as they wheel
group’s first-ever half-year loss. Most of the
is actually pulling ahead of the pack at the
were down by 0.8%, and the food-retailing
least in its well-made “W” range of lesser-
damage was done in the department store part of the business, but Waitrose’s sales
wing has been offloading underperforming stores, shaking up its buying department, and preparing for a switch of online
their trolleys past the gondola ends over What are the vinous trends in the
range of suppliers, the willingness to be a bit different (it showed two New Zealand
moving forward is helped by the
unarguable fact that its rivals are either in
view? These are questions from a different
standstill or moving backwards.
retailing universe, maybe, but it’s one that
Marks & Spencer, after years of
impacts the independent galaxy, and one
challenging Waitrose for the most
if it’s only to remind you of how not to do
Waitrose has increased its focus on own-label
Waitrose on top at the top
next year.
Partnership, with the announcement of the
what really marks it out is the still-broad
Of course, the perception of Waitrose
best shape from a wine quality point of
for Waitrose – or at least for the John Lewis
Manseng), launched earlier this year. But
the £10 to £15 region.
Which of the big beasts is currently in the
It has by all accounts been a difficult year
spotted varietals (Mencía, Marselan, Petit
for example), and the strength of its offer in
supermarkets? Where are they on price?
things.
an increased emphasis on own-label, not
Albariños at its most recent press tasting,
the next couple of months.
that is surely worth understanding, even
moment. Like all supermarkets, there’s
partner when its deal with Ocado expires For all that, however, when it comes to
the wine range itself, Waitrose, or Waitrose & Partners as it was rebranded in 2018,
The perception of Waitrose moving forward is helped by the unarguable fact that its rivals are either in standstill or moving backwards
THE WINE MERCHANT november 2019 18
interesting, dynamic and best quality (if
not always best-value) supermarket wine range, has been in retreat for a couple of years now.
This is clearly a response to its own well-
publicised financial troubles. But, while there is still plenty to enjoy in the M&S
range, it was sad to go through a line-up
featuring very few new wines, considerably less of the adventurous sourcing from
new or emerging countries that earned
the retailer so many friends in the presspack in recent years, and a switch to a
smaller portfolio of larger, more industrial suppliers focusing on £10 and under.