The Wine and Spirit Trade Association’s (WSTA) latest market report, released to coincide with World Gin Day (Saturday, June 9) shows that gin has hit yet another record high in the UK.
In the 12 months ending March 31, 2018, almost 55 million bottles of gin, worth almost £1.5 billion, were sold in the UK, up 28% in volume and 33% in value.
Comparing this to the same period in 2013, gin sales in the UK have more than doubled over the last five years, when they generating £696 million.
Quarterly combined value sales of gin in supermarkets, shops, pubs bars and restaurants grew by 44% compared to the same three month period a year ago.
Rapid Growth
The gin market has benefited from rapid growth in UK distilleries as well as an increasing number of brands. Britain now boasts 315 distilleries in the UK, as well as more than 100 British gin brands.
It also benefited from a wide range of gin-themed gifts, including gin mugs, t-shirts, 'grow your own' botanical kits and gin glasswear.
Miles Beale chief executive of the WSTA said, “Britain’s thirst for gin shows no sign of waning as we can see from yet another round of record-breaking gin sales.
“Hats off to our skilful and innovative British distillers, who keep coming up with interesting botanical blends to create new award-winning gins that are proving very attractive to consumers who have increasingly sophisticated palates. There is no better day to raise a glass of G&T and toast the success of British gin than World Gin Day.”
Britain will see a number of events taking place on World Gin Day. Gin lovers can take part in a Gin & Jazz Garden party in Staines, learn to make gin infused hand-raised game pie in Sheffield, the Ginchester Fete in Winchester, a gin train in the Yorkshire Dales and a Gin & Swing evening in Derby.
UK gin sales experienced record sales last Christmas, valued at £413 million in the run-up to the festive season - 28% more than the previous year.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Aidan O'Sullivan. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
