UK retailer the Co-operative has recorded an increased demand for gin, with sales of the spirit growing by almost 15% last year.
Jonathan Grey, the Co-op’s spirits buyer, said, “Gin is an exciting category, with new drinks, flavours and trends emerging and growth for both established brands and new entrants".
“Gin is outperforming the spirit sector and we see significant potential for further sustained growth, in particular for the more diverse, premium and crafted gins which use local, natural botanicals chosen for quality and taste.”
Quality Products
Fiona Fullarton, national account manager for Moray-based company Gordon & MacPhail, which supplies gin to more than 60 Co-op stores across Scotland, said that there is a strong interest in small, niche products in this growing market.
“More and more consumers are driven to enjoy quality, crafted products, with a clear story and provenance," she said. "Our selection of gins for the Co-op originate from producers throughout Scotland and showcase a variety of flavours and styles.”
This increase in demand is a trend that can be seen throughout the UK - earlier this month the Wine and Spirit Trade Association reported that sales of spirits were more valuable to the UK Treasury last year than beer, which it credits to the recent 'gin boom'.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Aidan O’Sullivan. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
