In the wake of a 38-per-cent rise in wine sales generated by its premium range (which features top European brands such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape), Lidl's UK branch is reportedly considering opening its own online wine store.
In an interview with TheDrinksBusiness.com, the discounter’s head of beer, wine and spirits, Ben Hulme, said that he recently pitched the idea to senior management, and that a decision on the matter is pending.
He stated, “The growth in wine is there to be seen, and I would love to do it, however, I don’t have the full picture in terms of the full complexity of what that would mean for the business.
“I have been pushing it and would like to do it, but I don’t think it’s going to happen immediately,” he added. “At some point, the heads will make a decision as to whether it makes sense – they haven’t said yes or no."
Lidl’s share of the UK wine market now stands at 3.9 per cent – the highest it has ever been, up from 3.6 per cent during the 12 weeks to 24 May. This growth takes place in the context of a rapidly expanding UK online wine market: it is 600 per cent bigger than it was in 2006, according to Bordeaux’s Kedge Business School.
© 2015 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Peter Donnelly.
