The Future’s Bright for Independents
Posted on Mon 13th Jul 2015 at 12:51
Although the Harpers campaign might make you think that independent wine shops are taking over the world, in reality they are still fighting against competition from major supermarkets and chains of wine retailers.
Yet this is no cause for dismay, as recent research shows that the independents are making steady progress, and the market is looking brighter than ever before. ‘Demystifying the Consumer: The UK Off-Trade Still Wine Market’, a report by Harpers that contains data from more than 1,000 consumers, demonstrates that almost 4.9% of customers preferred to shop for wine in a retailer other than a supermarket, suggesting that there is a clear market for independents. Further research shows that the number of independent wine shops has grown by over 45% in seven years, with 744 in the UK by 2014. Part of the reason for this growth may be that consumers are now doing ‘big’ shops in supermarkets less often, instead preferring to do more frequent but smaller shops - meaning that the megastore is going into decline. Supermarkets are also reducing the number of suppliers they use, which makes the larger selection found in independents that much more attractive. As commentators have observed, all these factors point to a bright future for independents – something that’s already indicated by the fact that Oddbins is converting over 20 independents into franchises, showing there’s a huge stream of profitability to be tapped into. As a specialist wine importer and distributor, Signature Wines is dedicated to offering independent wine shops support during this exciting time of growth. Call us now on 0845 370 2225 and see how you can introduce some exciting wines from the Eastern Mediterranean region of Macedonia. Only time will tell whether independents will capitalise on the swing in the market, but the possibilities are greater than ever before.