The UK’s love affair with gin shows little sign of abating, as new figures from the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) show a 27% increase in volume sales between 2016 and 2017.
The WSTA’s latest market report shows that, in the whole of 2017, over 51 million bottles of gin worth almost £1.4 billion were sold in the UK. That figure represents an increase of 9.5 million bottles on the equivalent figure for 2016.
According to WSTA chief executive Miles Beale, the data are testament to gin’s ability to sustain long-term growth.
“We were amazed by the growth of gin in 2016, but 2017 sales of the quintessentially British spirit have surpassed all records again,” Beales said.
“At the WSTA we are constantly being asked what is the magic formula behind the growth in gin sales. It is a delightful combination of a quality British product steeped in history combined with skilful innovation by UK distillers who are producing a huge range of gins catering for consumers’ increasingly sophisticated palettes.
The versatility of gin, with its diverse use of botanicals, means there is now a gin out there for everyone.”
In particular, sales were driven by the festive period: over 16 million bottles of gin, worth £413 million, were sold in the 12 weeks to the end of December. This an extra three and a half million bottles bought, up 28% in volume compared to 2016’s festive season and worth an extra £104 million.
The greatest growth was seen in supermarkets and stores, when the value of gin sales grew 38% and volume sales were up 28% compared to 2016.
The rapid growth in UK distilleries and the increasing number of gin brands which hit the market last year has helped 2017 break all previous records in both volume and value sales.
Gin is also predicted to perform strongly when figures from this year’s Mother’s Day, which was observed in the UK yesterday, are made known.
Across the board sales of gin in our supermarkets and shops, pubs, bars and restaurants have beaten all previous sales recorded both annually and quarterly.
The rate of sales of gin in the country now means that, on average, one bottle of gin is being sold every year per UK adult.
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