Slurp sees Christmas online wine surge

Online wine sales surged over the Christmas period according to web-based retailer Slurp.

The number of December orders through the Slurp site jumped by 162% and revenue rose by 73.4% compared to the same month in 2010.

Slurp saw internet orders and website traffic peak on 13 December, with traffic in the two weeks prior to Christmas averaging 200% higher than normal.

“Christmas 2011 saw the online wine sector really ‘come of age’”, said Slurp MD Jeremy Howard.

“We expect many of the customers who shopped online for the first time to remain with us, hastening the migration from the high street struggle to the ease of screen and home delivery,” he added.

According to Slurp, only around 11-12% of total wine sales are currently online.