Franciacorta sees UK sales double

Sales of Franciacorta wines in the UK doubled in volume in the first six months of 2014 with ramped up communications credited for raising greater awareness of its wines in key export markets.

According to the Osservatorio Economico del Franciacorta (OEF), volumes of Franciacorta to the UK increased by 100.4% in the first six months of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013, although from a “fairly small base”, with the number of producers now distributing in the UK market increasing by 40% in the last 18 months.

Franciacorta’s strong start to 2014 follows significant growth in the UK market last year which saw volume shipments to the UK rise by 27.7% in 2013.

Overall global sales were up by 9.6%, with domestic sales in Italy also performing strongly jumping 8.5%, while exports grew by 17.4% accounting for 12.6% of all Franciacorta bottles sold worldwide.

This continuing upward trend follows a year of “intense activity” by the Italian wine producer targeting the UK, US and Germany, and follows comments made by its president last month that it could “easily” increase sales by four million to reach 18 million. 

Of its latest figures, Maurizio Zanella, President of Franciacorta, said: “We are very proud of the results achieved in this first part of this year, both in Italy and abroad.

“However we are aware that this first semester represents only 34% of total annual production; and we hope to keep this positive trend in the next six months.”

Japan remains the producer’s primary export market, followed by the USA, Switzerland, Germany and Belgium.