Seedlip secures Waitrose listing as supermarket’s owner reports 99% slump in profits

Non-alcoholic spirit brand Seedlip will be available in Waitrose stores across the UK next week, it has been announced, as the grocer’s owner reports a staggering slump in the first half of the year.

All three Seedlip spirits will be available to purchase in store at all major and selected Waitrose supermarkets, as well as through Waitrose.com.

Seedlip’s current portfolio includes Seedlip Garden 108; Seedlip Spice 94; and Seedlip Grove 42, all priced at £26 per bottle.

Ben Branson, who founded the de-alcoholised spirit brand in 2015, said the listing was “very exciting” for the business.

“A national retail portfolio presence in Waitrose, driven by increased public demand, is a huge milestone for both Seedlip and the category,” he said.

Waitrose & Partners reported a small boost for like-for-like sales, up 2.6%, but operating profits fell 12% to £96.4m.

John Lewis & Partners, meanwhile, recorded an underlying operating loss of £19m, compared with £54m profits in the previous year.

Sir Charlie Mayfield, chairman of John Lewis Partnership, said the results were a sign of “Challenging times in retail”, but suggested that the grocer would recover in the second half of the year.

“In Waitrose & Partners…there has been marked improvement in like-for-like sales as well as good progress in rebuilding gross margin, and we are on track for profit growth for the full year.”

Waitrose currently holds just over a 5% share of the total UK grocery market, according to Kantar Worldpanel.