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Waitrose launches Blueprint range into bag-in-box and extends Loved & Found range
Waitrose has beefed up its BWS offer with new wines from lesser-known regions, and its own label range into bag-in-box format for the first time.
The retailer has increased its selection of boxed and canned wines, which includes launching its popular own-label range Blueprint into a bag-in-box format “a first ever for Waitrose”, wine buyer for formats Emma Penman said. “Including some of our customers’ favourite wines, they offer the value and quality you would expect from Waitrose Blueprint, in fridge-door[1]friendly 1.5L formats,” she said.
Sales of wine in alternative formats had grown +25% during 2024, Penman added and the retailer’s “commitment to growing the category remains firm”.
In addition to the Blueprint bag-in-box range, the retailer has added four new canned wines for “‘just one glass’ drinkers”, including The Canned Wine Co’s Gamay, made by Lionel Gosseaume, and a Verdejo by Rueda winemaker Javier Sanz (both RRP: £5.50).
Meanwhile, five new wines have been added to the Loved & Found wine range, on the back of strong sales of lesser-known grapes – sales of its Loved and Found Trincadeira from Alentejo in Portugal increased 47% over the last year, Waitrose’s head of trading, Pierpaolo Petrassi MW, noted – including Aranel, Piedirosso, Sousão, Piquepoul Noir and Terret Blanc.
These comprise a Piquepoul Noir Vin de France from Languedoc-Roussillon; a Piedirosso 2023 from Campania (£9.99); a Sousão 2022 from Lisboa (RRP: £8.99); a Terret Blanc 2023 from IGP Côtes de Thau, Languedoc-Roussillon (RRP: £8.99) and Aranel 2023 (RRP: £8.99) from Australian winemaker James Ceccato from the Riverina region in New South Wales.
The premium No.1 range also also seen a number of additions, including a Côtes du Rhône Villages (RRP: £12.99); Gigondas from the 2022 vintage (RRP: £22.99); a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2022 Bordeaux from Maison Ginestet (RRP: £21.99); a 2021 Margaux (£24.99); Langmeil Seven Generations Shiraz from the 2021 vintage in Barossa Valley (RRP: £13.99); a Chablis (£18.99), Albariño (RRP: £13.99); Quinta de la Rosa Douro Branco (RRP: £13.99); a Grüner Veltliner from Niederösterreich (RRP: £11.99) and Astrolabe Sauvignon Blanc 2024 from Awatere Valley in Marlborough (RRP: £12.99)
Spirits-wise, sales of Tequila increased by 86% year-on-year, with customers “opting for fine, sipping Anejos and Reposados as well as younger spirits for mixing”, the retailer said – it has increased the range by around 10% in the last year.
“Likewise we’re seeing spirits such as Cognac and Whisky finding new audiences, with the drinks industry drawing in a new generation of consumers exploring twists on these classic spirits,” Petrassi said.
On the back of this, the retailer has extended its range of pre-mixed cocktails in time for Christmas, including within its No. 1 own label range, comprising new No.1 Vesper Martini and No.1 Morello Cherry Amaretto Sour.
It has also added a selection of Akashi Sakes to the range, including Akashi Junmai Ginjo Sparkling Sake (RRP: £15); Akashi Sake Shiraume Ginjo Umeshu(RRP: £21) ; and Akashi Sake Honjozo Tokubetsu Gohyakumangoku (RP: £23), a “delicate and complex sake with a creamy mouthfeel and tropical fruit”.
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