Big firms tighten grip on UK on-trade

The UK’s largest distributors are strengthening their grip on the on-trade market, according to Australian research firm Wine Business Solutions.

The company’s Wine On-Premise UK 2011 study shows that the country’s top 30 distributors, out of more than 560 claiming national coverage, are now responsible for 68% of all listings, with the top 10 alone accounting for 48%. The same report a year ago showed the top 30 holding 61% of listings.

The latest report has also marked some shifts at the top of the table, with Enotria’s increased share of 8.5% of UK listings allowing it to leapfrog Matthew Clark to first position.

The report showed that Matthew Clark saw its listings share fall by 21%, while Bibendum just held onto third place above Liberty, despite a 20% share decline.

The biggest leap was enjoyed by Inverarity Vaults, whose 353% share increase follows the merchant’s acquisition by WM Morton this summer to create Scotland’s largest independent drinks supplier.

Alongside this league table, WBS also released results of the top 30 most listed wine brands. In a sign of increased consumer confidence, Champagne took 10 of the top 15 spots, while English sparkling wine also showed signs of its rapidly increasing distribution.

Further evidence that consumers are beginning to trade up again came from WBS’ findings that the average listed price of a bottle of wine on a UK list has risen 12% in the last year to £44.47.

Among the still wine brands, Cloudy Bay held onto its number one spot. Australia, Italy and Chile were all well represented, with each getting six brands into the top 30.

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