Gin proves it’s still a sparkling success on World Gin Day

General | 17 June, 2018

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association’s latest market report released on World Gin Day shows that gin sold in the UK has hit yet another record high.

For the first time ever quarterly combined value sales of gin in our supermarkets, shops, pubs bars and restaurants has grown by more than 40% – with sales increasing by 44% compared to the same three months the year before.

In fact, across the board gin sales in the UK have beaten all records both annually and quarterly.

The WSTA’s latest Market Report, published this week shows that in the 12 months to the end of March 2018 almost 55 million bottles of gin, worth almost £1.5 billion, were sold in the UK, up 28% in volume and 33% in value.

During the same 12 month sales period, ending March 2013 gin sales were worth just £696 million, meaning gin sales in the UK have more than doubled in value in just five years.

The rapid growth in UK distilleries and an increasing number of gin brands launched to market has helped gin sales hit a peak in the first three months of 2018.

Dry January did not put a damper on Brits thirst for the juniper based spirit and gin sales were also boosted by Mother’s Day. A wide range of gin themed gifts – including gin mugs, t-shirts, grow your own botanical kits and gin glass wear – helped, what was once dubbed mother’s ruin, become a popular gift choice.

Miles Beale Chief Executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association said:

“Britain’s thirst for gin shows no sign of waning as we can see from yet another round of record breaking gin sales. Hats off to our skillful and innovative British distillers who keep coming up with interesting botanical blends to create new award-winning gins that are proving very attractive to consumers who have increasingly sophisticated palates. There is no better day to raise a glass of G&T and toast the success of British gin than World Gin Day.”

This year there are more events than ever taking place across the length and breadth of Britain to mark World Gin Day.

The celebrations include gin mixed with dancing, music, cooking and travel. Gin lovers can take part in a Gin & Jazz Garden party in Staines, learn to make gin infused hand-raised game pie in Sheffield, the Ginchester Fete in Winchester, a gin train in the Yorkshire Dales and a Gin & Swing evening in Derby.

Last year an IWSR Forecast Report projected that gin is expected to grow by 37.2% by 2021.

2017 was also a bumper year for British gin exports which broke the £500 million barrier hitting £530 million in value sales.

Britain now boasts 315 distilleries in the UK – more than double the number that were operating across the country five years ago.

There are now well over 100 British gin brands on the market – it is hard to put an exact number on it as new gins come on the market so frequently. What we do know is that the number of gins now available in Britain has more than doubled since 2011.