Annual UK gin sales soar to £1.2bn

Gin sales in the UK have doubled in value in the last six years, reaching £1.2 billion (US$1.6bn) over the last 12 months, according to a new market report by the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).

Consumers have bought 47 million bottles of gin in the last 12 months

Consumers bought over 47 million bottles in the 12 months to September 2017, up from 40 million bottles compared to the same period – the equivalent of 1.32 billion G&Ts. Gin has grown more than any other spirit sold in the UK.

The WSTA market report showed that the equivalent of over 8.8 million bottles of gin were sold in the UK on-trade worth £729 million.

The majority of gin sold in the UK is from shops and supermarkets where 38.7m bottles were sold.

According to the WSTA, gin sales abroad have also reached £474m, making it the world’s 7th most valuable food and drink export.

The figures were released as a YouGov poll found gin is the most popular spirit in the UK, with 29% of consumers voting it their favourite.

According to HMRC figures, 45 new distilleries opened in 2016, which totals an estimated 273 distilleries in the UK.

“The latest WSTA market report is showing yet another sparkling result for gin sales in the UK. The British public show no signs of growing tired of trying new gins with well over 100 brands now available on the UK market. It comes as no surprise that gin has climbed to the top of a poll of most popular spirit drinks,” said Miles Beale, chief executive of the WSTA.

“Although gin is predominantly juniper based our innovative gin distillers are now offering a range of gins infused with locally sourced botanicals, including seaweed, rhubarb and even Christmas gins with frankincense and myrrh.”