Lidl to expand Scottish gin offering in stores

Discount supermarket chain Lidl is tapping into the trend for Scottish gin by stocking eight new brands in 94 stores across Scotland.

Orkney Distilling’s Kirkjuvagr Hapar Gin is among the new brands available in Lidl stores

The new gins will be available from 3 May as part of the chain’s first in-store Scottish Gin Festival.

The range features four products new to supermarket shelves: Glasgow Distillery’s Makar Cask Matured Oak Aged, Strathearn Distillery’s Scottish Gin, Shetland Distillery’s Simmer Gin and Hazel & Hazel’s Tide Line Gin.

The supermarket chain will also stock Glasgow Distillery’s Makar Original Dry Gin, Strathearn Distillery’s Heather Rose Gin and Scottish Gin, Orkney Distilling’s Kirkjuvagr Harpa Gin and Pickering’s Ginerosity Gin.

Scottish gin currently accounts for 70% of the UK’s gin supply. Sales of Lidl’s gin range have increased by 41% in the last year across UK stores.

Lidl’s head of Scottish buying, Paul McQuade, said: “At Lidl, we are firmly committed to supporting and championing local producers, and are incredibly proud of our expansive Scottish product range.

“With demand for gin on the rise, we felt it was the perfect time to increase our investment in local gin producers and bring together a unique, artisanal collection exclusively for Lidl customers.

“Our inaugural Scottish Gin Festival is a fantastic collaboration of new and established distillers from across the entire country, offering great choice and excellent value for our customers.”

Lidl currently produces its own Hortus gin range, which includes Rhubarb and Ginger and Scottish Raspberry gin liqueurs, both of which sold over 400 bottles per hour when they first hit shelves in November 2017.