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UK gin sales hit £1.5 billion

Gin sales in the UK reached £1.5 billion (US$2bn) in the 12 months to March 2018, the equivalent of almost 55 million bottles, according to the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).

UK consumers bought 55 million bottles of gin in the year to March 2018

The WSTA’s latest Market Report shows that UK gin sales were up 33% in value and 28% in volume.

For the first time, quarterly value sales of gin in UK supermarkets, shops, pubs, bars and restaurants grew by more than 40%, an increase of 44% compared to the same three months in 2017.

2017 was also a record-breaking year for British gin exports – breaking the £500m barrier to hit £530m in value sales.

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

In the year to 31 March 2018, total yearly alcohol sales grew by 3% to £1.063bn. Of the amount, spirits accounted for £578m, representing 54% of all growth.

In the UK on-trade, spirits added £297m over the last 12 months, accounting for 89% of all growth in the channel. The spirits category accounts for 25% of on-trade value sales.

Miles Beale, chief executive of the WSTA, 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.”

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