THE WINE MERCHANT. An independent magazine for independent retailers
Issue 143, February 2025
Dog of the month: Monty Bacchus Beyond. Halesworth
Reality check for indies as optimism levels take a hit Despite increasing pessimism, The Wine Merchant’s annual survey finds that almost four in 10 indies expect growth
O
ptimism levels among indies has
fallen markedly, according to The
Wine Merchant’s annual survey of
independents.
Just 2.2% say they are very optimistic
about increasing sales in the year ahead, compared to 13% in last year’s survey. Thirty-five per cent say they are fairly
optimistic, down from 46% in 2024.
with 4% very pessimistic, compared to 1%
2025, a year in which higher duty kicks in
are neither optimistic nor pessimistic rose
Just under a quarter of respondents
say they expect to see a decline in sales in
and consumer spending is likely to remain squeezed.
Twenty per cent are fairly pessimistic,
double what the survey recorded in 2024,
a year ago.
The proportion of merchants saying they
from 30% to 38.5%.
Analysis of all this year’s survey results
will appear in our March edition and continue in April.
Lela and Anton Mann pride themselves on importing all their wines from Portugal by sailing boat. Their Port O'Bristol business has now opened its first retail premises at Wapping Wharf in the city – see story on page eight.