THE WINE MERCHANT. An independent magazine for independent retailers
Issue 155, March 2026
Dog of the month: Elsa Wine & Dandy, Taunton
Was the death of the wine shop greatly exaggerated? Survey of Independents finds that stores operating a hybrid retail/bar model still don’t represent the majority
D
espite predictions that by this
year most indie merchants would be selling wines for on-premise
drinking, the latest Wine Merchant Survey
of Independents reports that the figure has dipped – very slightly – to 49.2%.
While for some the hybrid model is a
no-brainer – and in many cases the only
reason the business survives – hundreds
of indies continue to maintain that a pure retail concept can still be viable.
now more important for indies than beer,
and favourite countries and regions of
popularity poll. Liberty Wines is just edged
find that, while merchants are generally
accounting for just under 7% of turnover. Yet again Boutinot tops the supplier
out of second place by Hatch Mansfield,
level pegging in third position with Alliance Wine.
As usual the survey also covers issues
including margins, supplier relationships
origin.
We also ask about trade tastings and
more enthusiastic than they were a year
ago, concerns are building about the cost involved in attending.
• Our survey analysis for 2026 begins on
page 29 and continues in our April edition.
The survey, carried out in partnership
with Hatch Mansfield, has found that the
proportion of independents who sell wine for on-premise consumption has doubled in the past 12 years, but has now stalled just below the halfway mark.
Rising staffing costs, licensing
complications and space constraints are some of the barriers that are cited by survey respondents.
The survey finds that confidence levels
are rising across the independent trade as a whole this year, despite the well-
documented challenges faced by retailers,
with the majority reporting sales increases in the past year and most also predicting growth in the 12 months to come.
The average price paid for a bottle of still
wine in the independent trade has risen by 18p, to £17.09, but average basket spend has dipped to £50.57.
Forty per cent of indies say they serve
food on the premises. The category is
Raúl Pérez, a pivotal figure in the New Spain movement, is now represented in the UK by Liberty Wines. See Supplier Bulletin, page 61