James Cowan

Another year of double digit growth for Kent wine producer 🍷📈 Gusbourne, the premium English sparkling wine producer, has announced another year of good progress, reporting a 16.5 per cent increase in UK wine sales growth, net revenue up by 13 per cent compared to the previous period, gross profit up by 30 per cent to £4.1 million and gross margin improving to more than 68 per cent. With the ongoing expansion of the Appledore, Kent's international presence and global appetite for English fine wine increasing, Gusbourne is now in 35 international markets, and expects the year ahead to see it benefit from increased supply and inventory, following the harvesting of its biggest yield to date last year. Gusbourne has also seen ongoing success in international and UK wine competitions with an impressive number of awards for its wines, including gold medals and trophies. Since the year end, Gusbourne has been awarded the Kings Award for Enterprise for International Trade Export. Continue reading... https://lnkd.in/engd5a38 #winery #vineyard #wine #drinks #growth #businessgrowth #finance #funding #investing #announcement #businessnews #businessintelligence

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Spirits | Alcoholic Beverages | Distilleries - UK registered distillery numbers explode post-COVID In 2023, the number of registered distilleries in the UK grew to 387, up 42.7% compared with pre-COVID levels. This was up 8.7% from the 356 distilleries reported in 2022. Last year saw 48 new distilleries registered in the UK alone (up 20% from 2022) while Scotland – the home of the UK’s biggest drinks export, Scotch whisky – saw three registrations last year (eight in 2022) #spirits #whisky #alcoholicbeverages #Scotchwhisky #whiskies #distilleries #distillery

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Further to Robert Joseph post on this: 50% Tax on a £9 Bottle of Wine in 2025 🍷—Where's the Balance? This image is eye-opening. Starting February 2025, half the price of a £9 bottle of wine will go to UK tax (£3.00 Duty + £1.50 VAT). That leaves just £1.00 for the wine itself—including farming, harvesting, and production. Breakdown of the Costs: 📊 VAT: £1.50 📊 Duty: £3.00 📊 Retail margin: £2.25 📊 Bottling/packaging: 80p 📊 Logistics/shipping: 45p 📊 Farming & wine: £1.00 As a wine professional, it’s clear this disproportionate structure impacts: Winemakers who see shrinking returns for quality production. Consumers paying higher prices for less value. Small producers who struggle to compete. OH AND THEY LEFT OUT THE DISTRIBUTOR, AGENT.... if there is one. I love wine and believe in responsible taxation, but this raises important questions: How can we protect sustainable wine production? Are we doing enough to preserve value for both winemakers and buyers? How might this impact wine culture and smaller businesses in the UK? Would love to hear your thoughts—how do you feel about 50% of your wine budget going to tax? 🍷 #WineIndustry #Taxation #UKWine #Sustainability #SupportWinemakers

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Cheers Group Unveils Growth Plan with Launch of Award-winning Labrodog Scotch New Varient Cheers Group aims to triple revenue by focusing on premiumization and innovation in the whisky market, featuring the new Labrodog Black Tartan Scotch Cheers group has unveiled an ambitious plan to triple its revenue in next couple of years by prioritizing premiumization and innovation in the Indian and International markets. The company unveiled groundbreaking Scotch-- Labrodog Black Tartan Blended Scotch whisky. The flagship 'Labrodog Scotch whisky' launched decade ago in India, inspired from Scotland's picturesque Highland landscapes and history. It’s produced in picturesque Scotland. The brand is known for its commitment to quality and its unique approach to Scotch whisky making. The blend comprises carefully selected single malts --- bourbon barrel-aged and single grain whiskies. The final product is finished in exquisite casks, adding richness and a layered, nuanced complexity to the flavor profile. The whisky has a rich, gold hue, not unlike the color of the many gold medals it has won. The nose features a combination of rich and smooth profile, especially pineapple, peaches, and coconut, with hints of citrus, caramel, and cinnamon spice. It's smooth and creamy on the palate, with a mouth-coating texture and distinctive weight. It features flavors of honey, Crème Brulé, mixed nuts, and a touch of assorted wood spices and that's -- Labrodog Black Tartan Blended Scotch whisky. Crafted by Cheers Group, India’s luxury spirits conglomerate, having bagged over 200 National and International awards with luxury portfolio valued at an impressive INR 650 Crores stands as a beacon of distinction. Cheers Group, under the visionary leadership of its founder Dr. Mohan Krishna Balivada, a trailblazer in the global whisky industry and Ashwin Balivada CEO of Cheers group, have consistently excelled in the global beverage alcohol industry. Blended scotch whiskies are perfect for any occasion, from lively gatherings to cozy nights. Cheers group's top award-winning flagship Scotch whiskies: Labrodog 12 Year-old, Labrodog Decade, Labrodog XR, Labrodog Double Cask, Scottish Legend, Mc Glenn, Glen Dog -- offer a rich mix of flavors and stories, making each exquisite bottle a journey. India's love for Scotch whisky continues to grow, and Cheers group's finest blended Scotch whiskies provide a unique experience with every sip! As the largest whisky market in the world, India’s scotch segment continues to be highly aspirational for whisky consumers. With sales hitting bigger benchmarks across Blended Scotch whiskies, Cheers group is poised to be a dominant player in the market. Crafted without compromise -- Labrodog Black Tartan Scotch whisky, is available in an exclusive Gift-pack with 750ml bottle and a complimentary rare glass tumbler for ₹1850 to ₹3600 depending on state regulations.

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Thankyou Rosemary Gallagher for your excellent piece. Producing a Scottish Rye Whisky as our first brand, RyeLaw, was a clear statement of intent. InchDairnie Distillery is all about flavour, something that I think is often lost when people talk about Scotch Whisky. Now that whisky is produced globally we need to get back to the basics, flavour and provenance. RyeLaw is a Scottish Rye Whisky which does not fit into the current legal definition and for that reason we have to put Grain Whisky on the front of the bottle. This is not very helpful when a Rye Whisky has a different flavour profile to a traditional Grain Whisky. This achieves the exact opposite of why the whisky categories were first developed. They were developed to better inform the consumer, we are now confusing the customer. InchDairnie is a Fife distillery producing a Fife Whisky from Fife cereals. InchDairnie will always be Fife and never just Lowland, another challenge for us.

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“The basic merlot is is not really that good (1.2) but amazing value (5), the other is incredible (5) but grotty value (1.2). Not only are these wines not really the same score, on a two dimensional scale they’re the complete opposite of each other. But… because scores work 0 to 5… they’re both a 4.2. Let’s have a look at another example, using the wine business’s resident whipping boy, Natural Wine. Natural Wines are sometimes considered the “Marmite” of wine on the basis that you either “love it or hate it”. And also because they often smell and taste of salty yeast extract. You are a natural wine enthusiast (you wear a blue cotton, workman’s jacket and live in a fashionable part of town) and so you’re horrified to see that your favourite “natty banger” only scores 3.2 on your favourite wine app. Quelle horreur… how could this happen? It’s a legendary wine, non? The problem is it’s also a Marmite wine. People like you love it. But others hate it. In fact nobody thinks it’s a 3.2 at all. Not one. But because this is an aggregate score, it gets a rating that nobody believes and is unhelpful to absolutely everyone.” https://lnkd.in/gQm8UBWx

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An overview of the leading beer distributors in the UK and their market reach. Folks in the beer business know that you cannot separate the UK from beer. Here are the beer distributors of UK that are bringing you the best beers. London Competitions

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Kent-based winery Chapel Down Group abandons sale plan 🍷🪙 Chapel Down, the Kent-based wine producer, has revealed it expects its 2024 harvest to be below its forecast and has abandoned plans for a sale of the company. In an update, the AIM-quoted company said it expects its full year net sales revenue to be a low, single digit decline from the previous year. Chapel Down said it was the largest brand in English wine with 42% awareness, 16% penetration and a social media following of more than 120,000. It has 1,024 planted acres of vineyards, which is around 10% of the UK's total. In late June this year, the company had said it was mulling a sale as part of a strategic review into funding options for its growth plans, which included new vineyards and a purpose built winery. Continue reading... https://lnkd.in/epXP86BN #winery #alcohol #drinks #sales #finance #forecast #kentnews #kenthour #businessnews #businessintelligence

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Time for Tequila but but will it be Going Going Gone for Gin ! Tequila and Gin, two equally deserving beverages, have ascended to become the top two contenders in their respective categories based on global volumes. While both categories exhibit growth in a somewhat indistinguishable manner, they vary significantly in their trajectories. The data suggests that Tequila might experience a more rapid surge compared to Gin, and one cannot ignore the factors contributing to this trend. Gin has established a presence in various countries and markets, exerting a significant influence on global sales, primarily in the UK and Spain. However, for brands to flourish and establish a strong foundation in the industry, it is essential to invest in critical markets such as the US that have lower profit margins but a promising outlook. The expansion of agave spirit volumes into other crucial markets can only happen when demand from the US reaches a halt. What distinguishes their paths to success is their reliance on different factors that directly affect sales. For instance, gin is driven by specific consumer preferences and maintains its categories and flavours without much experimentation while tequila offers consumers a diverse array of product types, including aged spirits. A majority of gin products remain un-aged and depend on innovation and various ingredients to convince consumers to make a purchase. This limitation suggests that future industry entrants should focus on creating a well-invented, creative range of products that cater to a diverse consumer base. Additionally, tequila's status as an aged spirit results in higher prices. Notably, with the US market's dominant role and tequila's prevalence, prices are influenced, pushing the agave spirit into the premium and ultra-premium price range. However, gin justifies its pricing by highlighting the need for aging to compete with high-end spirits. Over time, Tequila has evolved into a high-end sipping drink at sophisticated gatherings, associated with a polished and glamorous character that positions it as a highly regarded beverage. One significant distinction is that tequila's authenticity and production processes are not easily validated, giving it a sense of preserved luxury. In contrast, gin attracts attention due to its locally sourced ingredients and meticulous craftsmanship, but it can be produced anywhere globally, which diminishes its "special" element. It is evident that tequila will continue to outstrip gin in terms of growth nevertheless, tequila companies should diversify their presence by expanding into markets like the US and Mexico to generate momentum, while gin-based brands should prioritise investment in strategies and elements that make gin exceptional and distinguish it in the market. Suntory Global Spirits Gin Punch DIAGEO India Bacardi Glenfiddich

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The non-alcoholic drinks market is getting a little crazy at the moment. It feels as if there are multiple new brands being launched every week and there is just not enough revenue for everyone. For NA Wine, they mostly all have very similar products; lots of added ingredients to mask the poor flavor/aroma/mouthfeel caused by the de-alc machine damage. No real innovation taking place and therefore it's becoming mega-rich people throwing around marketing dollars. Example, I just saw one launched, ingredients are: De-Alcoholized Wine Filtered water Grape juice concentrate Acacia gum Citric acid Natural flavors Sulfites Tell me which of these you expect to see in wine? I can see 3 out of 7 that should be there. This is the opposite of Bolle Drinks. Our partners and customers care about quality and ingredients as well as flavour and taste. I hope enough people care about this to counteract the millions being spent on marketing. #marketing #nonalcoholic #wine #craftmanship

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Year-on-year inflation fell to 4.6% in May, revealing more positive trends for the hospitality sector, according to CGA by NIQ and Prestige Purchasing https://lnkd.in/eX8MZ6qx

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After weeks of "will it, won't it", Britvic plc's board has finally given its seal of approval to a £3.3bn takeover bid by Carlsberg Group. The improved offer – of £12.90 per share plus 25p per share dividend paid out by Britvic to shareholders before the deal completes – will create what Carlsberg CEO Jacob Aarup-Andersen has described as a “one-stop shop” for booze and soft drinks, with a range that meets a variety of customer needs. With Britvic and PepsiCo firmly on board, the deal looks all but done, but there's there's still a chance for a late sting in the tail. With Britvic continuing to outperform in a challenging soft drinks category, and shares in the company yet to reach the amount offered by Carlsberg, investors may feel more juice can be squeezed from the Danish brewer. Will 75% of its shareholders vote in favour of the deal? Via The Grocer.

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Let's raise a glass to Rum! 🥃 For two years in a row, Rum has been crowned the #1 category in Great Britain's On Trade channel, overtaking Whisky. There is still a need for education on the Rum category as it is slightly more complex than the white/gold/dark classification. From Origin to Raw Material (sugar cane juice/molasses), Fermentation to Distillation (column/pot still), Aging (where, how long, in which barrels/woods)to Blending, and Tasting Notes to Usage Guidance - educating about the nuances of Rum will allow consumers to make informed choices and elevate their drinking experience. This is the rum brands’ role together with trade partners. #rum #rhum #ron #ontrade #cocktails #craftspirits Check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/d3ntUkks

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‘Exceptional harvest’ boosts revenues 15 per cent at Kent’s Chapel Down Group winery 🍷📈 Chapel Down has hailed an ‘exceptional harvest’, posting net sales revenues of £17.9 million for the year ended 31 December 2023 – up 15 per cent on the previous year. The Kent winery saw particular growth in its brand-defining traditional method sparkling (TMS) wines, selling 887,000 bottles to boost revenues 25 per cent. It also celebrated the ‘continued premiumisation’ of the brand, with Chapel Down’s average selling price up 13 per cent for 2023. The business closed out the year with a successful listing on AIM last December. It’s now looking to the future with the planting of the Boxley Abbey vineyard on the North Downs of Kent, growing its area share of UK planted vineyards to almost 10 per cent – with plans also to begin planting at Buckwell this spring. Andrew Carter, CEO of Chapel Down, said... Continue reading... https://lnkd.in/eAX7sg8C #winery #winemaker #manufacturing #drinks #finance #revenue #growth #investing #boost #harvest #argi #businessnews #businessintelligence

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