Wine sales down by 12 million bottles

Further evidence that the wine sector is facing one of the most difficult years in its history is revealed this week with the news that year-on-year volume wine sales fell by 1% in the off-trade last year.

The figures released this week by Nielsen show that for the 12 months to March 21, 2009 there was the equivalent of 12 million fewer bottles of wine bought in the UK, down to 96 million cases. Overall value sales grew by 4%.

The independent convenience sector has been hit even worse with a 6% drop in bottles sold, whilst off-licence chains lost 9% of volumes and saw a 6% drop in value sales.

The Nielsen data also shows some of the country's biggest brands are suffering. Constellation's Hardy's brand lost 17% in sales and a 21% drop in volume. Its Stowells brand was down 26% by volume.

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