THE WINE MERCHANT. An independent magazine for independent retailers
Issue 130, November 2023
Dog of the month: Max Eynsham Cellars, Oxfordshire
Independent openings are cancelling out the closures After a turbulent year for the indie trade, store numbers are almost exactly at the level they were last November
D
espite an unusually high rate of
store closures in 2023, the number of specialist independent wine
shops has barely changed in the past 12 months.
The Wine Merchant’s figure recorded at
the end of October stood at 1,018 shops,
run by 774 operators, compared to 1,019
shops, run by 777 operators, exactly a year ago.
Although there could yet be some
turbulence in the independent trade as the calendar year ends and merchants make tough decisions about lease renewals,
the resilience of the sector in what was expected to be a particularly tough 12 months will be a relief to many.
With mortgage rates and energy bills
soaring and inflation running rampant,
consumers and businesses alike have been feeling the squeeze, with the summer duty hike adding to the pressures.
But new openings in the independent
trade, along with expansion by existing
operators, have broadly cancelled out the
cap
closures.
This year has seen the closure of The
Wine Parlour’s two sites in Brixton; Noble Fine Liquor in north London; Cairns &
Hickey in Leeds; M Wine Store in Victoria, London; Saltpeter Wines in Woodbridge,
Suffolk; Ben’s Wine & Tapas in Totnes; The Continues page 2
Roebuck Estates in Sussex is one of several wine companies striving for sustainability. But is the industry as a whole doing enough? Our feature begins on page 30.