The independent trade grew by 4.8% in 2014 and is now worth more than £500m for the first time.

Early results from The Wine Merchant’s 2015 reader survey value the independent market at £506.2m, up from £483.2m a year ago.

But the figures reveal that, as store numbers have grown, the amount of revenue that independents are achieving per shop has dipped very slightly.

The data applies to UK independent merchants that operate retail premises and have a genuine specialism in wine. It does not include chains such as Oddbins or Wine Rack, general off-licences or convenience stores.

Full details will appear in the March edition of The Wine Merchant, along with other findings from the survey.