Every year The Wine Merchant carries out the most comprehensive study of the UK independent wine trade.
This year’s Survey of Independents involved more than 200 businesses. It was the 12th survey of its kind, revealing not only the current state of play in the trade, but showing how trends have evolved over the past decade.
The survey also gives important pointers about where the independent trade could be heading next.
We’ve combined all of the 2025 findings, serialised in our March and April editions, into one useful PDF document which can be downloaded below for just £25 including VAT.
The report includes a combination of data and qualitative information in the form of comments from independent merchants, adding extra context to the topline findings.
- How sales have changed year on year and the level of confidence about the year ahead
- A breakdown of revenue streams, product category turnover and margins
- Average bottle prices and basket values
- League tables of countries and regions of origin ranked according to interest levels and commercial importance
- The top 20 suppliers to independents, as voted for by merchants
- Feedback on what suppliers do well – and what they do badly
- Data on the popularity of extras such as draught wine and Enomatics
- Analysis of the growth of the hybrid model for independents
- Independent attitudes to a range of different types of trade tastings
- Attitudes to listings crossover with multiple rivals and other independent merchants
- Independents’ use of social media and ecommerce
- The importance of non-wine categories and which ones are growing for indies
- How many indies are buying direct from producers and how import and buying habits are evolving
- The challenges merchants face in staff recruitment
