The UK Spirits Industry

This study looks at all companies registered in the United Kingdom where they identify themselves as distillers, rectifiers and blenders of spirits.

This study includes companies that are dormant or non-trading some of which might be latent while others may operate under their owners’ names but incorporate to protect the business name. In addition, all newly incorporated companies are included. The study will exclude those companies that do not specifically identify themselves as distillers, rectifiers and blenders of spirits.

The aim of this study is to provide an overview of the key movers and shakers in the UK distilling, rectifying and blending of spirits sector. Only key data has been isolated, particularly the company’s net worth and total assets, but also its full name, date incorporated, registered office, other activities, shareholders, directors (with date of birth,occupation and nationality) and number of employees.

Two indicators of size are used: net worth and total assets. These are preferable to turnover which is influenced by profit margins and whether the companies are capital or labour intensive.

In the years 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, new company incorporations in this sector were 119, 159, 294 and 466 respectively.

Whisky has 25% and gin has 7% share of the beverages market in the UK. EU production of whisky is dominated by the UK at £3.4 billion, comprising 81% of the total production, with Spain being second largest at only £74 million.

UK manufacturers sales of gin have increased 267% since 2009 from £130 million to £461 million. UK sales represent 72% of the total EU production in 2017, followed by Spain at 11% (£71 million).

The Scotch Whisky Association is the whisky trade body. There are around 128 malt and grain distilleries in Scotland. In 2017, of every £100 of goods exported from the UK, £1.30 was Scotch whisky. Exports of whisky accounted for £4.5 billion worth, or 79%, of spirits exports, with £4.37 billion being Scotch whisky. The EU is main region for Scotch whisky exports and accounted for 32% of the total value of exports in 2017.

Before 2009, no distillery under 400 gallons would be granted a licence. Once this policy changed small, licensed distilleries soared from 113 in 2009 to the current 419.

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association represents the gin trade. Sales of gin at home and abroad has doubled in the last five years. Sales of gin in the UK is £1.5 billion. Gin exports are around £532 million. There are around 315 distilleries in the UK; more than double five years ago. 1.5 million more UK adults are drinking gin than 4 years ago.

More than 11,000 pubs have closed in the UK in the last decade, a fall of almost a quarter (23%). The number of UK pubs has fallen from around 50,000 in 2008 to some 39,000 in 2018. Although many pubs have closed, the total turnover of pubs and bars has held up, remaining flat since 2008, adjusting for inflation. Around 70% of workers in pubs and bars are paid less than the Living Wage Foundation’s living wage.