Early adopter M&S continues to innovate in its ready-to-drink range with new additions including the Sloe Gin Sour and Blood Orange Negroni – as well as White Mulled Wine. Before Christmas, the retailer launched a festive party pack, bringing the convenience of RTDs to the party occasion. And M&S continues to champion low and no, with a range of its own cocktails now without the booze.

Waitrose continues to evolve and premiumise the ready-to-drink category. Judges praised buyers for making it the go-to place for new innovation, both from brands and with in-house products. In autumn last year, the company made several changes to its premium own-label range, including the addition of the No 1 Vesper Martini.

There has been plenty of innovation in the Sainsbury’s RTD range over the past 12 months. The year saw the launch of Piña Colada 1.5-litre bag-in-box, as well as Taste the Difference Sangria and sharing bottles of ready -to-drink Seville Orange Gin & Tonic. Store visits showed single-serve RTDs alongside single-serve wine and fizz, with on-the-go convenience front and centre.

It’s tough to dedicate a lot of shelf space to a small (but growing) category, so Ocado has an advantage in being an online retailer. Whether consumers are looking for big-brand alcoholfree alternatives or more esoteric options, there is something for everyone. And it’s working. Over the first two weeks of the Euros, Ocado reported sales increases across the low and no board. The retailer counts M&S’s range in its portfolio as well as listings such as non-alcoholic aperitif spritz brand Wilfred’s.

The talk at the Club Soda summit this year was about the genius of Sainsbury’s adding alcohol-free beer brand Lucky Saint to its meal deal off er, championing the lunchtime occasion for no alcohol. The retailer also rolled out a selection of mid-strength wines in its Taste the Difference range, as it looked to face into the moderation trend. The team at Sainsbury’s isn’t afraid to innovate when it comes to selling low and no.

Last year saw Waitrose win the gong in this category as the retailer paved the way for signposting low and no alcohol in supermarkets. The partnership with Diageo saw blue signage roll out across multiple stores to help shoppers navigate the space. Innovation in low and no has continued, with tie-ups including a collaboration between CBD drinks brand Goodrays and non-alcoholic spirits brand Clean Co, as well as a pop-up Lucky Saint bar in its King’s Cross store.

2024 saw Waitrose undergo an extensive range review of its spirits selection. Spirits buyer John Vine and his team took a look at what was on the shelves and made significant changes, cutting the number of gins to boost the space for rum and tequila. In its annual Food & Drinks Report, the retailer championed the continued success of home cocktails and an interest in savoury drinks flavours.

Sainsbury’s has put a lot of eff ort into its spirits range and our store visits saw the rewards. Low-level fixtures and back-lit shelving add to the premium feel and our judges praised tasting notes for gin and whisky as well as cocktail suggestions for liqueurs and aperitifs. Gift packs and cocktail-making equipment are also well merchandised.

Tesco demonstrated a strong performance in spirits, once again showcasing that big can be beautiful. From breakout displays of Diageo brands to smaller players such as Tarquin’s and Conker, the range is expansive. Several stores use security netting to combat theft, which judges felt was more shopper friendly than sealed cabinets seen in some other supermarkets.

Aldi has been making waves in sustainability over the past 12 months, with key innovations including a super-lightweight bottle in partnership with Lanchester Wines. The 300g glass bottle offers a 25% CO2 reduction compared to the UK standard 400g bottle. The first wine packed in the bottle was the retailer’s Kooliburra Sauvignon/Semillon. Aldi also launched two ownbrand wines in paper bottles.

Co-op has been championing Fairtrade for 30 years and the retailer still finds plenty of room for innovation. Over the past 12 months, additions to the range have included Irresistible Fairtrade Chardonnay 2024 from Chile, as well as Mount Rozier Fairtrade Shiraz/Malbec 2024 and Stormhoek Cape Tradition Fairtrade Sparkling Rosé 2024, both from South Africa. The retailer also launched a Fairtrade rum.

Waitrose has continued to champion sustainability, with recent measures including a Regenified certificate for regenerative viticulture at its Leckford Estates orchard and vineyards in Hampshire, a first for the UK. In October, the retailer announced it will trial cork recycling in seven stores across the UK.

Throughout the cost of living crisis, Aldi has cemented its reputation for both quality and value. Whether consumers are looking for off - the-beaten-track wines from Greece or lesserknown regions of Portugal, or they want ownlabel spirits for the home bar, Aldi has delivered. And it has even got its customers involved, with initiatives such as recruiting 30 gin enthusiasts to act as tasters to inform its buying policy.

Tesco has shown itself to be a dominant force in drinks retailing, demonstrating that size and scale can go hand in hand with attention to detail and innovation. The retailer also recently joined the Sustainable Wine Roundtable, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability in the wine industry. Besides experimenting with disease-resistant grape varieties, Tesco is working to reduce bottle weights.

A strong showing across the board makes Sainsbury’s a contender for the big award. From innovation in low and no alcohol to new Taste the Difference wines, well-merchandised spirits and fun formats for RTDs, the team has worked hard to drive excitement and value across the entire BWS division. Can Sainsbury’s take the gong for the second year in a row?

It has been another busy year for the Bestway Retail group, which has moved more towards hybrid operations. Openings and refits include Costcutter/Bargain Boozes in Kent and Crawley, as well as Best-one and Bargain Booze tieups. In July, Bestway Retail entered a long-term partnership with c-store brand Simply Fresh, paving the way for Simply Fresh retailers to open dual fascia stores with Bargain Booze and Wine Rack brands.

Our store visits showed Budgens to be a great example of convenience retailing. Newer shops feature a store-within-a-store feel for the drinks section, with well-stocked shelves and a great range. As well as some stores having a tie-up with Laithwaites for the wine, our visits showed the retailer to off er a wide selection of beers and ciders, as well as space dedicated to RTDs.

Co-op continues to provide a first-class example of what can be done with a small space. From innovation in Fairtrade to launching a multi-store trial featuring chillers dedicated to single-serve cans across different categories, the retailer has a BWS answer for every drinker. The team also continues on its mission to make wine more accessible to its customers.

2024 saw Spar debut a range of own-brand wines in a bid to offer “exceptional value”. The range comprises A Drop of Red, A Sip of White and A Splash of Rosé. The retailer’s wines are curated by Philippa Carr MW and the new range features characters that are designed to create recognisable branding and engage with age-appropriate shoppers through the use of QR codes incorporated on the bottle.

Shopping at Booths is always a pleasure and the beer selection, put together by buyer Pete Newton, is a real highlight. Judges were impressed with the range of premium bottled ales, which celebrate local breweries, as well as craft cans and Belgian beers. The category is further celebrated at different times of the year, with a recent visit showing an Oktoberfest promotion on bus stop signs.

Judges were impressed with the attention to detail when it comes to beer at Morrisons. The retailer carries the big brands and celebrates local brewers through initiatives to support food and drink makers. It also hosts beer festivals to champion the range. From the Isle of Skye Brewing Co to Vocation, Thornbridge and Buxton Brewery, there’s plenty of interest.

Behemoth Tesco is a great example of a retailer that can combine both big beer formats and smaller brands. The supermarket offers something for all tastes and budgets – from slabs of lager to mixed packs of real ale and speciality world beers. Our mystery store visits saw well-stocked shelves with a plethora to choose from.

Aldi has done a sterling job in providing both value and excitement. The team includes Josh Heley, buying director still wine; Lucy Pemberton, buying director for sparkling wine, low & no and fortified wine; Matt Greatrex, buying director spirits for no & low spirits and ready to drink; and Mark Watkins, buying director for beer, cider, low/no beer and cider, soft drinks and energy drinks.

This small but mighty team was praised for the care and attention taken to put together a premium and interesting drinks selection. No surprise, then, that Booths was recently awarded both the wine and spirits gongs at the People’s Choice Awards. The team features just five people: wine buyer Victoria Anderson, sparkling wine buyer Rachael Machin, beer and spirits buyer Pete Newton, supply chain analyst Leah Pilkington and buyer’s assistant Gail Jordan.

Led by Jason Godley, the Tesco BWS team was praised by judges for its collaborative approach. Recent innovation in the department includes redesigned Finest labels across the wine range, with fresh packaging continuing into spring 2024. The retailer has also championed PIWI grape varieties with the launch of Floreal, a new diseaseresistant hybrid grape.

Cider gets a lot of love at Morrisons, with bags of fruit SKUs among the apple offers. Besides big brands such as Strongbow, Thatchers and Kopparberg, there is some intrigue from the likes of Somerset brand Lilley’s Cider. Lilley’s flavours include Raspberry Lemonade and Passion Fruit Martini. Bag-in- box cider also features at the retailer, including in its premium The Best range.

The cider category has seen trends shift over the past year or so, and Tesco has kept ahead of what consumers want. As well as a bountiful selection of big-brand apple variants, the retailer stocks more craft-style products such as Galipette, Pulpt and Angioletti Riserva Italian cider.

From own-label low-alcohol cider to Aspall Premier Cru, the Waitrose selection brings a touch of class to cider shopping. Its premium own-label No 1, made by Westons, is a vintage English cider, while there are also wine bottle-sized offerings from France in the form of Normandy brand Sassy. Ideal for elevating the cider occasion.

The discounter continues to cement its reputation for sourcing good-quality wines while maintaining affordable prices. Aldi has long been known for championing lesserknown regions and grape varieties – and in the current economic environment, this has meant both value and quality. The retailer is not afraid to have a little fun, either, with wine expert Justin Youraldi posing as a fine wine merchant while serving Aldi wines to unsuspecting showjumping event goers.

Barely a week has gone by when Majestic hasn’t been in the headlines. From rapid delivery partnerships to store openings and the purchase of Vagabond, the retailer has been busy. The company reported that sales of organic wines across its retail and on-trade supply businesses rose 94% during the 12 months to the end of July, compared to the same period a year prior. And if that wasn’t enough, chief executive John Colley has been extremely vocal in the fight against duty reform.

Sainsbury’s goes from strength to strength, with a buying team that has added tremendous value to the Taste the Difference range. Total Taste the Difference sales were up 18% in the 28 weeks to September 14, which the retailer claimed was the “strongest premium private-label growth” in the market. Within wine, the team has innovated across the mid-strength opportunity and throughout the range. The supermarket also captured the zeitgeist with the exclusive launch of the infamous “chicken wine” in magnum.