The Co-op Group is celebrating the Scottish Food and Drink Fortnight by doubling the number of its local spirit suppliers.
Around 30 Scottish gin makers from across Scotland are supplying more than 100 of the Co-op’s food stores across Scotland with a selection of flavoured, pink and premium local gins.
The retailer started collaborating with bottler and distiller Gordon and Macphail in 2017 and has since witnessed seeing a 75% jump in sales.
Fiona Fullarton from Gordon and Macphail said: “Gin continues its dramatic growth, attracting a younger consumer who is increasingly open to discover new flavours, that deliver on quality, style and taste. We are delighted to work with the Co-op, our company has a strong heritage in making the finest spirits and we are delighted to showcase these in communities across Scotland.
“Our local suppliers are providing a flavour of what Scotland has to offer, with our new range of spirits, including superb premium gins.”
Kevin Buchan the Group’s local sourcing buyer for Scotland, said: “The Co-op is committed to creating value in its communities and the local sourcing of products is a cornerstone of this approach.
“Gin is an exciting category, with new flavours and trends emerging, and with something of a ‘gin-aissance’ in the category we see opportunities for sustainable growth for both established brands and newer entrants – in particular the more diverse, premium and crafted gins with a story behind the brand and ingredients including local, natural botanicals chosen for unique quality and taste.”
Scotland Food & Drink, a trade association welcomed the Co-op Group’s developments in the gin category.
UK market development director Lucy Husband said: “It’s great that we are continuing to see such exciting developments in the gin category, which was reflected with a record number of entries in the distilling category at our recent Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards. We were delighted to welcome Kevin as a distilling judge and to hear that it resulted in many of the gins sampled being introduced to Scottish Co-op stores.
“As we celebrate Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight, customers will now be able to discover, buy and enjoy a fantastic selection of Scottish gins while ultimately supporting many local producers.”
