Contents:

1. Market Definition REPORT COVERAGE MARKET SECTORS By Type of Drink By Type of Outlet MARKET TRENDS Growth in Sales by Multiple Grocers Legislation and Taxation Remain Key Factors Defensive Mergers Among Off-Licences National and Global Consolidation Among Manufacturers ECONOMIC TRENDS Population Table 1: UK Resident Population Estimates by Sex (000), Mid-Years 2001-2005 Gross Domestic Product Table 2: UK Gross Domestic Product at Current and Annual Prices (£m), 2001-2005 Inflation Table 3: UK Rate of Inflation (%), 2001-2005 Unemployment Table 4: Actual Number of Unemployed Persons in the UK (million), 2001-2005 Household Disposable Income Table 5: Household Disposable Income per Capita (£), 2001-2005 MARKET POSITION The UK Overseas 2. Market Size THE TOTAL MARKET Table 6: The UK Market for Take-Home Drinks at Current and Constant 2002 Prices (£m at rsp), 2002-2006 Figure 1: The UK Market for Take-Home Drinks at Current and Constant 2002 Prices (£m at rsp), 2002-2006 MARKET SEGMENTATION By Type of Drink Table 7: The UK Market for Take-Home Drinks by Type of Drink at Current Prices (£m at rsp), 2002-2006 Table 8: The UK Market for Take-Home Drinks by Type of Drink by Market Share by Value (%), 2002 and 2006 Wine Spirits and Liqueurs Beer Other Alcohol By Type of Outlet Table 9: The UK Market for Take-Home Drinks by Type of Outlet by Market Share by Value (%), 1990-2006 3. Industry Background RECENT HISTORY INDUSTRY SYNOPSIS Table 10: Key Financial Ratios for UK Retailers of Alcoholic and Other Beverages (£000, % and £), 2004/2005 NUMBER OF COMPANIES Table 11: Number of UK VAT-Based Enterprises Engaged in the Retail Sale of Alcoholic and Other Beverages by Turnover Sizeband (£000, number and %), 1999-2005 EMPLOYMENT Table 12: Number of UK VAT-Based Local Units Engaged in the Retail Sale of Alcoholic and Other Beverages by Employment Sizeband (number and %), 2005 REGIONAL VARIATIONS IN THE MARKETPLACE HOW ROBUST IS THE MARKET? LEGISLATION Licensing Act Harmonisation of Duty KEY TRADE ASSOCIATIONS British Beer and Pub Association Wine and Spirit Trade Association General Retail Associations 4. Competitor Analysis THE MARKETPLACE Grocers and Convenience Stores Off-Licences Mail Order and Internet MARKET LEADERS Table 13: The UK's Leading Take-Home Retailers by Number of Outlets, 2006 Thresher Group (First Quench Retailing Ltd) Company Structure Current and Future Developments Financial Results Bargain Booze Ltd Company Structure Current and Future Developments Financial Results Oddbins Ltd Company Structure Current and Future Developments Financial Results Wine Cellar Ltd Company Structure Current and Future Developments Financial Results Majestic Wine PLC Company Structure Current and Future Developments Financial Results Multiple Grocers Other Companies OUTSIDE SUPPLIERS Table 14: The Leading Suppliers of Drinks to the Take-Home Trade and Their Main Products, 2006 MARKETING ACTIVITY Main Media Advertising Expenditure Table 15: Main Media Advertising Expenditure by Alcohol Retailers (£000), 2000 and 2006 Other Marketing Activity 5. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPORTUNITIES THREATS 6. Buying Behaviour INTRODUCTION POPULAR OCCASIONS FOR HAVING A DRINK Table 16: Popular Occasions for Enjoying an Alcoholic Drink (% of adults aged 16+), 2000, 2004 and 2006 Drinking at Home Table 17: Popular Occasions for Drinking at Home by Sex, Age, Social Grade, Working Status and Region (% of adults aged 16+), 2006 LEADING DRINKS BRANDS Table 18: Drinks Brands Consumed At Least Once a Month (% of adults aged 16+), 2000, 2004 and 2006 7. Current Issues RECOVERY FOR SPECIALIST RETAILERS DEMISE OF UNWINS THRESHER GROUP DEVELOPMENTS OTHER CORPORATE DEVELOPMENTS SMOKING BANS LICENSING CHANGES DRINKS IN GROWTH AND DECLINE 8. The Global Market THE UK'S POSITION THE SUPPLY OF DRINKS 9. Forecasts INTRODUCTION Population Table 19: Forecast UK Resident Population by Sex (000), Mid-Years 2006-2010 Gross Domestic Product Table 20: Forecast Growth in UK Gross Domestic Product in Real Terms (%), 2006-2010 Inflation Table 21: Forecast UK Rate of Inflation (%), 2006-2010 Unemployment Table 22: Forecast Actual Number of Unemployed Persons in the UK (million), 2006-2010 FORECASTS 2007 TO 2011 Table 23: The Forecast UK Market for Take-Home Drinks at Current Prices (£m at rsp), 2007-2011 MARKET GROWTH Figure 2: The UK Market for Take-Home Drinks at Current Prices (£m at rsp), 2002-2011 FUTURE TRENDS Mature Market with a Fashion Influence Simplification of Consumer Choice Effects of Concentration in Brand Share Drinks Categories in the Take-Home Market Stabilisation in Market Share by Type of Outlet 10. Company Profiles Bargain Booze Ltd First Quench Retailing Ltd Majestic Wine Plc Oddbins Ltd WINE CELLAR LTD 11. Consumer Confidence METHODOLOGY KEY FINDINGS THIS QUARTER THE WILLINGNESS TO BORROW Confidence Rebounds Table A: The Average Amount Consumers Are Willing to Borrow in Order to Purchase Expensive Items at Current and Constant November 2004 Prices (£ and £bn), August 2005-2006 Fewer Adults Wish to Borrow Table B: The Number of Adults Willing to Borrow in Order to Purchase Expensive Items (000 and %), August 2005-2006 SPENDING FROM SAVINGS Strong Recovery in Spending from Savings Table C: The Average Amount Consumers Are Willing to Spend from Savings in Order to Purchase Expensive Items at Current and Constant November 2004 Prices (£ and £bn), August 2005-2006 Savings Grow in Relative Importance Table D: The Average Amounts Adults Are Confident Spending to Purchase Expensive Items (£ and %), August 2005-2006 12. Further Sources Associations Publications General Sources Government Sources Bisnode Sources