Leading Spanish gin brand Puerto de Indias is looking to expand further in the UK convenience market, with the company now targeting off-trade outlets in particular for its strawberry and blueberry gin.

Speaking to Better Retailing at the company’s distillery in Seville, international sales manager Raul Blanco explained how the product has become the first globally successful Spanish gin, with presence in more than 40 countries.

Already a category leader in Spain, Puerto de Indias claims to have created the first gin from natural strawberries. Blanco also pointed to recent research highlighting the key opportunity of strawberry gin in the UK: “It has been named the favourite gin flavour in the UK. This is especially true amongst the younger demographic, with over half of 18-24-year-olds rating it as their favourite flavour*.”

“There is also the opportunity of airport sales, with 60% of UK tourists trying local gins when travelling and a resounding 74% of Brits looking for gin brands they’ve tried on holiday when they return home. This is why duty-free is also a huge market for us,” he added.

* Puerto de Indias and 3Gem UK Consumer Research)