Waitrose has reported growing sales of ready-to-drink cocktails and canned wines in what it has dubbed “a major ‘tinification’ trend”.
The ready-to-drink category in Waitrose has grown 11% year on year, with whisky and vodka-based RTDs up 73% and 28% respectively. Meanwhile, canned sparkling wine is up 70% and canned rosé sales have climbed 23%.
The growth demonstrated “a move towards convenience, with customers increasingly seeking portable, perfectly portioned options for socialising, picnics, and travel”, according to Waitrose.
Improving quality was also a major factor in the canned booze boom, according to the retailer.
Producers were “now using high-quality ingredients and advanced canning technology to preserve flavour and effervescence, making RTDs and canned wines a genuinely appealing alternative to their bottled counterparts,” it said.
“We’re seeing a huge trend of customers picking up canned cocktails for that ultimate summer convenience,” said Sarah Holland, Waitrose RTD buyer. “Whether it’s for a sunny picnic or a weekend festival, you can enjoy a top-tier drink without having to play bartender.”
Top-selling RTD cocktails in Waitrose include serves from Cîroc, Moth, Funkin, White Claw, Absolut and Bottlegreen.
In wine, sales of lines from Canned Wine Co, La Vieille Ferme and Hardys are also booming.
Waitrose canned NPD
To tap growing demand, Waitrose has introduced five new canned cocktails this year. Its own-label range now includes products such as Spicy Pineapple Daiquiri and Peach Melba Spritz, alongside non-alcoholic options such as its Non-Alcoholic Mojito, Non-Alcoholic Spicy Margarita, and Non-Alcoholic Paloma.
In wine, the retailer recently bolstered its offer with a duo of new canned wines from Canned Wine Co. The supplier’s 2025 Organic Grüner and 2022 Oak Aged Garnacha are now in over 200 stores (rsp: £5.75/250ml),
Across the off-trade, sales of ready-to-drink cocktails grew by 12% in volume and 17% in value in 2025 – generating £704m in sales – according to a recent WSTA report [NIQ 52 w/e 27 December 2025].
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