A new single serve PET wine glass is getting set to ramp up its UK distribution following a deal with Les Grands Chais de France.
Inova Simple Inspiracion, based in Spain, owns the rights to Singlz and Quart Vin Glass in Europe, Russia, the Middle East and Asia.
Simon Robertson, business development director for the firm, told harpers.co.uk: "We picked up the concept in 2011, but we realised that without a major filler supporting us we couldn't get to the price we needed to be at. "
It has taken one year of working with French wines and spirits producer Les Grands Chais de France to get everything in place for a wider launch. "Only now we're ready to go to market," he said.
Robertson added that the company's opportunity in UK convenience retail is "massive". Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury's already offer the Froglet single serve, but Robertson said none of the other major retailers have an equivalent product.
It is already available in the UK through Matthew Clark since late 2012, and last summer was on sale at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and in Alton Towers. Robertson said it is perfectly suited for bit music or sporting events.
Following a test with Waitrose, Robertson says the brand's rrp should be around £2.20 to £2.25 for a 18.7cl serve. Matthew Clark lists is Spanish Vino Solo which has a red Tempranillo, white Verdejo and rose Bobal. It is in talks about introducing its Italian selection.
It is already targeting the travel industry, and is stocked on Dutch railways. Without a consistent supply contract, it found it difficult to compete on price with single serve PET bottles. However, its deal with Les Grands Chais in Bordeaux has helped cut some of those costs.
The concept has already been picked up in the USA, after the group featured on Shark Tank - the US equivalent of Dragons' Den, twice.
Singlz is available in Norway, Denamrk, the Netherlands, Spain, Greece, Begium and France. "We're finding more success so far in the Far East markets - we have a client in South Korea who has taken three containers of Vino Solo", said Robertson.
Singlz previously worked exclusively with Constellation/Accolade in the UK on the Hardys brand.