Holland & Barrett launch marks a ‘first’ for the organic alcohol-free sector

By Jo Gilbert

Published: 28 May, 2019

Health food chain Holland & Barrett is taking strides into the alcohol-free sector with a new organic and vegan wine – the first to be available in the UK, according to its producer.

Zéra, from organic producer Pierre Chavin, is made in the South of France with “no fermentation, no preservatives, no sulphites”.

The range comprises both a still and a sparkling Chardonnay, with a Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Rosé also due to be launched nationwide next month.

The wines are de-stemmed and crushed before under going pellicular maceration  – cold temperatures for white and rosé, and warm for red – to accelerate the extraction of the colour components and tannins.

With a calorie content of between 21 and 29 per glass, the Zéra wines are chasing moderation and wellness trends not just in the UK, where Holland & Barrett has over 1,000 stores, but across Europe.

According to Pierre Chavin, five million women gave birth across the continent in 2015 – 60% of which were breastfeeding.

Religion is also a big contributing factor to the growth of interest in non-alcoholic options.

Over 20% of the world’s population is Muslim, and the halal market is worth €5.5 billion in France alone.

The low and no category of course continues to grow in the UK.

Distill Ventures, which was an early investor in Seedlip and recently commissioned a whitepaper on this topic, found that 61% of UK consumers want better choice when it comes to non-alcoholic drinks.

“Meaningful experiences, curiosity around flavour and a plethora of choices remain relevant trends in socialising and how people spend their free time,” the report read.

Online searches with the word ‘mocktail’ are also up 42%, suggesting that consumers are looking for ways to drink less without sacrificing social experience.

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