Sapling Spirits is set to launch its Naturally Smooth Sapling Vodka into 171 Sainsbury’s stores across the UK, in a major step forward for the brand’s retail expansion.

Rolling out from 19 April, the listing will give the climate-positive spirits brand significantly wider visibility in grocery, as it looks to bring its sustainability-led proposition to a broader base of shoppers.

The vodka is made using organic premium winter wheat and is distilled four times before being blended with charcoal-filtered, deionised water. Sapling said the process delivers a “clean, crisp spirit with a naturally smooth, slightly sweet finish”.

Founded in 2018 by Ed Faulkner and Ivo Devereux, Sapling Spirits was born out of a community tree-planting project in Scotland, where the pair identified what they saw as a gap in the market for a spirits brand combining environmental responsibility with premium quality.

Since then, the business has built its proposition around sustainability as well as product quality. Certified as a B Corp since 2022, Sapling plants a tree for every bottle sold and has planted more than 500,000 trees to date, with a target of reaching one million by 2027.

The brand said its refill schemes and alternative packaging formats have also helped prevent the production of more than 300,000 glass bottles.

Sapling Spirits co-founder Ivo Devereux said: “From the beginning, our goal has been to create a product that is as pure as the earth intended. Partnering with Sainsbury’s is a natural step for us. Their commitment to sustainability, focus on quality, and premium shopper base make them an ideal partner.

“We’re incredibly proud to be working with a retailer that shares our vision, and excited to see Sapling on shelves across the UK.”

Sainsbury’s senior spirits buyer Lauren Battrick added: “We’re excited to be welcoming Sapling Vodka to our shelves this spring. It’s a great quality product with a strong sustainability story that we believe will appeal to Sainsbury’s shoppers.”

To support the launch, Sapling Spirits has also teamed up with Big Green Egg to offer shoppers the chance to win one of four MiniMax barbecues, alongside a selection of Sapling merchandise.

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