What are realistic sales volumes and ROI for RTD products in major UK grocery retailers like WH Smith?

RTD sales performance in major UK grocery retailers is challenging and heavily dependent on retailer terms. **WH Smith** is one of the most expensive entry points in the market: expect a £20–30k upfront investment in their marketing suite, with listing fees around £500 per store. Return on sales (ROS) is typically 6–8 cans per store per SKU per week in regular stores, though higher in travel locations (train stations, airports). Over a year, this translates to roughly 600 cans per store per SKU annually—a volume that few brands can profitably sustain at standard wholesale margins. Members report that WH Smith's alcohol licence expansion has been slow despite promises (one member noted only 35 of a promised 120 licences materialised). Several members have terminated WH Smith contracts after finding the marketing investment unrecoverable relative to sales. The general consensus is that only established brands with significant scale (e.g., MOTH) can make the unit economics work. **LCB offers EDI integration** if you proceed. Key caveat: one member advised "certainly not rushing back soon" after their WH Smith experience, citing the gap between promised and actual performance.