CGA data in the latest Westons Cider Report Coronavirus Update also found cider value in the on-trade is down 39.7% year on year with volume dropping by 122m litres.
The report also looked at the average cost of a pint of craft cider, which was found to be £4.25 – 37p more than the market average. Amid the pandemic, the number of distribution points fell by 9,137 (8.7%) to 96,007.
It also found in terms of cider volume, the on-trade is seeing a reflection of total market performance.
Value and volume sales
The Government’s Eat Out to Help Out Scheme helped boost cider in pubs with the value rate of sale 10.1% ahead of where it was last year, according to the CGA Drinks Recovery Tracker.
The same data looked at the week ending Saturday 10 October and found 94.2% of outlets had reopened compared to pre-lockdown however, the following week this was down to 91.4% as restrictions tightened and ‘very high’ tier lockdowns were introduced.
Independent pubs’ cider volume fell by 41.5%, leased is 41% and managed outlets was down 39.1% when compared to the same period a year ago.
Tough time
Westons Cider insight and innovation manager Tim Williams said: “There’s no denying it’s been a tough six months for the on-trade, but it’s certainly not all doom and gloom for the cider category. The on-trade re-opening coincided with a spell of good weather, which gave the category a much-needed boost over the summer months – particularly in fruit, which tends to be most impacted by seasonality.”
However, the report was optimistic for the future of cider in the on-trade where it said the hopeful return of sport in 2021 will help encourage drinkers to return to pubs.
