Drinks sales 3% ahead of 2021
In the seven days to Saturday 19 November sales were 3% ahead of the same week last year despite the mounting pressure on consumers’ disposable incomes.
However, after adjustments for inflation, which hit a 40-year high of 11% in October, trade was significantly below last year’s levels.
This comes as the previous tracker showed sales were 2% ahead of last year in the seven days to Saturday 29 October.
Great springboard
CGA managing director UK and Ireland Johnathan Jones said: “Nine weeks of year-on-year growth give on premise operators and suppliers a great springboard into festive and World Cup trading.
“While inflation is impacting growth and profit margins are under strain, these figures show that consumers remain very keen to drink out in pubs and bars.”
Six of the week’s seven days were in year-on-year growth, peaking at 9% on Sunday (13 November) with trading having dipped 2% by Saturday (19 November) in a lull ahead of the first games for England and Wales in the football World Cup.
However, data from Oxford Partnership last week showed draught beer and cider sales were boosted by 50% during the home nations opening games on Monday 21 November.
Massive opportunity
Moreover, following the pattern of recent weeks there was strong trading in the beer (up 8%) and cider (up 11%) categories, both of which should continue to perform well as the World Cup progresses, according to CGA.
Soft drinks (up 5%) and wine (up 6%) were in solid growth too, while spirits (down 11%) continue to suffer against the tough comparatives of late 2021.
CGA client director GB drinks Paul Bolton said: “The FIFA World Cup is a massive opportunity for the on premise and drinks suppliers to claw back any recent deficits caused by market turbulence, and to finish the year on a high.”
