Drinks sales 1% down vs pre-pandemic levels
The data showed on premise sales by value were ahead of the current 10.5% rate of inflation with year-on-year growth having hit 13%.
However, as trade in early 2022 was weakened by concerns regarding the Omicron variant of Covid, sales were 1% down against the same week in 2020, the last comparable pre-pandemic period.
Important proviso
Additionally, after adjustments for inflation, sales were substantially behind pre-Covid levels in real terms.
CGA managing director UK and Ireland Johnathan Jones said: “It’s been a decent first half of January for the on premise, with the important proviso that drinks sales are still below where we were before Covid.”
Each of the seven days showed year-on-year growth, topping 20% on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (9, 10 and 12 January), though increases were frailer at the weekend, finishing at 12% and 7% ahead on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 January respectively.
Category wise soft drinks saw the strongest growth (up 24%) while wine (up 17%), cider (up 16%) and beer (up 14%) all beat last year by double-digits.
Squeezed spending
Additionally, although spirit sales were flat, they finished just ahead of pre-Covid comparisons.
This comes as the previous tracker showed while sales were 24% up compared with last year, they were just 2% ahead in comparison to 2020 during the seven days to Saturday 7 January.
Jones added: “It’s particularly pleasing to see such strong growth in soft drinks, which suggests that consumers who have taken [sober] pledges are still visiting pubs and bars.
“High household bills may squeeze spending in 2023, but it’s clear that consumers remain eager to drink out.”
