Drinks sales hit 15% year-on-year growth
The tracker marked the seventh successive week of year-on-year growth in on-premise drinks sales, boosted by good weather and a succession of public holidays.
According to the data, on-trade sales in managed venues finished 15% ahead during this period compared with the same week in 2022.
The week saw double-digit growth on five of the seven days, peaking at 29% on Wednesday 7 June, following a “particularly sunny day” with many football fans watching the West Ham final of the Europa Conference League in pubs and bars, according to CGA.
Encouraging growth
In addition, Saturday’s Champions League final involving Manchester City helped to produce a 15% upswing in drinks sales.
CGA managing director UK and Ireland Jonathan Jones said: “It’s very encouraging to see sales growth finally move past the rate of inflation.
“Pubs with outdoor spaces always flourish in the sunshine, and the heatwave has been particularly good news for LAD brands.
“It’s clear that consumers remain very keen to drink out and are overcoming the inconvenience of rail strikes to do so.”
Category wise, beer and cider saw the strongest increases, up 20% and 43% respectively, while soft drinks and wine, up 11% and 6% respectively, also recorded “solid” growth.
Strong start
However, the spirits category showed smaller progression, finishing the week 1% up.
Additionally, the tracker showed total drinks sales in the week to Saturday 3 June were 4% ahead of the equivalent week in 2022, largely driven by high growth on the Sunday and Monday of the Bank Holiday weekend.
The “strong start” to June followed a “more modest” end to May, with the previous tracker having shown drinks sales were 2% ahead of 2022 levels in the week to Saturday 27 May.
Jones added: “While some people are keeping a close eye on their spending, these figures bode well for the rest of the summer, especially if temperatures stay high.”
