Poor weather sees drinks sales stagnate
Wine sales, up 11% and 3%, had a two good weeks as many people stayed indoors, but spirits, down 13% and 6%, fared badly year-on-year, as they have for most of 2023 so far
Poor weather in the last two weeks of March has seen drinks sales flatten according to the On Premise survey from CGA Strategy.
Average sales by value in managed venues were down by 3% in the seven days to 25 March, the poorest week of 2023 so far. They recovered to finish 4% ahead in the week up to 1 April.
However, with inflation still in double digits, trading remains well behind March 2022 in real terms.
Rain and low temperatures in the week up to 25 March was the cause for the drop in sales, especially as the same week last year was sunny.
In the week to 25 March, beer sales were down 1% with cider sales down 16% because of the lack of outside drinking. They bounced back the following week to finish 5% and 10% ahead year-on-year respectively.
Wine sales, up 11% and 3%, had a two good weeks as many people stayed indoors, but spirits, down 13% and 6%, fared badly year-on-year, as they have for most of 2023 so far.
Jonathan Jones, CGA managing director, UK and Ireland, said: “Small differences in temperature can make a big difference to sales at this time of year—and that’s how it proved in the last two weeks of March.
“A difficult third week of March was followed by a much better final week, highlighting the fragility of year-on-year growth in 2023. Operators and suppliers will be pinning hopes on sunshine over the Easter weekend to bring consumers out to drink and loosen their spending despite the ongoing cost of living challenges.”
