Drinks sales up 3% due to warm weather and rugby
Despite this the week’s wine sales were up by only 1% year-on-year, while spirits were down 6%
Drinks sales were up 3% year-on-year for the week ended 14 October as a result of unseasonably warm weather and rugby world cup games involving Ireland and Wales according to data from CGA.
This increase makes it eight weeks of drinks sales growth out of the last nine.
The rugby and high temperatures helped make Long Alcoholic Drinks (LAD) categories the biggest winners of the week, with cider sales up 13% year-on-year.
Beer sales in Scotland rose 66% on the back of the men’s football team taking on Spain in a Euro qualifier.
Furthermore, beer sales in Wales were up 41% as a result of Wales’ rugby world cup quarter final with Argentina.
Despite this the week’s wine sales were up by only 1% year-on-year, while spirits were down 6%.
Jonathan Jones, CGA by NIQ’s managing director, UK and Ireland, said: “Changeable weather has made for an up-and-down few months for the LAD category, but the sunshine and rugby world cup have given suppliers and operators a strong start to the autumn. England’s semi-final last weekend should extend the run and give the On Premise a springboard into November and the festive season.”
