Drink sales rise YOY for ninth consecutive week
The CGA also revealed Long Alcoholic Drinks categories were in double-digit growth across the week, with cider sales up 20% and beer up 12%
On-premise drink sales increased year-on-year for the ninth week in a row, up 7% compared with June 2022, according to the latest figures from the CGA.
The CGA tracker, which calculates average sales in managed venues, found that the 7% figure for the seven days to last Saturday (24 June) was the third best since the end of April.
The week began with 5% year-on-year growth in drinks sales on Sunday (18 June), as Father’s Day brought some families out to pubs, bars and restaurants. Growth peaked in line with the temperatures at 21% on Thursday (22 June) and was also healthy on Friday (up 8%) and Saturday (up 7%).
The CGA also revealed Long Alcoholic Drinks categories were in double-digit growth across the week, with cider sales up 20% and beer up 12%.
Meanwhile, soft drinks increased 8% and wine surged 2%. However, spirits categories dropped 8% which the CGA said continued against tough comparatives.
Jonathan Jones, CGA’s managing director UK and Ireland, said: “Nine consecutive weeks of year-on-year growth is a great achievement by On Premise operators and suppliers.”
“Despite huge pressures on their disposable income, consumers clearly remain keen to drink out, and pubs and bars have overcome severe cost challenges of their own. The recent dip in temperatures may check growth, and inflation and interest rates rises will continue to make life difficult as we move into the second half of 2023, but the long-term outlook for hospitality remains good.”
