Drinks sales drop 12% amid strong comparatives
But sales were behind by double-digits in all four of the other main categories; with beer down 10%, cider down 30%, soft drinks down 16% and spirits down 16%
Average drinks sales in Britain’s managed venues dropped by 12% year-on-year in the week ended Saturday 7 September.
It is one of the biggest gaps in sales of 2024 so far, with trading down all seven days and is the result of difficult comparatives against September 2023.
In the same week last year the country saw sunny weather with temperatures into the 30s bringing people out to drink.
The start of the Premier League season made Sunday 1 September the best of the seven, with sales down 6%.
However the gap widened to between 16% and 22% from 2 to 5 September, and there was an 8% drop on both Friday 6 and 7 September.
The wine category was the brightest spot for suppliers and operators over the course of the week, with year-on-year growth of 1%.
But sales were behind by double-digits in all four of the other main categories; with beer down 10%, cider down 30%, soft drinks down 16% and spirits down 16%.
Rachel Weller, CGA by NIQ’s commercial leader, UK and Ireland, said: “After a bumper start to last autumn, year-on-year growth was always going to be unlikely in the first week of September. The gulf in sales shows the all-important influence of sunshine on footfall, and the On Premise has undoubtedly suffered from a dismal summer of weather. After a tough run of trading, the final third of the year is going to be even more crucial to businesses than ever.”
