Take-home alcohol sales ‘resilient' despite recession |
| Independent News | |
| Friday, 03 July 2009 | |
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The take-home drinks market is proving remarkably resilient in the recession as the off-trade seems to be benefiting from the growing problems in the pub trade. On-going excise duty increases on alcohol and the downturn in the economy are starting to impact on the drinking habits of the nation. According to the 10 x 10 alcoholic drinks focus, based on Nielsen sales data and published in conjunction with Independent Retail News and Talking Retail, the only two alcoholic categories in decline are Champagnes and sparkling wines and alcoholic ready-to-drinks. Cider remains the most buoyant sector of the off-trade with market value up 17% in the year to April 18 covered by the Nielsen data. Cider has three of the fastest-growing brands in market leader Strongbow (up 22%), Jacques (up 154%) and Bulmers Pear Cider (up a massive 618%), all owned by S&N UK. Lagers and ales and stouts are in growth, helped by the exodus from pubs to at-home drinking, and Stella Artois, the biggest alcoholic drinks brand by value, is said to be enjoying its first market share growth since 2003. Wine remains the biggest alcoholic drinks market and it is now worth almost £5bn. Blossom Hill, originally launched into the independent trade in the 1990s, is now the number one wine brand in a market up 4.7%. Bell's Original, which has been the biggest-selling blended whisky for more than 30 years, is being closely challenged by The Famous Grouse for the leading spot in the darks spirits category and there is now under £1m in retail sales between them. Other notable sales increases have come from Glen Catrine with its Glen's vodka up 19% and its High Commissioner blended whisky up 55%. Vodkat is the fastest-growing brand in liqueurs and specialities, with sales up 45%.
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