UK Pubs See Wine Surge as Spirits Stall: What’s Behind the Shift
As summer winds down, wine sales are surging in UK pubs, restaurants, and bars, while spirit sales lag, according to data from CGA by NIQ’s Daily Drinks Tracker.
For the week of August 27 to September 2, average drink sales in managed venues were 0.2% higher than during the same period last year.
Wine led the pack, a trend consistent throughout this year. Sales were 6% higher than the same week in 2022.
In contrast, on-trade sales for spirits, which thrived in 2021 and 2022 following the post-Covid-19 lockdown reopenings, dipped by 7%.
Cider sales decreased by 0.5%, soft drinks by 2%, and beer sales increased by 4%. The latter is partly attributed to the Liam Smith vs. Chris Eubank boxing match, which lured people into pubs on September 2.
A significant obstacle affecting modest year-on-year growth was the ongoing rail strike, which has plagued the hospitality industry for the past year, leaving many customers stranded.
Jonathan Jones, CGA’s Managing Director for the UK and Ireland, credited wine’s strong performance to its food-pairing versatility. “A disappointing summer put a damper on beverage sales, yet the uptick in food purchases has fueled a revival in wine sales,” Jones commented.
“Given the recent heatwave and favorable forecasts, September promises better prospects for pubs and bars, as well as beer and cider suppliers, as we approach the year’s final quarter,” he added.
