An early Easter and the impact of the World Cup 2014 resulted in disappointing beer sales in the second quarter of 2015, according to the latest figures from the British Beer & Pub Association’s Quarterly Beer Barometer.
Total sales were 5.6% lower compared with the same quarter in 2014. When it comes to the latest annual trend, the decline was lower, with off-trade sales down 1.9% over the 12 months to June 2015, and on-trade down 2.9%. Total sales were down 2.4% on the previous 12 months.
The BBPA is pointing out that Easter was in early April in 2015, meaning that some brewery sales may have shifted into the first quarter compared to 2014, when Easter was in late April. Furthermore, the football World Cup took place in June 2014, boosting sales in that period — second quarter sales this year, remained above those in the same period of 2013.
BBPA chief executive, Brigid Simmonds, said: “While we may see a bounce back in Q3, these latest figures give no room for complacency and show that more action is needed on beer duty.
“The Chancellor has made a great start, with his three one-penny cuts, but with inflation very low, and an industry still experiencing the impact of the 42% rise under the previous government’s escalator policy, there is no doubt that more action is needed to create a more sustainable future for Britain’s national drink.”
