Drinks sales were in year-on-year growth for a fifth successive time last week, thanks to warm weather and surging cider sales.
CGA by NIQ’s latest Drinks Recovery Tracker shows trading at Britain’s managed pubs and bars in the week to last Saturday, 27th May, finished 2% ahead of the same week in 2022 — down slightly from 5% in the previous week, but completing a solid May for operators and suppliers.
Last week was bookended by an 8% dip in sales on both Sunday and Saturday. But all five weekdays were in growth, and trading peaked at +20% and +21% on Monday and Wednesday on the back of high temperatures that lured people out to drink in pub and bar gardens and terraces.
Category-wise, the Drinks Recovery Tracker showed strong growth for cider (up 22%), which always benefits from warmer weather. Beer (up 5%) and soft drinks (+3%) recorded solid growth, but wine (up 0.2%) and spirits (down 11%) were weaker.
“A fifth consecutive week of year-on-year growth is another encouraging sign for the on-premise as we move into the key summer months,” said Jonathan Jones, CGA’s managing director, UK and Ireland.
“Nevertheless, operators continue to face strong headwinds of high inflation, increased cost of living, and rail strikes in June, so whilst there is opportunity in the market, challenges remain as well.”
