On-trade drinks sales rose 3% in the week to last Saturday, making it eight weeks of growth out of nine for the Daily Drinks Tracker from CGA by NIQ.
Unseasonably warm weather helped to drive year-on-year growth of 13% and 8% on Sunday and Monday (8th and 9th October). Figures were more modest in the middle of the week, but bounced back to 4% growth on Saturday, thanks to Rugby World Cup quarter-finals involving Wales and Ireland.
The rugby and high temperatures helped to make long alcohol drink (LAD) categories the biggest winners of the week, with cider sales up 13% year-on-year. Sport gave beer a good week too, with sales in Scotland soaring 66% on Thursday as the men’s football team took on Spain in a Euros qualifier. Trading in Wales was up 41% thanks to the Rugby World Cup quarter-final clash with Argentina.
The weather and sport didn’t suit all categories, though, and the week’s wine sales were up by only 1% year on year, while spirits were down 6%.
“Changeable weather has made for an up and down few months for the LAD category, but the sunshine and Rugby World Cup have given suppliers and operators a strong start to the autumn,” said Jonathan Jones, CGA by NIQ’s managing director, UK and Ireland.
“England’s semi-final this weekend should extend the run and give the on-premise a springboard into November and the festive season.”
