Soft Drinks Drive Double-Digit Drinks Sales Growth

Britain’s On Premise has recorded a third week of inflation-beating drinks sales growth thanks in par t to strong soft drinks spending during ‘Dr y Januar y ’

The latest Drinks Recover y Tracker from CGA by NielsenIQ shows average sales in the week to Saturday (21 Januar y) were 11% above the equivalent period in 2022 It follows 24% growth in the first week of Januar y and 13% growth in the second week All three figures are above the current rate of inflation of 10 5%

However, the strong star t to 2023 is set against tough trading conditions in Januar y 2022, when many consumers were staying at home because of concerns about the Omicron variant of COVID-19

The Tracker shows drinks sales were in year-on-year growth on each of the seven days of last week and in double-digit growth for six of them Comparisons peaked on Sunday (15 Januar y), when they were 17% up on the same day in 2022

The soft drinks categor y comfor tably outpaced the market, with sales 18% ahead of last year Beer (up 14%) cider (up 15%) and wine (up 15%) all had good weeks too but spirits (down 3%) had their worst seven days since November

“With year-on-year growth topping inflation so far in Januar y it’s clear that consumers are as keen as ever to drink out,” says Jonathan Jones, CGA’s managing director, UK and Ireland “Good soft drinks sales show Dr y Januar y doesn t have to keep people away from pubs and bars, and it reflects the rising quality and innovation in this categor y However the dip in spirits sales suggests many consumers are watching their spending carefully It’s also impor tant to remember that comparisons are with a ver y difficult Januar y 2022, so more year-on-year growth is far from cer tain in the months ahead