Drinks sales show 'pleasing start' to year

The tracker showed average sales in the week to Saturday 7 January were 24% ahead compared with the same period in 2022.

However, the comparative week in 2022 was hampered by ongoing concerns about the Omicron variant of Covid, while the 2023 period was inflated by New Year’s Day and Bank Holiday trading.

Compared with the same week in 2020, when venues were trading as normal, drinks sales finished 2% ahead. Though after adjustments for inflation, trade was substantially behind.

Severely curtailed 

The data also highlighted the impact of rail strikes on visits to hospitality settings with sales 17% and 13% down vs 2020’s levels on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 respectively, when journeys into cities and towns were severely curtailed.

Category wise, it was a very good week for soft drinks sales, which were 38% and 13% ahead of the same seven period in 2022 and 2020.

While spirits (up 9%), cider (up 7%) and beer (down 1%) also had solid weeks compared to 2020, though wine sales were down 10%.

Pleasing start 

This follows the previous tracker​, which showed despite positive year-on-year growth, drinks sales in the on-trade over the festive period remained well below pre-pandemic levels.

CGA managing director UK and Ireland Johnathan Jones said: “Year-on-year sales growth was relatively easy against COVID-hit comparatives, but it’s still a pleasing start to 2023.

“Comparisons with pre-Covid patterns are less positive, and we are seeing the results of pressure on consumers’ spending, especially in the aftermath of Christmas.

“Rail strikes are also curtailing trade, and operators will be hoping for relief on these and the many cost challenges in the weeks ahead.”