According to the Daily Drinks Tracker, Storm Éowyn caused a 5% dip in sales in mid-January but pubs and bars ended the month in better shape as some consumers returned to the on-trade after paydays.
Nonetheless, while wine sales soared, spirits have taken a battering of late.
Overall trade was exactly level year-on-year in the seven days to 1 February and picked up at the weekend with growth of 2% on both Friday and Saturday (31 January and 1 February).
This coincided with the start of the Six Nations rugby tournament and some big football matches – a reminder of how much the on-premise benefits from major sporting occasions, the report’s author noted.
Contrasting fortunes
However, sales slipped by 2% in the following week to 8 February, as cold weather kept some consumers at home. Weekend sales were particularly affected, falling by 5% and 8% on Friday and Saturday (7 and 8 February).
Contrasting performances for drinks categories took place across the fortnight with wine sales rose by an inflation-beating 5% and 4% in the weeks to 1 and 8 February, which the tracker said was a welcome sign the category is in line for a revival after a challenging few years.
Beer sales were up by 1% in both weeks, while soft drinks rose 2% and 1% – potentially as a result of consumers’ moves away from alcohol at the start of the year.
Meanwhile, it was a weak fortnight for the spirits category as sales fell by 7% and 14% respectively over the two weeks.
This follows double-digit declines in the first half of January, highlighting the importance of understanding current trends in the on-trade to identify areas where spirits can play a role.
Growth possible for spirits
As a silver lining, CGA by NIQ analysis shows there is still scope for growth for spirits brands and venues mainly by focusing on cocktails and adapting to consumers’ flavour preferences and targeting earlier day-parts.
CGA by NIQ commercial lead UK & Ireland Rachel Weller said: “Real-terms sales growth has been elusive in the opening weeks of 2025, with dry January, bad weather and hesitant consumer confidence all conspiring against suppliers and operators.
“However, we can be optimistic about a Valentine’s Day boost and trends in the wine category are particularly encouraging.
“For brands and venues that can understand consumers’ needs and adapt nimbly to trends, the long-term sales outlook remains good.”
