Spirits Take Share In The Off-Premise As Rapid Gains Continue
July 16, 2020Off-premise beverage alcohol sales increased 11.5% in dollar terms year-over-year in the week ending July 4, according to Nielsen, reflecting a deceleration partly owing to the timing of the July 4 holiday and a tough comp against the same period in 2019. Beer was responsible for the brunt of the slowdown.
Spirits, which were up 23% for the week, have seen ongoing share gains, with Nielsen noting that the category “continues to do a very effective job of transferring lost on-premise sales to the off-premise.” Driven by RTD cocktails and Tequila, spirits showed its second-highest weekly dollar sales of 2020, even as vodka slowed to single-digit growth for the first time since mid-March. For the period from March 7 through July 4, the spirits category’s off-premise dollar sales advanced by 34%.
Wine’s off-premise dollar sales increased 15% in the most recent week, with alternative sizes like 375-ml. bottles, 3-liter boxes, and canned wines driving growth. Subcategories like vermouth, flavored beverage wines, and wine-based cocktails also contributed to gains. From March 7 through July 4, wine’s dollar sales rose by 28%.
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