Beer and cider boost British on-trade drinks sales

Widespread warm weather across Britain created year-on-year growth for on-premise drinks sales on every day of last week, with beer and cider leading the trend. CGA by NIQ’s Drinks Recovery Tracker revealed that average sales in managed venues in the week to Saturday 17 June were 7% ahead of the same week in 2022. Trading peaked at +12% on Monday and Saturday (12 and 17 June) and was weakest at +1% on Friday (16 June). Cider and beer sales were up by 25% and 10% respectively year-on-year, leading the growth of on-trade sales, while soft drinks were 8% ahead. In contrast, wine sales were only 1% ahead of last year’s figures, and spirits dropped 7% as some consumers decided to switch categories, the data shows. Jonathan Jones, CGA’s managing director, UK and Ireland, called it a “good start to the summer for drinks sales”. He said: “It’s important to remember that excessive temperatures can keep some people at home, but for beer and cider brands and pubs with outdoor spaces it’s ...