BWS sales declines accelerating in multiples
Even Mothers Day couldn’t make a dent in the off-trade decline of Champagne which showed a slump in value sales of 30% for the week ending on the 27th of March (despite a 2% increase in volumes).
BWS sales declined by 17% in the four weeks to the 27th of March when compared to a BWS sales decline of 15% over the 12-week period from the beginning of 2022.
The Market Update also shows that in the full year to the 27th of March this year, BWS sales decreased by 10.2%.
According to NielsenIQ, declines in BWS accelerating in the latest 4 Weeks ending on the 27th March have been impacted by the lifting of restrictions on hospitality and Minimum Unit Pricing.
It continues, “As inflation reaches a 21 year high, we’re seeing consistent price increases across all categories, particularly in alcohol due to MUP”.
These declines in alcohol demand have therefore been accelerating due to a combination of price increases and falling demand in the off-trade as we annualise on a Lockdown this time last year.
BWS prices were up 13.6% in the 12-week period ending on the 27th of March as BWS values decreased by over 15%.
Within this, Beer saw a value decline of 17.2% coupled with a volume decline of 30.4% and a 14.5% rise in prices.
Wine values were down 16.3% with wine volumes down 19% off a 3.3% increase in prices. Within wine there has been a shift into the €10 to €12 price point – thus consumers are trading up.
Spirits prices in the 12-week period to the 27th March rose by 7.1%, with spirits units down 10.2% and values down 11.9%.
NielsenIQ’s Scantrack figures show that, compared to a year ago, the abovementioned BWS market declined by some €59.3 million comprising a €28.2 million fall in beer values, a €20.9m fall in wine values and a €10.1m fall in spirits values over the 12-week period.
Even St Patrick’s Day couldn’t get a rise out of beer sales with values down by 22% for the week ending on the 20th of March compared with the same day last year.
Neither could Mothers Day make a dent in the off-trade decline of Champagne which showed a slump in value sales of 30% for the week ending on the 27th of March (despite a 2% increase in unit sales) compared to the similar week up to Mother’s Day in 2021.
