Alcohol remains top-growing category pre-Christmas

With just over a week to go until Christmas, alcohol remained the top-growing category In Nielsen's market update to the 11th December, with growth of 33%.

Nielsen also pointed out that growth in sparkling wines and Champagnes considerably out-paced table wine sales in the eight weeks to the 29th of November when Champagne and sparklers saw a 48% growth in value compared to table wine’s 26% value growth.
“The majority of this season’s incremental sales (83%) are coming from sparkling Cava and Prosecco rather than the more pricey Champagne,” points out Nielsen.

And as the nationwide Lockdown closed pubs and restaurants an extra €721,000 was spent on mixers in November while sales of alcohol jumped by 33% according to Kantar Worldpanel figures.

Kantar Worldpanel Division’s Business Development Manager Emer Healy said that some consumers, “budding mixologists”, were inspired to branch out from traditional tipples.