Alcohol off-sales up 66% in 4 weeks to mid-May

With pubs, bars and restaurants remaining closed, Nielsen data show that alcohol off-sales increased by 66% in the four weeks to 17th May 2020, reaching €140 million.

That equates to 22 million litres of alcohol sold, still far below the 38 million litres sold at the same time last year (across both the on-trade and off-trade).

There was significant growth for stout (up 151%) which accounted for €6 million in sales as well as cider (up 101% to €11.6m) and gin (up 69% to €4.3m) across both local and non-local brands.

Indeed Irish alcohol brands contributed some 47% towards the growth in sales of locally-produced products here, with consumers spending €178 million on Irish-sourced grocery products in the last four weeks ending 17th May 2020.

This is an additional €35 million spent on local products compared to the same period in 2019, reveals Nielsen’s Total Store Read (from the multiples but excluding Dunnes Stores, symbol groups and forecourts).

In fact Nielsen’s data show that – inclusive of Irish and non-Irish brands – alcohol was the fastest-growing grocery category.

“Alcohol remains the category continuing to experience the strongest growth and it is likely this will continue as the weather gets warmer and the restrictions remain in place for restaurants, pubs and bars,” commented Nielsen’s Ireland Market Leader Karen Mooney.