Brits spend £36m on gin in week before Christmas

Consumers spent £36 million (US$48m) on gin in UK supermarkets in the week before Christmas, a 45% increase on 2016, according to data from analyst IRI.

British drinkers spent £36 million on gin in UK supermarkets during festive period

According to IRI’s Retail Advantage data for the week ending 23 December, the amount equates to 2.2 million bottles, 636,000 more than the previous year.

The increase also helped to boost the sale of mixers by 30% in the same period. Soft drinks were 5.9% off the back of the tonic sales.

Compared with 2016, total market sales of gin on a 52-week basis are up 28%.

Meanwhile sales of vodka was down by -2.6% and white rum by -4.1%, compared with the previous year.

Sparkling wine – including prosecco – during the same period were down -1.1% in value.

“Some categories did really well over Christmas – notably gin, which has taken over from prosecco and craft ales as the UK’s trendy tipple, and certain party and gift foods such as snacks, biscuits and confectionery,” said Martin Wood, IRI’s head of strategic insight, retail solutions and innovation.

“However, this was not enough to compensate for the decline in sales of non-food products, which were hit by Black Friday bargains and the popularity of online vendors. Discounters are also likely to have gained grocery share from the supermarkets.”