UK supermarket spirits sales hit £4bn

Spirits was one of the fastest-growing categories at UK supermarkets this year, with shoppers shelling out £51.8 million (US$64m) more than in 2015, according to Nielsen.

Spirits topped lager, stout and ale, and e-cigarettes in sales

Nielsen’s analysis of Electronic Point of Sale (EPoS) data revealed spirits to be the seventh fastest-growing category, with sales up 1.3% in supermarkets this year compared to last year. Total spirits spend in 2016 hit £4.0 billion.

The category topped lager, stout and ale, and e-cigarettes; the eighth, ninth and tenth fastest-growing categories respectively.

Lager grew £41.6 million (1.4%) to hit £3.1 billion, while stout and ale added an additional £32.6 million (5.1%) to its annual figures to reach £674.7 million.

Sparkling wine was the third-fastest growing category, with shoppers in the UK spending an extra £101.9 million (15.5%) to bring total sales to £757.6 million.

Outside of the alcohol sector, spirits was beaten to the top spot by cosmetics, chilled ready meals, bottled water, free-from and the number one fastest growing product, fresh fruit.

Earlier this month, UK gin sales in the on- and off-trades exceeded £1 billion for the first time according to a market report by the Wine and Spirit Trade Association.