On-trade suppliers and operators have enjoyed double-digit drinks sales growth as consumers flock to beer and cider in the warm weather.
CGA by NIQ’s Daily Drinks Tracker reveals a like-for-like increase of 12% in average sales in managed venues in the week to Saturday, 3rd May — by far the best performance of the year so far. This followed 2% growth in the seven days to Saturday 26th April, and high single-digit growth in the first half of April.
Coming on the back of a solid March, the latest run of growth means drinks sales have now been in year-on-year growth for ten of the last 11 weeks.
Trading subsided briefly after Easter, with some consumers watching their spending in the aftermath of the long bank holiday weekend. But as the sunshine set in across many parts of Britain, daily sales rocketed by between 13% and 30% on every day from Sunday, 27th April, to Friday, 1st May.
The Daily Drinks Tracker shows beer and cider sales soared by 15% and 43% respectively in the week to 3rd May, after growth of 3% and 13% over the previous seven days.
“After a challenging start to 2025, the prolonged good weather has made for a very good spring for on-premise drinks sales,” said Rachel Weller, CGA by NIQ’s commercial lead, UK and Ireland.
“Full pub gardens and terraces have delivered a bumper April for [long alcoholic drink] categories and soft drinks, and with the sunshine continuing and another bank holiday approaching, May could well be an even stronger month.
“Disposable incomes are finite, and many people will be watching their spending — but it’s clear that when the sun shines, drinking out remains a top priority for their leisure time.”
