Alcoholic
Alcoholic Drinks

Alcoholic Drinks in the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

Euromonitor International's Alcoholic Drinks in the United Kingdom market report offers a comprehensive guide to the size and shape of the market at a national level. It provides the latest retail sales data, allowing you to identify the sectors driving growth. It identifies the leading companies, the leading brands and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market - be they new product developments, packaging innovations, economic/lifestyle influences, distribution or pricing issues. Forecasts illustrate how the market is set to change.

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Tables: 175  |  Publication date: Feb 2008
Cost: 
GBP950.00

Why buy this report

  • Get insight into trends in market performance
  • Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change
  • Identify market and brand leaders and understand the competitive environment

Product coverage

Beer; Cider/perry; RTDs/High-strength premixes; Spirits; Wine

Executive summary

Falling Sectors

In 2007, total volume sales of alcoholic drinks fell for the first time since 2000, a fall driven by the decreasing popularity of beer, on the back of increased food offerings in pubs, which has led some consumers to prefer wine, health concerns and fashion. Wine continued to grow in 2007, albeit at a slower rate than in previous years, as existing customers increased and diversified their consumption into areas such as rosé and sparkling wines. Spirits continued to grow steadily on the back of strong gains in the vodka and rum subsectors.

Tesco Town Gathers Pace

Whilst the alcoholic drinks market continues to grow, consumption patterns are shifting away from the on-trade and towards the off-trade. This trend has been most evident in beer, but is also significant in spirits. This change is being driven by a combination of consumers finding other ways to spend their leisure time than in the pub, and by the persistence of hyper/supermarkets in offering heavily discounted alcoholic drinks sold below cost. The smoking ban intensified this trend, at least in the short term, as consumers voted with their feet and stayed away from on-trade outlets.

Pause for Thought in Consolidating Market

2007 witnessed a pause in acquisition activity in the alcoholic drinks market, after a busy year in 2006. Companies looked to respond to an increasingly competitive marketplace with enhanced product portfolios and a focus on improving production. Specialist retailers continue to struggle in the face of the “Tesco Town” phenomenon, resulting in calls for legislation that would curb supermarkets’ power.

Shift in the Taste Paradigm

The alcoholic drinks market continues to be held back by the seemingly terminal decline of the RTDs/high-strength premixes sector. As young female drinkers “grow up”, they are replacing RTDs with white spirits, such as vodka, and cider, driven by the “cider on ice” phenomenon. In the spirits sector, rum looks set to make a big impact, with healthy growth for the third consecutive year in 2007. Consumers of wine are increasingly looking towards the high end of the market, and there are signs of increased willingness to spend more for quality and provenance. Local breweries are suffering as consumer tastes shift towards world beers, with global brand owners supporting global super-brands such as Brahma and Corona Extra with weighty marketing efforts.

Looking Forward

Total volume sales of alcoholic drinks are predicted to increase over the forecast period, albeit only marginally, driven mainly by growth in wine, cider and spirits. Beer, the largest selling product, is forecast to decline in volume over the forecast period, as the decline in ale is predicted to continue, the 2008 UEFA European Football Championships will do little to promote beer sales without the presence of the English team, and as standard and premium lagers reach saturation point. The shift towards the off-trade also looks set to continue over the forecast period. Scares about the economy will see customers voting with their feet, whilst supermarkets will continue to offer heavily discounted alcohol, as consumers become used to these prices. The available evidence suggests that the recent trend of record hot summers is set to continue, which will encourage more people to substitute going to the pub with increased outdoor leisure.

Table of contents

ALCOHOLIC DRINKS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM : MARKET INSIGHT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Falling Sectors

Tesco Town Gathers Pace

Pause for Thought in Consolidating Market

Shift in the Taste Paradigm

Looking Forward

ALCOHOLIC DRINKS – KEY TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS

Pouring Legislation on the Fire

Economic Uncertainty

The Way We Socialise

Heritage

Specialist Retailers

Summary 1 Leading Specialist Retailers 2006

Market Merger and Acquisition Activity

Summary 2 Speculated Merger and Acquisition Activity 2007-2008

MARKET INDICATORS

Table 1 Retail Consumer Expenditure on Alcoholic Drinks 2002-2007

MARKET DATA

Table 2 Sales of Alcoholic Drinks by Sector: Total Volume 2002-2007

Table 3 Sales of Alcoholic Drinks by Sector: Total Value 2002-2007

Table 4 Sales of Alcoholic Drinks by Sector: % Total Volume Growth 2002-2007

Table 5 Sales of Alcoholic Drinks by Sector: % Total Value Growth 2002-2007

Table 6 Sales of Alcoholic Drinks by Sector by On-trade vs Off-trade split: Volume 2007

Table 7 Sales of Alcoholic Drinks by Sector by On-trade vs Off-trade split: Value 2007

Table 8 Sales of Alcoholic Drinks by Sector by On-trade vs Off-trade split: % Volume 2007

Table 9 Sales of Alcoholic Drinks by Sector by On-trade vs Off-trade split: % Value 2007

Table 10 Company Shares of Alcoholic Drinks by Global Brand Owner 2003-2006

Table 11 Off-trade Sales of Alcoholic Drinks by Distribution Format: % Value Analysis 2007

Table 12 Off-trade Sales of Alcoholic Drinks by Sector and Distribution Format: % Volume Analysis 2007

Table 13 Forecast Sales of Alcoholic Drinks by Sector: Total Volume 2007-2012

Table 14 Forecast Sales of Alcoholic Drinks by Sector: Total Value 2007-2012

Table 15 Forecast Sales of Alcoholic Drinks by Sector: % Total Volume Growth 2007-2012

Table 16 Forecast Sales of Alcoholic Drinks by Sector: % Total Value Growth 2007-2012

APPENDIX

Legislation

Taxation and Duty Levies

Table 17 Taxation and Duty Levies on Alcoholic Drinks 2007

Table 18 Typical Wholesaler and Retailer Off-trade Mark-ups by Selected Sectors 2007

Table 19 Selling Margin of a Typical Beer Brand 2007

Table 20 Selling Margin of a Typical Wine Brand 2007

Table 21 Selling Margin of a Typical Spirits Brand 2007

Operating Environment

Price Band Methodology

Summary 3 Lager by Price Band 2007

Summary 4 Benchmark Brands – United Kingdom

Published Data Comparisons

DEFINITIONS

Sources

Summary 5 Research Sources

LOCAL COMPANY PROFILES - UNITED KINGDOM

ADNAMS & CO PLC

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 6 Adnams & Co Plc: Key Facts

Summary 7 Adnams & Co Plc: Operational Indicators

COMPANY BACKGROUND

PRODUCTION

Summary 8 Adnams & Co Plc: Production Statistics 2006

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

Summary 9 Adnams & Co Plc: Competitive Position 2006

BOOKER CASH & CARRY LTD

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 10 Booker Cash and Carry Ltd: Key Facts

COMPANY BACKGROUND

PRODUCTION

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

Summary 11 Booker Cash and Carry Ltd: Competitive Position 2006

CONSTELLATION EUROPE LTD

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 12 Constellation Europe Ltd: Key Facts

Summary 13 Constellation Europe Ltd: Operational Indicators

COMPANY BACKGROUND

PRODUCTION

Summary 14 Constellation Europe Ltd: Production Statistics 2006

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

Summary 15 Constellation Europe Ltd: Competitive Position 2006

COORS BREWERS LTD

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 16 Coors Brewers Ltd: Key Facts

Summary 17 Coors Brewers Ltd: Operational Indicators

COMPANY BACKGROUND

PRODUCTION

Summary 18 Coors Brewers Ltd: Production Statistics 2006

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

Summary 19 Coors Brewers Ltd: Competitive Position 2006

DIAGEO PLC

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 20 Diageo Plc: Key Facts

Summary 21 Diageo Plc: Operational Indicators

COMPANY BACKGROUND

PRODUCTION

Summary 22 Diageo Plc: Production Statistics 2006

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

Summary 23 Diageo Plc: Competitive Position 2006

E & J GALLO WINERY EUROPE LTD

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 24 E&J Gallo Winery Europe: Key Facts

Summary 25 E&J Gallo Winery Europe: Operational Indicators

COMPANY BACKGROUND

PRODUCTION

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

Summary 26 E&J Gallo Winery Europe: Competitive Position 2006

FULLER, SMITH & TURNER PLC

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 27 Fuller, Smith & Turner Plc: Key Facts

Summary 28 Fuller, Smith & Turner Plc: Operational Indicators

COMPANY BACKGROUND

PRODUCTION

Summary 29 Fuller, Smith & Turner Plc: Production Statistics 2006

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

Summary 30 Fuller, Smith & Turner Plc: Competitive Position 2006

GREENE KING PLC

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 31 Greene King Plc: Key Facts

Summary 32 Greene King Plc: Operational Indicators

COMPANY BACKGROUND

PRODUCTION

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

Summary 33 Greene King Plc: Competitive Position 2006

PERNOD RICARD UK LTD

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 34 Pernod Ricard UK Ltd: Key Facts

Summary 35 Pernod Ricard UK Ltd: Operational Indicators

COMPANY BACKGROUND

PRODUCTION

Summary 36 Pernod Ricard UK Ltd: Production Statistics 2006

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

Summary 37 Pernod Ricard UK Ltd: Competitive Position 2006

BEER IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

HEADLINES

TRENDS

PRODUCTION, IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR BACKGROUND

Lager Price band methodology

Summary 38 Lager by Price Band 2007

Published data comparisons

SECTOR DATA

Table 22 Sales of Beer by Subsector: Total Volume 2002-2007

Table 23 Sales of Beer by Subsector: Total Value 2002-2007

Table 24 Sales of Beer by Subsector: % Total Volume Growth 2002-2007

Table 25 Sales of Beer by Subsector: % Total Value Growth 2002-2007

Table 26 Sales of Beer by On-trade vs Off-trade split: Volume 2002-2007

Table 27 Sales of Beer by On-trade vs Off-trade split: Value 2002-2007

Table 28 Sales of Beer by On-trade vs Off-trade split: % Volume Growth 2002-2007

Table 29 Sales of Beer by On-trade vs Off-trade split: % Value Growth 2002-2007

Table 30 Beer: Production, Imports and Exports: Total Volume 2001-2006

Table 31 Beer Exports by Country of Destination: Total Volume 2001-2006

Table 32 Beer Exports by Country of Destination: Total Value 2001-2006

Table 33 Beer Imports by Country of Origin: Total Volume 2001-2006

Table 34 Beer Imports by Country of Origin: Total Value 2001-2006

Table 35 Company Shares of Beer by National Brand Owner 2002-2006

Table 36 Company Shares of Beer by Global Brand Owner 2002-2006

Table 37 Brand Shares of Beer 2003-2006

Table 38 Forecast Sales of Beer by Subsector: Total Volume 2007-2012

Table 39 Forecast Sales of Beer by Subsector: Total Value 2007-2012

Table 40 Forecast Sales of Beer by Subsector: % Total Volume Growth 2007-2012

Table 41 Forecast Sales of Beer by Subsector: % Total Value Growth 2007-2012

CIDER/PERRY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

HEADLINES

TRENDS

PRODUCTION, IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR BACKGROUND

Published data comparisons

SECTOR DATA

Table 42 Sales of Cider/Perry: Total Volume 2002-2007

Table 43 Sales of Cider/Perry: Total Value 2002-2007

Table 44 Sales of Cider/Perry: % Total Volume Growth 2002-2007

Table 45 Sales of Cider/Perry: % Total Value Growth 2002-2007

Table 46 On-trade vs Off-trade Sales of Cider/Perry: Volume 2002-2007

Table 47 On-trade vs Off-trade Sales of Cider/Perry: Value 2002-2007

Table 48 On-trade vs Off-trade Sales of Cider/Perry: % Volume Growth 2002-2007

Table 49 On-trade vs Off-trade Sales of Cider/Perry: % Value Growth 2002-2007

Table 50 Cider/Perry Production, Imports and Exports: Total Volume 2001-2006

Table 51 Company Shares of Cider/Perry by National Brand Owner 2002-2006

Table 52 Company Shares of Cider/Perry by Global Brand Owner 2002-2006

Table 53 Brand Shares of Cider/Perry 2003-2006

Table 54 Forecast Sales of Cider/Perry: Total Volume 2007-2012

Table 55 Forecast Sales of Cider/Perry: Total Value 2007-2012

Table 56 Forecast Sales of Cider/Perry: % Total Volume Growth 2007-2012

Table 57 Forecast Sales of Cider/Perry: % Total Value Growth 2007-2012

RTDS/HIGH-STRENGTH PREMIXES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

HEADLINES

TRENDS

PRODUCTION, IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR BACKGROUND

Published data comparisons

SECTOR DATA

Table 58 Sales of RTDS/High-strength Premixes by Subsector: Total Volume 2002-2007

Table 59 Sales of RTDS/High-strength Premixes by Subsector: Total Value 2002-2007

Table 60 Sales of RTDS/High-strength Premixes by Subsector: % Total Volume Growth 2002-2007

Table 61 Sales of RTDS/High-strength Premixes by Subsector: % Total Value Growth 2002-2007

Table 62 On-trade vs Off-trade Sales of RTDS/High-strength Premixes: Volume 2002-2007

Table 63 On-trade vs Off-trade Sales of RTDS/High-strength Premixes: Value 2002-2007

Table 64 On-trade vs Off-trade Sales of RTDS/High-strength Premixes: % Volume Growth 2002-2007

Table 65 On-trade vs Off-trade Sales of RTDS/High-strength Premixes: % Value Growth 2002-2007

Table 66 RTDS/High-strength Premixes Production, Imports and Exports: Total Volume 2001-2006

Table 67 Company Shares of RTDS/High-strength Premixes by Global Brand Owner 2002-2006

Table 68 Company Shares of RTDS/High-strength Premixes by National Brand Owner 2002-2006

Table 69 Brand Shares of RTDS/High-strength Premixes 2003-2006

Table 70 Forecast Sales of RTDS/High-strength Premixes by Subsector: Total Volume 2007-2012

Table 71 Forecast Sales of RTDS/High-strength Premixes by Subsector: Total Value 2007-2012

Table 72 Forecast Sales of RTDS/High-strength Premixes by Subsector: % Total Volume Growth 2007-2012

Table 73 Forecast Sales of RTDS/High-strength Premixes by Subsector: % Total Value Growth 2007-2012

WINE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

HEADLINES

TRENDS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR BACKGROUND

Published data comparisons

SECTOR DATA

Table 74 Sales of Wine by Subsector: Total Volume 2002-2007

Table 75 Sales of Wine by Subsector: Total Value 2002-2007

Table 76 Sales of Wine by Subsector: % Total Volume Growth 2002-2007

Table 77 Sales of Wine by Subsector: % Total Value Growth 2002-2007

Table 78 Sales of Wine by On-trade vs Off-trade split: Volume 2002-2007

Table 79 Sales of Wine by On-trade vs Off-trade split: Value 2002-2007

Table 80 Sales of Wine by On-trade vs Off-trade split: % Volume Growth 2002-2007

Table 81 Sales of Wine by On-trade vs Off-trade split: % Value Growth 2002-2007

Table 82 Volume Sales of Still Red Wine by Price Segment 2004-2007

Table 83 Volume Sales of Still White Wine by Price Segment 2004-2007

Table 84 Volume Sales of Still Rosé Wine by Price Segment 2004-2007

Table 85 Volume Sales of Other Sparkling Wine by Price Segment 2004-2007

Table 86 Sales of Still Red Wine by Grape/Varietal Type 2004-2007

Table 87 Sales of Still White Wine by Grape/Varietal Type 2004-2007

Table 88 Sales of Still Rosé Wine by Grape/Varietal Type 2004-2007

Table 89 Wine Production, Imports and Exports: Total Volume 2001-2006

Table 90 Wine Exports by Country of Destination: Total Volume 2001-2006

Table 91 Wine Exports by Country of Destination: Total Value 2001-2006

Table 92 Wine Imports by Country of Origin: Total Volume 2001-2006

Table 93 Wine Imports by Country of Origin: Total Value 2001-2006

Table 94 Company Shares of Still Light Grape Wine by National Brand Owner 2002-2006

Table 95 Company Shares of Still Light Grape Wine by Global Brand Owner 2002-2006

Table 96 Brand Shares of Still Light Grape Wine 2003-2006

Table 97 Company Shares of Champagne by National Brand Owner 2003-2006

Table 98 Company Shares of Champagne by Global Brand Owner 2003-2006

Table 99 Brand Shares of Champagne 2003-2006

Table 100 Company Shares of Other Sparkling Wine by National Brand Owner 2002-2006

Table 101 Company Shares of Other Sparkling Wine by Global Brand Owner 2002-2006

Table 102 Brand Shares of Other Sparkling Wine 2003-2006

Table 103 Company Shares of Fortified Wine and Vermouth by National Brand Owner 2003-2006

Table 104 Company Shares of Fortified Wine and Vermouth by Global Brand Owner 2003-2006

Table 105 Brand Shares of Fortified Wine and Vermouth 2003-2006

Table 106 Forecast Sales of Wine by Subsector: Total Volume 2007-2012

Table 107 Forecast Sales of Wine by Subsector: Total Value 2007-2012

Table 108 Forecast Sales of Wine by Subsector: % Total Volume Growth 2007-2012

Table 109 Forecast Sales of Wine by Subsector: % Total Value Growth 2007-2012

SPIRITS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

HEADLINES

TRENDS

PRODUCTION, IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR BACKGROUND

Vodka, gin and other blended Scotch whisky Price band methodology

Published data comparisons

SECTOR DATA

Table 110 Sales of Spirits by Subsector: Total Volume 2002-2007

Table 111 Sales of Spirits by Subsector: Total Value 2002-2007

Table 112 Sales of Spirits by Subsector: % Total Volume Growth 2002-2007

Table 113 Sales of Spirits by Subsector: % Total Value Growth 2002-2007

Table 114 Sales of Spirits by On-trade vs Off-trade split: Volume 2002-2007

Table 115 Sales of Spirits by On-trade vs Off-trade split: Value 2002-2007

Table 116 Sales of Spirits by On-trade vs Off-trade split: % Volume Growth 2002-2007

Table 117 Sales of Spirits by On-trade vs Off-trade split: % Value Growth 2002-2007

Table 118 Sales of Blended Scotch Whisky by Premium/Super-premium Split 2004-2007

Table 119 Sales of Gin by Premium/Super-premium Split 2004-2007

Table 120 Sales of Vodka by Premium/Super-premium Split 2004-2007

Table 121 Sales of Flavoured vs Non-flavoured Vodka 2004-2007

Table 122 Spirits Production, Imports and Exports: Total Volume 2001-2006

Table 123 Whisk(e)y Production, Imports and Exports: Total Volume 2001-2006

Table 124 Brandy & Cognac Production, Imports and Exports: Total Volume 2001-2006

Table 125 Vodka Production, Imports and Exports: Total Volume 2001-2006

Table 126 Gin Production, Imports and Exports: Total Volume 2001-2006

Table 127 Rum Production, Imports and Exports: Total Volume 2001-2006

Table 128 Tequila Production, Imports and Exports: Total Volume 2001-2006

Table 129 Liqueurs Production: Total Volume 2001-2006

Table 130 Other Spirits Production: Total Volume 2001-2006

Table 131 Company Shares of Spirits by National Brand Owner 2002-2006

Table 132 Company Shares of Spirits by Global Brand Owner 2002-2006

Table 133 Brand Shares of Spirits 2003-2006

Table 134 Forecast Sales of Spirits by Subsector: Total Volume 2007-2012

Table 135 Forecast Sales of Spirits by Subsector: Total Value 2007-2012

Table 136 Forecast Sales of Spirits by Subsector: % Total Volume Growth 2007-2012

Table 137 Forecast Sales of Spirits by Subsector: % Total Value Growth 2007-2012

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