DATA DRIVEN

by MELISSA DOWLING

As part of our ongoing tracking of the industry , the Beverage Information Group surveys our readers quarterly , collecting trends / sentiment data from distributors , on-premise and off-premise operators . Beer is both a key opportunity and a serious concern , according to our most recent study conducted in March 2024 .

For instance , whiskey is the category most impacting the business for on-premise operators , followed by craft beer . Considering the beer industry ’ s struggles , that ’ s a positive sign , and may be due to guests looking for interesting beers offered on draft .

The craft beer category is also generating the most consumer excitement / buzz at bars and restaurants . Then again , the plurality of on-premise respondents said that craft beer was the category whose decline in sales was most impacting their business .

For off-premise respondents , tequila remains the category boosting sales , followed by whiskey , which is also the category generating the most consumer excitement / buzz for retailers right now . The most popular spirit sold during the previous quarter was vodka and the category whose decline in sales was most impacting off-premise respondents ’ business was domestic beer .

Nearly half ( 47 %) of the on-premise respondents said that the met their most recent quarterly beverage sales plan , vs . 40 % for the off-premise . Almost a third ( 29 %) bar and restaurants exceeded their plan , and 24 % fell below the sales plan . A whopping 42 % of the retailer fell below sales and just 18 % were above .

For more information about our beverage reader surveys , contact Debbie Rittenberg at drittenberg @ epgacceleration . com . •

30 %

25 % 20 %

15 % 10 % 5 % 0 %

25 % 20 % 15 % 10 % 5 % 0 %

30 % 25 % 20 % 15 % 10 % 5 % 0 %

70 % 60 % 50 % 40 % 30 % 20 % 10 % 0 %

45 % 40 % 35 % 30 % 25 % 20 % 15 % 10 % 5 % 0 %

WHAT CATEGORY ’ S INCREASE IN SALES IS MOST IMPACTING YOUR BUSINESS RIGHT NOW ? ( TOP 5 )

26.7 % 20.0 %

ON-PREMISE

WHAT CATEGORY IS GENERATING THE MOST CONSUMER EXCITEMENT / BUZZ RIGHT NOW ?

ON-PREMISE

17.8 %

22.5 % 15.0 % 15.0 %

OFF-PREMISE

10.0 %

25.0 % 20 . 5 % 20 . 5 %

Craft Beer

13.6 % 6.8 %

Whiskey Tequila Other Sparkling Wine

RATE YOUR OPERATION ’ S OVERALL BEVERAGE ALCOHOL SALES FOR THE PREVIOUS QUARTER

24.4 % 17.8 %

44.4 % 40.0 %

33.3 %

ON-PREMISE 60.0 %

OFF-PREMISE

8.9 % 8.9 % 8.9 %

Vodka

Other

7.5 % 7.5 % 7.5 %

Craft Beer

OFF-PREMISE

35 % 28.9 % 28.9 %

30 %

21.1 % 25 % 20 % 15 % 10 % 5 % 0 %

Whiskey Other

35.6 % 28.90 %

White Wine

7.9 % 5 . 3 %

Tequila Sparkling Wine

Craft Beer

Spirits Wine Beer

6.7 % 6.7 %

2.2 % Down Flat Up Don ' t Stock

32.4 % 29.7 %

26.3 %

28.9 %

40.5 %

18.9 %

39.5 %

21.6 % 16.2 %

5.3 % 5.4 %

Down Flat Up Don ' t Stock

6 StateWays • Summer 2024 www . stateways . com