NABCA Releases Control States Nine-Liter Spirits Sales for November

Dec. 29, 2014 - PRLog -- During November, nine-liter spirits case sales in the control states were essentially flat, growing at 0.2% in spite of a weak comp, compared to same period sales last year. Rolling-twelve month volume growth of 1.8% was up from October’s 1.5%. Iowa, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Wyoming reported monthly growth rates exceeding their twelve month trends. Control State year-to-date nine-liter case volumes are up 1.6% over those reported last year.

This month’s Control State spirits growth was affected, to some extent, by this year’s calendar. November of 2013 had five Fridays and four Sundays in contrast to this November’s four Fridays and five Sundays. Spirits are not sold on Sundays in six Control States: Alabama, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Utah, and West Virginia.

Control state spirits shelf dollars were up 2.6% during November while trending at 4.3% during the past twelve months. Iowa, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Wyoming reported growth rates exceeding their twelve month trends. Control State year-to-date shelf dollars are up 4.4%.

Price/Mix for November is 2.4%, down slightly from October’s 2.6%. Control state Price/Mix was depressed by uncharacteristically weak shelf dollar growth, relative to slightly more robust volume growth, in the north eastern control states.

During November, Irish Whiskey, with 1.0% share of the control states spirits market, was the fastest growing category with 15.6% reported and a twelve month trend of 10.7%. Vodka, with 35% share, grew during the same periods at -1.3% and 1.4%. Cocktails, Domestic Whiskey, and Irish Whiskey grew at rates exceeding their twelve-month trends.

November’s nine-liter wine case sales growth rate was 0.4%. Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Utah, Mississippi, Montgomery County Maryland, and Wyoming reported -0.2%, 3.3%, 3.9%, -3.2%, 0.2%, and 0.5%, respectively. Rolling-twelve month wine volume growth was 1.9%, down slightly from October’s 2.0%.