NABCA Releases Control States Nine-Liter Spirits Sales for November

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Dec. 21, 2016 - PRLog -- During November, nine-liter spirits case sales in the control states grew at 5.1%, boosted by a modest comp and a relatively week October. Rolling-twelve month volume growth of 2.8% improved upon October's 2.6%. Alabama, Iowa, Idaho, Montgomery County Maryland, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming reported monthly nine-liter case growth rates exceeding their 12-month trends. Spirits volumes in the control states have grown 2.8% year-to-date compared to 2.6% a year ago.

Control state spirits shelf dollars growth was up 7.4% during November while trending at 5.2% during the past twelve months. Alabama, Iowa, Idaho, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming reported monthly growth rates exceeding their 12-month trends. Spirits shelf dollars have grown 5.0% year-to-date, down from the 5.2% reported during 2015's November.

Price/Mix for November is 2.3%, up from October's 1.9%.

Irish Whiskey, with 1% share of the control states spirits market, was November's fastest growing category with 17.2% reported and a twelve month trend of 14.6%. Vodka, with 35% share, grew during the same periods at 4.7% and 2.9%. Brandy/Cognac (10.6%), Canadian Whiskey (5.8%), Cocktails (2.8%), Cordials (2.4%), Domestic Whiskey (6.0%), Irish Whiskey (17.2%), Rum (2.3%), Scotch (1.6%), Tequila (13.2), and Vodka (4.7%) grew at rates exceeding their twelve month trends. Gin (0.0%) did not. The November growth rates associated with Tequila and Brandy/Cognac, 13.2% and 10.6% respectively, are remarkable.

November's nine-liter wine case sales growth rate was 3.9%. Pennsylvania (reporting 4.9% nine-liter case growth for wines), New Hampshire (-0.9%), Utah (0.3%), Mississippi (14.4%), Montgomery County Maryland (2.0%), and Wyoming (-2.1%) are the control states that are the sole wholesalers of wines and spirits within their geographical boundaries. Rolling-twelve month wine volume growth in these six control states was 2.2%, up from October's reported growth of 1.9%.