NIQ

St. Patrick’s Day gave the on-premise a welcome boost, but it wasn’t completely sunny for the bev-alc industry, according to the latest report by CGA, the on-premise arm of market research firm NIQ.

Brewers Association-defined craft beer recorded a -4% decline in packaged volume in 2024, BA staff economist Matt Gacioch reported this week in the trade group’s annual packaging report.

While consumers were optimistic about their Dry January plans in December, those plans quickly changed for some, according to the latest report from CGA, the on-premise arm of market research firm NIQ.

The beer category is in the black to start 2025, with off-premise dollar sales growing +3% and volume +0.7% year-to-date (YTD) through January 18 in NIQ-tracked channels (total U.S. xAOC plus liquor plus convenience).

Total bev-alc retail sales reached $112 billion in 2024 but, excluding ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages, no category saw growth in dollars or volume, according to market research firm NIQ.

On-premise sales velocity declined -6% for the two-week period ending December 28 and was flat through the New Year’s holiday for the week ending January 4, according to the latest report from CGA, NIQ’s on-premise division.

One-quarter of consumers who have visited the on-premise in the past three months have ordered a ready-to-drink cocktail (RTD) during that time, according to CGA, the on-premise arm of market research firm NIQ.

The total beer category lost the most share of overall beverage dollars at off-premise retailers year-to-date through late September, according to NIQ data shared by Bump Williams Consulting (BWC). Beer – which includes flavored malt beverages (FMB), hard seltzer and hard cider – lost -0.5 sharepoints for the 39-week period ending September 28.

While the majority of the beer category has been unable to find year-over-year (YoY) growth in off-premise in recent scans, the on-premise is looking more positive and could provide more growth opportunities for the category.

IPA drinkers in Connecticut and Delaware have boosted the style to have the largest share of craft off-premise dollars in the country, according to a recent report from Brewers Association (BA) staff economist Matt Gacioch.

The latest data set from NIQ showed a modest improvement in sales declines for total bev-alc in the two-week period before September 7, which included a tepid Labor Day weekend, according to analysis from Goldman Sachs Equity Research.

In this latest installment of 3 Up, 3 Down, 3 Tier consultant Danelle Kosmal shares a trio of insights on industry growth and three underperforming areas during the summer selling season, with NIQ off-premise data through August 10, 2024.

Beer is expected to be the most popular alcoholic beverage at Labor Day weekend celebrations, as 76% of shoppers said they plan to purchase it, according to consumer research firm Numerator.

Ready-to-drink (RTD) products surpassed $13 billion in off-premise sales in the 52-week period ending July 13, up +4% year-over-year (YoY), according to a mid-year report from market research firm NIQ.