Q1 2025 Beer, Spirits & NA Beverage Performance & Trends – 3Tier Beverages via NIQ
In this exclusive quarterly deep dive curated for Brewbound Insiders, 3Tier Beverages breaks down the latest trends shaking up the beverage industry.
NIQ
Featured NIQ Content
On-Premise Update & Outlook – CGA by NIQ March 2025
The On Premise universe grew in December, particularly driven by openings of Casual dining outlets, which were the most common venue type.
Bump Williams Consulting: FMB, Spirits-Based RTD Volume Gains Slowing; Imports Remain ‘Beacon of Consistent Volume’ Growth
The once-booming flavored malt beverage (FMB) segment is “showing some concerning declarations over recent weeks,” Bump Williams Consulting (BWC) founder Bump Williams noted in a recent report. FMB volume gains dropped by half – from +2.2%, to +1.1% – from the four-week period to the one-week period ending May 18, according to NIQ retail measurement data cited by BWC.
Additional Content
NIQ: Spirits & RTDs Lead On-Premise Share Growth; Hard Tea RTDs Gain Share
While off-premise bev-alc scans have been on a rollercoaster this year (one with admittedly mild drops compared to 2025), the on-premise has been more steady, trending between flat and up 1% over the last few months.
RTD Cocktails Outperform as Total Bev-Alc Declines Moderate Slightly
Total bev-alc dollar sales continued to decline in the latest two weeks, as even the standout growth category ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails saw sales dip, according to the latest analysis of NIQ data from Goldman Sachs Equity Research.
NIQ Weekly Scans: April Drags Bev-Alc Sales -5.4% YoY in L4W, -2.1% YTD
While 2026 started with sunny scans for bev-alc, April brought the showers, according to the latest weekly report from market research firm NIQ.
On-Premise Velocity Flat Ahead of Mother’s Day; Holiday Uptick Expected
On-premise venues should have seen a notable lift in sales over the weekend, if historical Mother’s Day trends played out.
Bump Williams: Regional & Local ‘Still Matters;’ Craft Showing ‘Encouraging’ Forward Progress Through Q1
Nearly four out of every 10 craft brands recorded growth in the off-premise through mid-April, according to the latest monthly update from data and consulting firm Bump Williams Consulting (BWC).
NIQ Weekly Scans: Bev-Alc Trends Consistent Through Late April; Below Premium Beer Showing Improvement
Bev-alc trends held steady through late April, according to the latest weekly update from market research firm NIQ.
NIQ Weekly Scans: Bev-Alc Down Single-Digits in L4W Thru Mid-April; Import Volume Back in Red YTD
Bev-alc’s off-premise trends have remained relatively consistent post-Easter, according to the latest weekly report from market research firm NIQ.
NIQ Weekly Scans: Mass Retail Bev-Alc Sales Rebound Despite Easter Holiday Recalibration
Beverage-alcohol’s off-premise sales returned to year-over-year (YoY) contraction post-Easter, according to the latest report from market research firm NIQ.
NIQ: St. Patrick’s Boost Bev-Alc On-Premise Sales Across All Categories; Velocity +1% YoY in L12W
All beverage-alcohol categories had a stronger St. Patrick’s Day in the on-premise this year compared to 2025, according to the latest report from market research firm NIQ.
Cutwater and Surfside’s Triple-Digit Growth Boost Spirits Sales
With recent warmer weather comes an uptick in bev-alc dollar sales, which flipped to positive (+0.5%) in the two-week period ending April 4 – a sequential improvement from -0.8% in the four-week window and -1.2% in the 12-weeks, according to the latest analysis of NIQ data from Goldman Sachs Equity Research.
NIQ Weekly Scans: Easter Boosts Bev-Alc Sales +6.8% WoW; Wine Benefits Most From Holiday
Total bev-alc dollar sales accelerated 6.8% week-over-week (WoW) in off-premise channels in the first week of April as consumers celebrated Easter early, according to NIQ’s latest weekly report.
NIQ On-Premise Update: Festivals, Baseball & Mini Cocktails
Coachella kicks off this weekend, with up to 125,000 people set to flock to Indio, California, each day to see Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, Karol G and others – hopefully with a beverage in hand.
NIQ Weekly Scans: Beer Dollars -1.4% YTD Thru Q1, Volume -2.9%; Imports Leading Beer Share Gains
After a two-week run, St. Patrick’s Day’s boost to bev-alc sales has come to an end. Total bev-alc dollar sales in NIQ-tracked off-premise channels declined 0.9% week-over-week (WoW), to $1.98 billion, according to the market research firm’s latest report (data ending March 28).
Beer on the Chopping Block as Distributors Make Way for Spirts & RTDs, per BWC Survey
Non-alcoholic (NA) and better-for-you brands across both bev-alc and greater CPG have become some of the greatest revenue growth drivers for beer distributors. But those offerings aren’t the top priorities for distributors looking to add to their portfolios, according to a new survey from Bump Williams Consulting (BWC).