Control states nine-liter spirits case sales grew 0.2% in April over same period sales last year.
Alabama (7.9%), Iowa (12.7%), Idaho (13.4%), Maine (12.9%), Michigan (42.7%), Mississippi (21.8%), North Carolina (8.8%), Ohio ( 10.7%), Oregon (6.8%), Utah (43.7%), Virginia (7.6%), Vermont (15.6%), West Virginia (18.8%), and Wyoming (7.2%) reported monthly growth rates for April exceeding their twelve-month trends.
The growth rates for Montgomery County Maryland (-0.2%), Montana (1.1%), New Hampshire (-26.0%), and Pennsylvania (-90.5%) fell short of their twelve-month trends.
Control state rolling-twelve-month volume growth, 4.4%, was down from March’s reported 4.9%. Spirits volumes have grown 6.5% year-to-date compared to 4.3% a year ago.
Control state spirits shelf dollars were up 3% during April while trending at 6.9% during the past twelve months. Alabama (12.8%), Iowa (14.9%), Idaho (13.9%), Maine (14.5%), Michigan (43.9%), Mississippi (25.2%), North Carolina (11.8%), Ohio (14.6%), Oregon (8.2%), Utah (39.3%), Virginia (11.2%), Vermont (16.7%), and West Virginia (23.2%) all reported growth rates exceeding their twelve-month trends.
Montgomery County Maryland (1.5%), Montana (1.0%), New Hampshire (-26.8%), Pennsylvania (-89.3%), and Wyoming (7.4%) grew shelf dollars at rates below their twelve-month trends. Shelf dollars in the control states are up 8.8% year-to-date compared to 6.9% last year.
Price/Mix for April is 2.8%, improving upon March’s reported 0.3%.
Spirits
Cocktails, with 2% share of the nine-liter case control states spirits market, was April’s fastest growing category with 40.4% reported and a twelve-month trend of 15.6%.
Vodka, with 34% share, grew during the same periods at -2.5% and 3.8%, respectively. Brandy/Cognac (8.5% during April, 4.0% twelve-month trend), Canadian Whiskey (8.5%, 3.6%), and Cocktails (40.4%, 15.6%) grew at rates above their twelve-month trends, while Cordials (-16.1%, 1.0%), Domestic Whiskey (6.3%, 8.6%), Gin (-5.0%, 0.6%), Irish Whiskey (-11.4%, 6.4%), Rum (-5.4%, 0.2%), Scotch (-8.2%, 0.7%), Tequila (-0.7%, 10.3%), and Vodka (-2.5%, 3.8%) fell short.
Wine
April’s nine-liter wine case sales growth rate was -15.4%. Pennsylvania (reporting -31.5% nine-liter case growth for wines), New Hampshire (-16.7%), Utah (31.0%), Mississippi (26.6%), Montgomery County Maryland (8.4%), and Wyoming (11.7%) 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 is -1.0%, down from March’s reported 0.4%.
During March and April, the industry’s on- and off-premise markets behaved capriciously. The changes in the monthly off-premise share of the control state spirits market during the past two months confirms that belief. For the twelve-month period ending February 2020 the off-premise monthly share averaged 82%. Then, during March it jumped to 90%, and during April to 99%. Trends suggest the Control State off-premise share for May will moderate somewhat but still be in the mid 90’s.