During July, Control States nine-liter spirits case sales grew 6.2% over the like year-earlier period opposite a fairly robust 4.6% comp, the National Alcoholic Beverage Control Association reports. Control state spirits shelf dollars grew at 8.5% during July while trending at 6.5% during the past twelve months.
Cocktails, with 2% share of the nine-liter case Control States spirits market, was July’s fastest-growing category with 17.6% reported and a twelve-month trend of 6.9%.
Tequila, with 6% share, reported 13.8% growth and a 10.2% twelve-month trend. Domestic Whiskey, with 15% share, reported 10.3% monthly growth and a twelve-month trend of 6.2%. Vodka, with 34% share, grew during the same periods at 4.2% and 2.9%, respectively. Brandy/Cognac (9.7%, 3.4%), Canadian Whiskey (6.4%, 3.2%), Cocktails (17.6%, 6.9%), Cordials (4.2%, 2.1%), Domestic Whiskey (10.3%, 6.2%), Gin (1.9%, -0.2%), Rum (2.5%, 0.1%), Scotch (2.9%, 0.3%), Tequila (13.8%, 10.2%), and Vodka (4.2%, 2.9%) grew at rates exceeding their twelve-month trends, while Irish Whiskey(7.6%, 11.1%) grew at a monthly rate that lagged its twelve-month trend.
July’s nine-liter wine case sales growth rate was -5.4%. Pennsylvania (reporting -2.2% nine-liter case growth for wines), New Hampshire (-22.2%), Utah (3.3%), Mississippi (8.4%), Montgomery County Maryland (4.2%), and Wyoming (0.8%) 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 -1.9%, slipping from June’s reported -1.1%.
These are the states were case sales grew:
Alabama (8.8%), Iowa (17.6%), Idaho (7.4%), Maine (10.7%), Montgomery County Maryland (8.6%), Mississippi (13.1%), Montana (12.1%), North Carolina (9.9%), Ohio (7%), Oregon (5.3%), Pennsylvania (3.8%), Utah (7.9%), Vermont (2.5%), Virginia (6.5%), West Virginia (12.2%), and Wyoming (9.6%) reported monthly growth rates for July that exceeded their twelve-month trends.
Michigan (2.1%) and New Hampshire (-6.0%) grew at rates that fell short of their twelve-month trends.
Control State rolling 12-month volume grew 3.5%, slightly better than June’s reported 3.4%. Spirits volumes grew 3.8% year-to-date compared to 2.5% a year ago.
These are the states where dollar sales grew: Alabama (9.9%), Iowa (18.5%), Idaho (9.7%), Maine (12.5%), Montgomery County Maryland (11.8%), Mississippi (16.1%), Montana (17.0%), North Carolina (13.2%), Ohio (9.9%), Oregon (7.6%), Pennsylvania (5.9%), Utah (9.0%), Vermont (7.2%), Virginia (8.1%), and West Virginia (14.9%) grew shelf dollars during July at rates exceeding their twelve-month trends.
Michigan (3.9%), New Hampshire (1.2%), and Wyoming (7.1%) grew shelf dollars at rates lagging their twelve-month trends. Shelf dollars in the control states are up 6.4% year-to-date compared to 5.1% a year ago.
Price/Mix for July is 2.3%, lagging June’s 2.8%, NABCA said.