Wine drinking is getting a boost from the COVID-19 crisis, with new research showing that well over half of wine drinkers are either maintaining or increasing the number of times they drink wine.
The latest CGA-Buyer Wine Insights Bulletin also finds that of those drinking wine more often, the key drinkers are younger and male, which is a significantly different profile to the typical on-trade wine customer.
Commenting on the findings, Mark Newton, senior wine category development manager at CGA, said: “Wine might enjoy a number of advantages over some of its category competitors when it comes to how consumers are changing behaviours and habits. This interest in wine may be carried back into the pubs, bars and restaurants post-crisis via younger, urbanised, more male-orientated and – most importantly – more wine-literate drinkers.”
“It is important that the wine trade continues to nurture and develop these associations – targeting the right consumer groups and ensuring they have the tools ready to ramp up these opportunities and newfound loyalties when the on-trade finally reopens for business,” added Newton.
The lockdown has also led to an increased demand for online ordering and drinks delivery services, especially for wine.
“Companies have transformed themselves, literally overnight, from being restaurants, bars and on-trade suppliers, to running full-on direct to consumer and delivery services, servicing the whole country with e-commerce websites that have appeared out of nowhere,” said Richard Siddle, co-founder & editor of The Buyer.
“The big question that has already risen is what happens to all these new trading models and ways of doing business when the lockdown is slowly lifted. Will we go back to the way things were? We are all living in the most extraordinary period in our business and personal lives, and whilst the impact of the actual COVID-19 outbreak is stressful and upsetting, we are already seeing what an uplifting, dynamic and even revolutionary influence it is having on transforming both the on-trade and drinks industry that supports it.”
About the Bulletin
Drinks industry insight expert CGA has teamed up with premium wine trade publication The Buyer to provide a free report to help GB wine on-trade suppliers, producers, distributors and retailers navigate their way through the COVID-19 crisis.
The CGA-Buyer Wine Trade Bulletin series provides exclusive insight, commentary, advice and expertise into how the COVID-19 crisis is shaping and effecting the out-of-home wine category from a business, consumer, volumetric and advanced analytical trend perspective.
Topics include:
- A snapshot of EPOS wine & Champagne RoS declines on the run-up to the on-trade shutdown
- Analysis of the consumer shift towards food and drink home delivery
- Exclusive summary of consumer attitudes towards the wine category
- A round-up of topical highlights with movers and shakers within the industry from The Buyer’s COVID-19 Blog Hub
- Exclusive commentary from Mark Newton, resident CGA wine category expert, and The Buyer’s Editor-in-Chief, Richard Siddle
- Details of other CGA insights and services that may assist your business during this extremely challenging period for the industry
Future editions will focus on the constantly evolving picture and how the wider trade is responding to these changes. It will provide useful context, commentary and insight to assist with the important task of recovery planning and offer a picture of what the ‘new normal’ will look like.
To learn how to become a paid subscriber to the CGA-The Buyer Wine Insight Report series for 2020 and gain access to the full version of the regular bulletin and additional detailed analysis, contact Mark Newton, Senior Wine Category Development Manager at CGA via mark.newton@cga.co.uk
For questions regarding the bulletin please contact Richard Siddle, Co-Founder & Editor of The Buyer at richardsiddle@btopenworld.com
