Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Bumper alcohol sales forecasted for Platinum Jubilee weekend

Bumper alcohol sales forecasted for Platinum Jubilee weekend
iStock image
Getty Images

Bumper alcohol sales have been predicted over Queen’s Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend.

Forecasting sales increase across several categories, data specialist Kantar said that despite rising inflation levels, there are signs that the British public is already looking ahead to the Platinum Jubilee at the beginning of June.


Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar, said, “With a four-day bank holiday weekend on the horizon, we’re expecting people to celebrate with friends and family.

“Looking back at the Diamond Jubilee in 2012, we saw a 10 percent boost in supermarket sales during the week leading up to the festivities. We should never underestimate the appetite for a party, especially a royal one.

“Summer refreshments back then were top of the shopping list and both alcohol and soft drink sales shot up. Beer sales rose by 23 percent [and] sparkling wine sales more than doubled."

Wine retailer Majestic too is expecting record sales of sparkling wine, ahead of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend, while Majestic said it expects the nation will celebrate with 114 glasses of fizz per minute, with English sparkling wine expected to dominate.

Majestic added that it expects 110,000 bottles of sparkling wine to be picked up between June 2-5.

"In terms of bubbly consumed, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee outdrinks Kate and William’s Royal Wedding back in 2011 by 23,000 bottles, making it a 21 percent increase - and Harry and Meghan’s marriage in 2018 by 43,000 bottles, a 39 percent increase,” the company said.

“It’s a mixed picture across the nation, however,” the retailer added.

While sales of Prosecco are set to be the most popular in Scotland (one in four glasses), according to Majestic’s extensive customer research, the Home Counties will come across as top English sparkling drinkers with London is expected to four times more likely to pop a cork than the rest of the UK and expected to consume the most Champagne and fizz per minute, at 860 flutes (or coups) per minute over the four-day weekend.

Meanwhile, in the West Country, celebrators are more likely to go for Crémant and Cava, the retailer said.

Majestic said English sparkling wine sales are up by around 58 percent like-for-like, and it expects Nyetimber Classic Cuvée to top the best-sellers chart for the first time.

More for you

Bira CEO Andrew Goodacre
Bira CEO Andrew Goodacre

'Devastating and out of touch' – indies react to Budget bombshell

Following the initial response condemning the Budget as 'the most damaging for independent retailers in recent memory' from the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira), members have shared their stark reactions to the triple burden of doubled business rates, increased National Insurance, and higher minimum wage costs.

Multiple retailers have calculated specific impacts on their businesses, with costs ranging from £90,000 to £150,000 per year.

"This budget was horrendous for us as a company. Estimated costs to be around £110,000 - £120,000 per year," said Andrew Massey of Masseys DIY in Swadlincote, Derbyshire.

Keep ReadingShow less
Brocks at Rockwell Green store

Brocks at Rockwell Green store

Christie & Co

'Popular' Somerset store on the market as long-term owners retire


Brocks at Rockwell Green, a Premier-branded convenience store near Wellington, Somerset is on the market as owners Simon and Rachel Brock are now looking to retire - after running the store for nearly 25 years.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney

Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds announced as new co-owners of Wrexham Lager

Wrexham Lager Beer Co Ltd, the oldest lager brewery still existing in Britain that has been brewing in Wales since 1882, has announced Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds as new co-owners of the company alongside the Roberts family.

The acquisition was made by Red Dragon Ventures, a joint venture formed by The R.R. McReynolds Company, majority owner of Wrexham AFC, and the Allyn family of Skaneateles, New York. Red Dragon Ventures was created to drive growth in the Wrexham community and Wrexham AFC.

Keep ReadingShow less
Solar and wind power
iStock

Leading beverage brands join forces to accelerate renewable energy adoption

Ten global beverage companies have joined forces under a new industry-wide consortium, called REfresh Alliance, which is designed to help accelerate renewable energy adoption across the industry’s supply chain.

The new initiative invites additional companies from across the beverage industry to pool and scale their resources to remove barriers to renewable energy adoption in the supply chain, provide education on best market practices and support the industry’s transition to Net Zero.

Keep ReadingShow less
disposable vapes

Single-use disposable vapes are displayed for sale on October 27, 2024 in London, England

Alishia Abodunde/Getty Images

Vape industry concerned over chancellor’s vaping duty proposal

Vape industry bodies have raised concerns over chancellor Rachel Reeves’ budget announcement introducing a flat-rate excise duty on vaping products, saying it could hurt public health and increase financial pressures on consumers.

The new excise tax, set to begin on October 1, 2026, will add £2.20 per 10ml of vaping liquid, with additional VAT. This rate replaces the previous government’s proposed tiered tax structure, which many in the industry had criticised.

Keep ReadingShow less