'No, low alcohol segment continues to grow'

The no and low alcohol segment continues to grow in the country despite the volume sales decline in alcohol category, states a recent report.

According to a research from IWSR, while total beverage alcohol volumes in the UK declined by 2 per cent between 2022 and 2023, the overall no and low-alcohol segment saw volume growth of 47 per cent (2022 to 2023), with forecast volume CAGR of 19 per cent (2023 to 2028).

“Whilst the grocery market struggles for volume growth, you just need to walk up the beers, wines and spirits aisle to witness an impressive display of ‘trend-bucking’ with innovation, space and range in the low and zero alcohol sector of the category exploding,” reports quoted Patrick Finlay, Managing Director of The Category Management Company, as saying.

“The trend has been emerging slowly over the past decade but has accelerated for several reasons, not least the Gen Z cohort growing its demand for taste variety, convenient formats, and healthier propositions.”

He noted that it is not by accident that this sub-sector of the BWS category has evolved at such pace. It is attributable to retailers and their suppliers methodically identifying the trends, quantifying them and developing product and in-store solutions that few other categories can stake a claim to.

“Having insight (and foresight) will always pay dividends. A clear category vision, an evidence-based understanding of where long-term growth will come from, alongside a plan to activate, sets categories, suppliers and brands apart from the herd,” said Finlay.

He added that if you are asking the question of how to grow long term volume, without getting into the downward price-promotion spiral, it’s worth looking at the BWS category.

“Take a beat. Step back and invest in developing the insights that will underpin a consumer and shopper-led category vision,” Finlay concluded.