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Cocktail sales grow 10% in UK on-trade, says CGA

Published:  10 October, 2014

The popularity of cocktails has translated into a 10.8% sales growth spurt across the UK's bars and pubs in the past two years, with rum and mint drink Mojito coming out on top.

The popularity of cocktails has translated into a 10.8% sales growth spurt across the UK's bars and pubs in the past two years, with rum and mint drink Mojito coming out on top.

CocktailsCocktails have surged in popularity in UK barsCocktail sales are up 10% in the UK on-trade in the past two years, according to a report from CGA Strategy.

According to a report from CGA Strategy into mixed drinks, young adults and the London market are driving the country's thirst for cocktails.

The report also shows that more than one in five (22%) of the country's on-trade venues now serve cocktails.

Although mixologists are becoming ever more inventive with new recipes, the classic mojito remains the biggest-selling cocktail in the on-trade. Other stalwarts including the Pina Colada, Woo Woo and Sex on the Beach have also grown as cocktails make their way into more mainstream venues.

Cocktail drinkers are fairly evenly split between the sexes, with women accounting for 54% of sales and men 46%. In the core 18-35 age group, cocktails are becoming a drink for all on-trade occasions, with consumers increasingly choosing to drink cocktails throughout the night, rather than just at the start, the report says.

Other key trends identified include:

  • The proportion of under-35s who say they have bought a cocktail in the last week has increased from 36% to 43% in the past year
  • 74% of 18 to 24 year-olds have bought a cocktail bomb drink, while 88% of that same age group say they drink pitchers
  • London has the highest concentration of on-trade outlets serving cocktails than anywhere else in the country. They are also very popular in Scotland, Yorkshire and Lancashire.

Tom Lynch, commercial director at CGA Strategy, said: "Cocktails and the bars and pubs that serve them have been surging in popularity over the last few years and our latest research emphasises just how integrated they've become to mainstream drinking. They present a terrific opportunity for bars and pubs to drive footfall and increase spend - but only if they can fully understand what customers want from a cocktail menu and give them a consistent experience every time."

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