Shoppers are indicating a degree of caution regarding their spending, according to Peter Reynolds, senior client manager of Nielsen.
"Three quarters of households agree they are constantly looking for the best prices. This may vary by category of alcoholic beverage but the underlying trend prevails.
"But for top-up shopping, a convenient location is the overwhelming decision criteria, followed by value for money, not price. This tells us that in the c-store arena consumers are prepared to pay more."
"To stretch their household budgets even more, consumers are not doing the big shop quite so often. They are doing the smaller trips to reduce the amount spent in each visit."
Reynolds suggested stocking something different, such as world beers or speciality beers. He added that vodka commands a 42% value share of spirits and has now overtaken blended scotch to be the number one off trade spirit category on a value basis.
Will Government proposals to ban the display of tobacco in retail premises damage the wholesale sector?
