LONDON — While the European men's soccer championship ended in gloom yet again for England, the tournament boosted the nation's grocery store and hospitality spending — with no and low-alcohol sales seeing a particular boom.
Take-home grocery sales increased 2.2% across the four weeks to July 7, with beer sales up by an average 13% on England match days, market research firm Kantar said in research released Tuesday.
No and low-alcohol beer sales meanwhile spiked 38%, Kantar said, attributing this to the fact that many England matches were held on weeknights.
It is the latest sign of strength in the no and low-alcohol beer market, which has grown rapidly in recent years with offerings from both the brewing juggernauts and incumbents such as Lucky Saint, which is served in cans and on tap in thousands of U.K. pubs and bars.
Research firm IWSR forecasts the U.K.'s total beverage alcohol market will see a 1% decline across volume and value over the next five years, as no and low-alcohol grows 19%.
Persons:
Kantar, Saint, IWSR
Organizations:
Euro
Locations:
England, Spain, London, United Kingdom