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The Take Home Trade Market Accounted for Just Over a Third of the Total UK Market for Alcohol

Posted on: Friday, 11 May 2007, 09:00 CDT

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c56557) has announced the addition of Take Home Trade Market Report 2006 to their offering.

In 2005, UK consumers spent an estimated £14bn on alcoholic drinks to take home. This was equivalent to just over a third of the total UK market for alcohol in that year. The on-trade (pubs, restaurants, etc.) therefore continues to dominate the sale of alcohol in the UK, despite the fact that alcohol is now included in the regular shopping basket of the typical household.

In fact, it is the high prices in the on-trade -- and the low prices for take-home drinks -- that maintain this ratio. Take-home sales have increased substantially by volume, owing to price competition between the multiple grocers (the dominant force in the take-home market) and off-licences. Average prices for take-home alcohol have actually declined since 2002.

The main grocers, led by Tesco, now account for around two-thirds of the take-home market for alcohol, leaving minor shares for off-licences, whether multiples or independents. The demise of Unwins, which once had more than 450 stores in the South East, has removed another traditional off-licence brand, leaving the UK with a single major force in multiple off-licences: Thresher Group, which has around 2,150 outlets.

Thresher is currently taking the franchising route, which has been successful for discounters such as Bargain Booze and Booze Buster. At the more sophisticated end of the market are specialist wine chains such as Oddbins and Majestic Wine, but both of these are under constant pressure from the grocery superstores. Wine is the leading drink in the take-home market, whereas beer, cider and spirits are biased towards on-trade sales.

The emphasis on discounting means that the prospects for the take-home market are muted at present. One possible bonus on the horizon is a nationwide ban on smoking in enclosed public places, which could persuade smokers to drink at home. Otherwise, the alcohol market as a whole is mature and will probably show only moderate growth in value between 2007 and 2011. Within the categories, however, there can be opportunities to profit from swings in fashion, such as the current boom in cider drinking that has been inspired by the Magners brand.

Topics Covered

1. Market Definition

2. Market Size

3. Industry Background

4. Competitor Analysis

5. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats

6. Buying Behaviour

7. Current Issues

8. The Global Market

9. Forecasts

10. Company Profiles

11. Consumer Confidence

12. Further Sources

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c56557.

Source: Business Wire

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