BC Liquor Sales Q1 2017

Canadian wine sales are soaring in liquor stores with a 36.1% increase over last year, but pubs and restaurants show the reverse trend with a decrease of 3.6%. This trend shows that the hospitality industry is slow to follow consumers’ preference to enjoy Canadian wine, not just that produced in BC. Ironically, BC wine sales in hospitality sales went up 2.2% and sales in stores were down by 0.4%. BC wines still have a great market share, however, when you look at the total number of litres sold through both channels.

The trend for BC micro brews continues in the first quarter of 2017 with strong increases in both wholesale and hospitality sales.

Tequila is increasing in popularity as well with strong growth in both sectors, so stock your shelves to satisfy customer demand.

Litres with % change over 2016 – Jan – mar 2017

Wholesale Sales

Beer – Domestic BC Commercial:  34,685,212, -4.1%
Beer – BC Micro Brew:  5,291,479, +21.2%
Beer – BC Regional:  7,959,950, +4.4%
Beer – Import:  9,189,718, -3.9%
Cider – Domestic & Import:  3,600,543, +5.4%
Coolers:  3,507,871, +8.3%
Gin:  292,966, +3.3%
Rum:  716,575, -2.2%
Tequila:  70,954, +16.5%
Vodka:  1,740,765, +0.6%
Whisky:  5,250,241, -0.5%
Wine – BC:  7,844,313, -0.4%
Wine – Canadian: 104,162, +36.1%
Wine – USA:  1,591,844, -16%
Wine Total:  15,742,903, -1.7%

Hospitality Sales

Beer – Domestic BC Commercial:  7,334,998, -4%
Beer – BC Micro Brew:  2,473,154, +15.6%
Beer – BC Regional:  2,227,851, +5.5%
Beer – Import:  2,333,732, +1.8%
Cider – Domestic & Import:  499,081, +3.8%
Coolers:  166,038, +11.6%
Gin:  60,913, +6.5%
Rum:  86,037, -0.1%
Tequila: 64,219, +20%
Vodka:  232,624, +1.2%
Whisky:  141,381, +5.7%
Wine – BC:  1,207,728, +2.2%
Wine – Canadian: 9,542, -3.6%
Wine – USA:  187,465, -2.2%
Wine Total:  2,152,132, +2.1%
Source: BC Liquor Distribution Branch, Quarterly Market Report