Italy: Despite challenging 2020 beer market sees EUR2 bln turnover for the first time

Despite a challenging year, beverage sales in Italy recorded a positive result in 2020, with the beer market seeing a �2 billion turnover for the first time, a new report from IRI has revealed.

Beverage sales in the 'brick and mortar channel' increased by 4.4% in volume and 5% in turnover.

Alcoholic drinks drove this growth, with wine and sparkling wine sales registering a 5.6% and 6.7% increase, respectively. The sales of aperitifs rose by 23.8% in this period.

Colder weather, particularly in June and July, impacted non-alcoholic beverage sales.

Flat beverages, such as tea, flavoured waters, isotonic, saw sales down by 4.6% in volume, while water (+1.9%), juices and nectars (+1.4%), carbonated drinks (+2.7%), and energy drinks (+10.8%) all witnessed increased sales.

Beer sales were up 10.7% in terms of turnover and 9% in volume, with consumers shifting to 'at home' consumption.

Despite a reduced offer on store shelves due to logistic problems, speciality beer sales grew 18.9% in value and is now the second most sold category with an 18.9% share.

Other beer categories that registered growth in this period include standard (+9.5%) and light non-alcoholic beers (+4.9%).

The report also revealed that beer sales in the discount channel (+15.7%) is growing at almost twice the rate of other distribution channels, driven by new store openings.

In the beverage wholesaler channel, beer sales, which account for 37% of turnover, recorded a 35.4% drop in volume and 35.8% in revenue. Overall sales in this channel were down -31.4% in 2020.

In the cash and carry channel, beverage sales dipped 0.9% in volume and 13.3% in value. Water and aperitifs were the only categories to see growth in this channel, while others reported negative sales, including beer (-0.1% in volume and -2.3% in value).