Japan: Suntory Holdings flags reversal of sales performance in H1, with flat domestic beer sales

Suntory Holdings has flagged a reversal of the sales performance of its alcohol businesses in the first half of this year, Global Drinks Intel reported on August 13.

Six months after booking a 1% lift in 2024 sales, the Japanese group’s alcohol operations, which include US-based Suntory Global Spirits, saw their combined top line from the half year to the end of June finish down by 2.4%. The company noted better year-on-year sales for beer, spirits and wine in Japan, although markets across Europe conspired with the US to drag on performance.

While related commentary was sparse – Suntory is privately-owned and therefore not obliged to disclose much performance-related information – top billing was given to flagship Japanese blended whisky Kakubin for delivering an unspecified rise in volumes in its home market.

Japanese gin Roku posted a double-digit volume climb, also in its home market, while further afield, a focus on the RTD category in the US was exemplified by distribution expansion for -196 and the extension in May of the On the Rocks brand into cans (above).

In beer, domestic volumes were flat on the corresponding six months of 2024, with Suntory Draft Beer (+24%) and Perfect Suntory Beer (+19%) both leaping in volume terms.

Suntory also highlighted the establishment of a “non-alcoholic department” in Japan at the start of this year that will result in the “integrating [of] our non-alcoholic marketing”.

Last month, Suntory Global Spirits officially unveiled its multi-category tie-up in Australia with Frucor Suntory – which is also owned by Suntory Holdings – Suntory Oceania.