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Rugby World Cup thanked for UK beer growth
Beer sales in the UK grew strongly in the third quarter, with a 3.9% growth in volumes on the same time last year, figures from the British Beer & Pub Association report.
UK beer sales are still flatlining for the year, however (Photo: Wiki)
Record-breaking off-trade sales were “astonishingly buoyant”, the BBPA said, as it pointed to retailers stocking up for England hosting the Rugby World Cup as one of the leading factors behind the growth rate.
Sales in off-trade stores rose by 9% from July to September to reach the highest ever third quarter sales level.
On-trade sales performed less impressively, showing a small decline of 1.2%, though “the long term trend still shows stabilising volumes after years of sharp decline”, the brewing trade body said.
Beer sales in the UK are still flatlining annually, at 0.4% below the previous twelve months. This is due to “challenging figures” in the first six months of the year.
Brigid Simmonds, BBPA chief executive, said: “There is a real opportunity to build on these strong figures and secure future growth,” and called for further cuts to beer taxes to spur on the industry.