24 Beverage Dynamics • March 2014
www.beveragedynamics.com
W
hile job growth in U.S. continues to
move forward in fi ts and starts, the over-
all U.S. economy is still in a modest re-
covery mode. Depending on which economist or
pundit you read or listen to, we are either on the
verge of a sustained period of solid growth, in danger
of slipping back into recession, or somewhere in be-
tween. But given the volatility of the modern world, it
could be unwise to accept the analyses of those who
apparently speak with unwavering certainty. What is
certain, however, is that overall distilled spirits sales
volume increased in 2013 for the seventeenth consec-
utive year, while overall wine sales volume
saw positive results in 2013 for the twenti-
eth year in a row.
According to the latest statistics, just re-
leased in the Handbook Advance 2014, pub-
lished by the Beverage Information Group,
total U.S. distilled spirits sales volume in
2013 rose to an estimated 210.6 million
9-liter cases, notching a 2.4% gain versus
2012. That represents a sales volume bump of nearly
5 million 9-liter cases over 2012. Importantly, over-
all spirits retail revenue growth (the combined dollar
total of off- and on-premise sales) also increased in
2013, by a healthy 4.2% to $75.82 billion, a gain of
more than $3 billion over 2012. The higher percent-
age gain in spirits revenue (versus spirits sales volume)
underlines the ongoing trend of recent years: the
dynamic sales activity among premium-priced and
above-premium-priced spirits products.
The same holds true in the wine segment. Total
U.S. wine sales volume increased by an estimated
2.2% in 2013, to approximately 326.0
million 9-liter cases. This represents a
sales volume gain of more than 6.8 mil-
lion 9-liter cases versus 2012 totals. And
similar to spirits, the move toward high-
end purchases continued in the wine
segment, evidenced by the segment's
3.6% revenue increase in 2013, to just
under $30 billion.
Beverage Dynamics identifi es the fastest-selling wines and spirits in the U.S.
BY RICHARD
BRANDES
www.beveragedynamics.com
March/April 2014 • Beverage Dynamics 24
