Stability of sparkling wine sales through supermarket distribution

According to the results of the IRI France Infoscan panel research, sparkling wine sales in supermarkets (hypermarkets included) remained nearly stable in 2008 in comparison with 2007...

Sales registered a slight decrease in volume (160.2 millions of bottles, representing a + 0.7% increase compared to sales in 2007) and a slight increase in value (1.171 billion Euros, which represents + 0.6%).

The average price is currently rising: + 4.98% at 18.54 Euros/bottle.

 Champagne Champagne sales in supermarkets during 2008 decreased in terms of volume (42.9 million bottles, representing - 7.2%) and in value (796.6 million Euros, representing - 2.6%). FranceAgriMer indicates that Champagne represented 26.8% of the sales volume and 68% of the sales value of sparkling wines bought in supermarkets.

 Non - Champagne AOC wines Sales increased (38.2 million bottles, representing + 3.9%), generating a sales value of 192.2 million Euros (+ 7.1%). The Non-Champagne AOC wines represented 23.8% of the sales volume and 16.4% of the sales value of sparkling wine sales.

 Charmat bulk wines (VM and VMQ) The sales of Charmat bulk wines rose to 65.945 million bottles (representing + 0.5%), generating a sales value of 144.191 million Euros (+ 8.4%). The bulk wine segment represents 41.2% of the sales volume and 12.3% of the sales value of sparkling wines. The sales of foreign sparkling wines is still on the rise: 5.737 million bottles have been sold this past year (against 5.389 million in 2007) generating a sales value of 18.987 million Euros (+ 11.7%). These wines represent 3.6% of the sparkling wine market volume.

La Journée Vinicole - May 13 2009