Down Economy Has Little Impact on Alcohol Purchases in Stores

Alcoholic beverage purchases may be somewhat recession-proof, with the declining economy having only a mild impact on consumers’ purchases at off-premise locations, such as grocery, liquor, convenience stores, warehouse clubs and other stores, according to Nielsen, writes MarketingCharts.

Nearly half of consumers surveyed report that the downturn in the economy has had no influence in the amount they are spending for beer, wine or spirits at off-premise locations; less than 20 percent indicate a significant impact (see chart).

More than 80 percent of consumers say they are spending the same amount or more on beer, wine and spirits compared with a year ago.

However, a large number of consumers report that they are going out less often to “out-of-home” venues, such as restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. (View chart.)

“Purchases at out-of-home or on-premise locations may be more susceptible to a negative economy as consumers eat out less and entertain at home more often,” said Danny Brager, vice-president, Client Service, Beverage Alcohol, The Nielsen Company. “Off-premise sales in grocery, mass merchandise, convenience, liquor and other stores will likely see benefits of this activity.”

Value, Convenience and One-Stop-Shopping Draws Consumers

Of those consumers who responded that the economy has significantly affected their alcoholic beverage purchases in stores, more than 60 percent report that they are now shopping at places where they can get a better price and nearly half report that they are shopping at stores that are closer so they can save on gas.

(See chart of the various ways consumers have altered their purchasing habits.)

More than one-third of consumers say they are shopping for alcoholic beverages at stores where they combine other shopping purchases while a majority report that they simply buy less often.

So Many Choices

While alcoholic beverage consumers shop a diversity of store types - where state laws determining what beverages can be sold where allow it - the traditional grocery store is most often shopped for beer and wine. (View chart of places people shop for beer, wine, and spirits.)

• Consumers shop the liquor store, followed by the traditional grocery store, most often for spirits, partly due to those state laws.
• Warehouse clubs and mass merchandise stores, perhaps as a reflection of the importance of value pricing to consumers, are also shopped frequently for alcoholic beverages.
• Convenience stores rank high for beer purchases.

The Why Behind Store Selection

Asked about the primary reasons they shop for alcoholic beverages at certain types of stores, consumers cited convenient location and better prices or promotions atop the list for beer, wine, and spirits purchases.

In certain store types, other factors are important. For example, beer and wine buyers cite “a fun, interesting place to shop” as the main reason for shopping at less traditional stores, whereas consumers cite the liquor store as a preferred store for its helpful and knowledgeable staff. Wine buyers also prefer specialty grocery stores for this reason.

Depending on the occasion, consumers may change their shopping location for alcoholic beverages. For example, when hosting a party at home, some consumers respond that they are more likely to shop warehouse clubs, larger liquor store chains or specialty grocery stores.

“While value and convenience clearly matter to consumers when deciding where to buy, our research also indicates that consumers choose where to buy based on a variety of factors, ranging from the occasion to what type of product they are looking for to the store’s services and ambience,” said Brager.

“And while we don’t see a radical shift in consumer behavior depending on the occasion, there are opportunities for specific types of retailers. Cross-merchandising with party supplies and offering party food pairing ideas may resonate with these consumers.”

About the data: Results from Nielsen’s “Through the Eyes of the Bev Al Shopper” consumer survey are based on a May 2008 Nielsen Homescan survey with responses from approximately 3,500 consumers who have purchased alcoholic beverages from a store during the last three months.