Spirits Grows by 9% in 2021 for 12th Consecutive Year of Growth
According to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUSS), the distilled spirits sector achieved a 9.3 percent growth in 2021 driven by the gradual reopening of restaurants and consumers trading up to super-premium spirits for at-home occasions. This represents the 12th straight year of market share gains for spirits overall.
DISCUS President and CEO Chris Swonger reported that supplier sales in the United States were up 12 percent in 2021 to a total of $35.8 billion, while volumes rose 9.3 percent to 291.1 million 9-liter cases.
“Last year, enthusiasm for spirits continued as consumers spent more to elevate their cocktail experiences with super-premium brands,” said Swonger. “Consumers savoring spirits at home and trading up to higher-end brands, combined with the gradual reopening of bars and restaurants, resulted in record sales for the spirits sector. We’re also seeing strong growth for spirits-based ready-to-drink products, and that’s adding to our sector’s gains as well.”
Sales volumes at on-premise establishments, which represent about 20 percent of the U.S. market, were up 53 percent in 2021 following nationwide restaurant and bar closures and restrictions. Off-premise sales volumes, which saw sharp gains in 2020, were flat in 2021.
Since the start of the pandemic, the National Restaurant Association reports that about 90,000 restaurants have temporarily or permanently closed, and the industry still hasn’t recovered more than 650,000 jobs.
See the full report here, including a list of top 5 spirits categories by revenue and the top five fastest growing spirits categories by revenue.
