Did you know that Drizly, the nation’s first and largest alcohol e-commerce marketplace, is based right here in Boston? With the speed and convenience of on-demand delivery and shipping, Drizly partners with retailers in 1,400+ cities to offer consumers an unrivaled selection and a transparent, personalized shopping experience.
The folks at Drizly have shared some of their findings re: what Bostonians have been drinking in 2020, and the results are interesting, to say the least.
Top 10 beer brands by sales in Boston:
Local brands dominated in 2020 beer sales in Boston, making up 6 out of the top 10 selling brands (listed in order): Bud Light, Night Shift, Corona, Lord Hobo, Samuel Adams, Miller Brewing Co., Downeast Cider, Mighty Squirrel, Coors, Harpoon.
Top 10 wine brands by sales in Boston:
Josh Cellars, Veuve Clicquot, Bota Box, La Marca, Barefoot, Kim Crawford, Chateau d'Esclans, Oyster Bay, La Crema, Black Box.
The fastest-growing liquor brands in Boston in 2020 were:
Ready-to-Drink; Mezcal; Liqueur, Cordials, & Schnapps; Gin; Reposado Tequila.
Top holiday picks in Boston (November – present):
Tito's Handmade Vodka, Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label Champagne, Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, La Marca Prosecco, Bulleit Bourbon, White Claw Hard Seltzer Variety Pack, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Casamigos Blanco, Maker's Mark Bourbon Whisky, Grey Goose Vodka
Are customers in Boston gifting alcohol this year compared to last year?
Yes! Gift orders are up 1260% year over year in December to date in Boston.
Sales on the Drizly platform, which connects adult beverage shoppers to local retailers for purchase and delivery in under 60 minutes, have sustained 350% growth compared to last year. Meanwhile, the number of retailers on Drizly has increased from just over 2,000 to more than 4,000 locations since January.
“It goes without saying that 2020 was an unprecedented year. We feel fortunate to have played a role in helping our retail partners continue to serve consumers during these times, and in many cases, actually grow their businesses,” said Cory Rellas, Drizly Group CEO and Drizly co-founder. “These retailers have a front row seat to all the happenings in the beverage alcohol industry and have an invaluable pulse on its future. Their experiences this year and expectations for 2021 form the basis of this annual retailer report, and are a meaningful barometer for what’s to come.”
With 2021 nearly upon us, Drizly took a closer look at the expectations of its nearly 4,000 retailers to identify what exactly consumers will be on the lookout for next year. The study found nearly half of retailers predicting significantly higher sales this holiday season, 78% of respondents reporting higher online sales since March, and Mezcal leapfrogging the likes of Irish and Japanese whiskies in expectations for growth next year.
Among additional key findings:
Higher sales have sustained, and online ordering is outpacing in-store shopping.
70% of independent retailers surveyed experienced higher in-store sales since COVID-19 became widespread, while 78% saw online sales increase. Furthermore while nearly half of retailers reported that online sales accounted for less than 5% of their total sales prior to COVID-19, 56% said that online sales had grown to 11% or more of total sales post-COVID-19 – with a substantial share reporting that online sales now comprise 30% or more of total sales.
An upbeat outlook for the holidays.
Positive sales trends are expected to hold up through the holiday shopping season. 63% of respondents expect sales to at least match a typical Q4’s, and 44% predict that their sales will be significantly higher than during comparable prior periods.
Grocery delivery threat gains momentum.
Grocery delivery services were cited as independent alcohol retailers’ fastest-growing competitive concern, jumping nearly 30 percentage points since last year, and in absolute terms, surpassing online wine retailers.
Emerging craft segment may fuel hard seltzer’s growth.
As White Claw and Truly solidify their category leadership, nearly a third of retailers are looking to fast-proliferating craft entries to keep the hard seltzer category thriving. Bringing ready-to-drink cocktails into the disruption discussion, expect early leader High Noon to maintain its growth trajectory, with 51% of retailers planning to give it more room over the next year.
A bright outlook for Mexican spirits.
Expect to see Tequila and Mezcal taking up more shelf space in 2021 and beyond. Tequila edged out 2019 champ Bourbon to take first place in retailers’ inventory growth predictions for spirits. Meanwhile, Mezcal placed behind only Tequila, hard seltzer and RTD cocktails among emerging categories that retailers expect to stock more next year. The finding squares with sales on Drizly, where Mezcal’s share growth has vaulted 57% ahead of last year.
Stay tuned to Time Out Boston for the latest news on food and drink in The Hub.
