Convenience Store Wine Sales Soar
These retailers represent one of the bright spots for wine.
Feb 12, 2021 | 2 min read
NEWARK, N.J.—What was one of the hottest spots to buy wine in the U.S. last year? Independent convenience stores, according to National Retail Solutions (NRS), Wine Business reports.
The 1,221 stores in NRS network stocking wine in 2019 and 2020 sold $19 million last year. Sales at independent c-stores jumped 44.5% by value in a same-store comparison to 2019. Also, customers shelled out more per bottle buying wine at c-stores in 2020.
According to Suzy Silliman, NRS senior vice president of data strategy and sales, the average price of a bottle of wine (750 ml) hit $11.10, which is similar to the average price per bottle in grocery stores. Silliman attributed the uptick to more variety, rather than higher prices.
“They do know who their shopper is,” Silliman said. “The scenario with COVID likely brought new shoppers into that store who aren't normally coming into their store every Friday to buy a bottle of wine. Does that new shopper have a new brand preference? How can you stay on top of that new opportunity?”
Silliman pointed out that in NRS’ entire universe of stores, beverage alcohol comprised around 30% of sales, with some stores not selling any alcohol and some only stocking beer. Wine has been a hotter commodity in NRS stores last year than beer, which showed sales up 19%. “Bars and nightclubs have closed,” Silliman said. “Home is where the legal-aged adult is consuming their adult beverages.”
Both c-stores and other foodservice chains are taking notice. In 2020, both Sheetz and Wawa debuted unique private labels in the beer category. Additionally this month, Uber acquired the Alcohol delivery app Drizly.
The November 2020 issue of NACS Magazine explored trends in the wine category in “Everything’s Coming Up Rosé.”
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