NUMBERS

NUMBERS
Thirsty for Value: Store sales
of high-priced alcoholic
beverages are flat to lower.
Percentage change in dollar sales
­c ompared with one year earlier*
Growth of valuepriced liquors.
Sales of topshelf spirits
were flat.
by Tara Kalwarski/Charts by Stanford Kay
Sales of most alcoholic beverages are proving to be recessionproof. Though sales of top-shelf spirits, wines, and beers are
flat or have slipped, cheaper brands have shown solid sales
growth. They tend to have the biggest market shares, too.
+6%
Growth of $9
to $12 bottles of
table wine. Sales
of $20+ bottles
fell 1.6%.
BIGGEST ALCOHOL COMPANIES BY MARKET CAP*
MARKET CAP
IN BILLIONS
PROFIT MARGIN
IN 2009**
WINE
Big Alcohol: The world’s biggest brewers, distillers, and vintners are all
headquartered outside of the U.S.
COMPANY/COUNTRY
SPIRITS
+1.4%
NO RECESSION HANGOVER
FOR THE booze business
ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV/BELGIUM
13%
$81
COMPANHIA DE BEBIDAS DAS AMERICAS (AMBEV)/BRAZIL
26
57
DIAGEO/U.K.
16
42
HEINEKEN/NETHERLANDS
25
7
Growth of the
cheapest beer
segment. Sales
of imported
beers fell
3.8%
14
22
* As of Mar. 29; excludes companies that had not yet reported calendar year 2009 sales
**Calendar year net income divided by total revenue
Data: Bloomberg, Capital IQ
BEER
PERNOD-RICARD/FRANCE
+7.3%
brands americans love to drink
These are the five top-selling wines, spirits, and beer brands at
supermarkets and other retail stores in the U.S.
*At food/drug/convenience/liquor/other stores, for the
52 weeks ended Mar. 6 Data: Nielsen
TOP-SELLING BRANDS*/PERCENTAGE SHARE OF CATEGORY
WINE
SUTTER HOME
YELLOW TAIL
BAREFOOT
FRANZIA
BEER**
SPIRITS**
4.0%
3.7
3.7
3.3
WOODBRIDGE BY ROBERT MONDAVI
3.1
SMIRNOFF
6.8%
BACARDI
4.1
JACK DANIELS
4.0
CAPTAIN MORGAN
CROWN ROYAL
3.9
3.0
BUD LIGHT
21.4%
BUDWEISER
8.9
COORS LIGHT
7.6
MILLER LITE
NATURAL LIGHT
*Ranked by dollar sales at supermarkets, gas stations, and drug and convenience stores, for the 52 weeks ended Feb. 21
**Includes sales at mass-market retailers (excludes Wal-Mart, club stores, and liquor stores)
6.9
4.7
Data: Information Resources, Inc. (IRI)