Coronavirus: Iri, in supermarkets + 7.9% wine sales

The Covid19 emergency has affected the entire Italian wine chain. The closure of bars, restaurants and the drop in exports are weighing, but good signs are coming in online sales and modern distribution (Hypermarkets, supermarkets, discount stores).

In the first three and a half months of the year, wine sales in modern distribution, according to an Iri analysis for Vinitaly from the beginning of the year to Easter, recorded a volume growth of 7.9% (+ 6.9% in value ) compared to the same period of 2019. In detail, Doc and Docg wines grew by 6.8% (+ 7.6% in value), Igp and Igt wines by 10.5% (+ 7.7% in value ), common wines of 7.2% (+ 4.1% in value), bubbles of 1.2% (+ 1.6% in value). During the quarantine, in March the Doc and Docg wines increased by 9.9%, while the Igt wines by 4.0%.

Sparkling wines fell by 5.4%, while Prosecco grew by 8.3%. Wine in brik is recovering, which in March grew by 8.8%. The Bag in box (the two and a half liter format with the tap) grew by 36.8% (Hyper, Super, Small Free Service). In the two Easter weeks, wine sales increased by 10.2%, while there was a significant drop in bubbles: -38%.

Meanwhile, the growth of organic wine continues, which in the first quarter of 2020 sold 1 million 559 thousand liters, with an increase of 19%.

"In modern distribution, more wine was bought because consumption at home has replaced, in part, that outside the home, but the light-heartedness and therefore the desire to uncork a sparkling wine has diminished - comments Virgilio Romano, Business Insight Director of Iri - From the beginning year the greatest growth is registered by the PGI wine and the Comune wine (da Tavola). The growth of Doc / Docg wines, although sustained, is probably held back by the smaller assortment choice present in smaller shops and by the shorter time dedicated to purchasing, as a consequence of the indications provided by the points of sale to reduce the time spent on shopping ".

"The growth in wine purchases in the large-scale retail trade under lockdown is significant, particularly in terms of volume, but it is not enough to bridge the demand gap that has been created with the closure of the Horeca channel, especially for the high end of the labels - Giovanni Mantovani, General Manager of Veronafiere concludes - The data also demonstrate an objective propensity to save, especially in April, by consumers at this particular moment in which Vinitaly is also alongside the sector to encourage relaunch through the business in all its forms. "(ANSA)