The latest Australia Pulse+ Report from CGA by NIQ highlights the positive impact of Anzac Day for venues across the country, with sales velocity on Thursday 25 April, 2024 being nearly double the average Thursday.
The CGA by NIQ Report provides insights into the performance of venue types and drink categories, helping inform operators on consumer trends and preferences.
This year’s Anzac Day saw a huge spike in beverage-alcohol sales velocity, with a 98 per cent increase compared to the average Thursday. This spike was primarily due to increased footfall, while check values remained steady.
In terms of category sales, there was finally some good news for beer as sales soared, with a massive 105 per cent increase. It was also good news for spirits, with 141 per cent uplift in sales, while wine saw more modest growth at 44 per cent.
James Phillips, Client Solutions Director – Australia said: “The latest Pulse+ Report reveals the essential trends drinks suppliers and operators need to understand for maximising public holidays.
“For instance, the significant increase in BevAl sales, particularly in drinking outlets, emphasises the importance of strategic planning and targeted offerings on such key dates. Stakeholders who get these dynamics right are well placed to meet consumer demands and enhance profitability on occasions when the business is there for the taking.”
There was more good news for operators, with drinking venues seeing much stronger velocity increases than eating venues, up 122 per cent and 23 per cent respectively.
Regional variations were also clearly apparent. For example, beverage sales were nearly double the average Thursday in Victoria, up 97 per cent, whereas New South Wales saw an extraordinary increase, with sales almost tripling at 194 per cent.