Drinkers drown their recession sorrows in cocktails…
We’ve all felt the effects of the recession in some way or another, and recent figures suggest that us Brits have been drowning our sorrows in Pina Coladas, Blue Lagoons, Woo Woos and a whole host of cocktails.
The sales of gin, vodka, rum, whisky and brandy brands have boomed, despite the lack of consumer confidence and spending cutbacks.
Kantar Worldpanel, who track retail sales, confirmed that sales of spirits costing more than £20 a bottle have jumped an impressive 23pc last month compared with the year before.
As has been the case with other retailers, the much-celebrated April weather and additional bank holiday courtesy of Kate and Wills, has been a major contributor in the increased sales of food and drink.
It seems Britain has gone mad for the finer spirits, as we look to make the most of our temperamental weather. Tesco, the country’s biggest retailer, announced that sales of Grey Goose vodka had increased by an incredible 269pc, Bombay Sapphire gin had jumped by 143pc.
But the biggest increase in sales is of Glenmorangie whisky, which shot up a truly remarkable 460pc! Sainsbury’s said that they’d sold 13 times the amount of Pimms this year than they did last April.
The increase in luxury spirits is proof that shoppers have been taking full advantage of the hot weather we’ve been seeing the past few weeks – even if the more substantial items such as cars and electronics are being neglected.
Corrin Lawson at Tesco explained: “The rising demand for connoisseur labels such as Grey Goose vodka and Sailor Jerry rum reveals a new degree of sophistication for drinking spirits not seen in the UK since liquor’s golden age of the 1920s and 1930s.
Whether it’s the sophistication of the 30s or for the love of cocktails that we saw in the noughties, Britain are buying fine spirits again – so dust off those cocktail shakers and get yourself a cocktail menu ASAP!
In other news…
Oxfam are launching a new online shopping website, offering 50,000 garments and 160,000 books for sale.
The decision to do so follows news of the success of online shopping reward site easyfundraising.co.uk, which raised over £2m for good causes since its launch in 2005.
Due to launch on June 2nd the Oxfam shop looks to be a great way for donators and shoppers to get involved with relative ease.