Britons pop the fizz to see off COVID blues

SUBMIT PHOTO: A late white wine of Chardonnay is seen in the cellar where bottles of Champagne are delegated develop throughout the traditional Champagne red wine harvest in Bethon, France, August 20,2020 Image taken August 20,2020 REUTERS/Charles Platiau

LONDON (Reuters) – More Britons than ever are splashing out on champagne to help them through the coronavirus crisis.

3 of Britain’s top 5 grocery store groups – No. 2 Sainsbury’s, No. 4 Morrisons and No. 5 Aldi – have all this week highlighted resilient sales of the champagne in the run-up to Christmas and the brand-new year holiday.

With COVID-19 limitations closing the hospitality sector, people tended to commemorate in their houses.

Sainsbury’s said on Thursday sales of premium champagne soared 52%in its third quarter to Jan. 2.

” Customers celebrated Christmas in smaller gatherings and they wanted to treat themselves,” CEO Simon Roberts told reporters.

On Tuesday, Morrisons said champagne sales were up 64%compared to in 2015, while on Monday Aldi stated it had offered 4.5 million bottles of champagne, sparkling wine and prosecco in December alone.

Market researcher Nielsen stated on Wednesday champagne sales in the UK rose 18%year-on-year in the four weeks to Dec. 26, while crémant sparkling wine sales were up 51%.

Rival Kantar said on Monday that with alternatives to consume in pubs, bars and restaurants restricted, Britons spent 310 million pounds ($421 million) more on alcohol in grocery stores in the 12 weeks to Dec. 27 compared to the same period in 2015.

($ 1 = 0.7368 pounds)

Reporting by James Davey Modifying by Mark Potter

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