Alcohol Beverage Growth Results in Category and Occasion Blurring

Dear Client:Despite an unsteady economic environment, all beverage alcohol categories are up. In the 52 weeks to January 5 wine and beer pricing are each up 3%, while spirits pricing is up 2%. As a result of the overall category's success, competition among beer, wine and spirits is leading to category blurring, according to Laura Welsh, Nielsen's client director for the Beverage Alcohol Team at the BD Live off-premise conference. CATEGORY BLENDING: New products have primarily driven the sales growth