Within the wine and spirits categories, dark spirits and blended wines are leading growth, according to analysts. The whiskey category, for instance, increased 12.8 percent in dollar sales and 10.6 percent in volume sales in U.S. multi-outlets during the 52 weeks ending April 20, compared with the prior-year period, according to Information Resources Inc. (IRI), Chicago.
The Irish whiskey segment, in part-icular, led whiskey’s growth last year, analysts told Beverage Industry in its April issue. Bourbon also was a significant driver of growth, growing 6.8 percent in volume in 2013, added David Ozgo, chief economist for the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), Washington, D.C.