Restaurant Sciences LLC, an independent firm that closely tracks food and beverage product sales throughout the foodservice industry in North America, reported that the sales of on-premise wine fell 2.6 percent from May 2013 to October 2013, compared to the same timeframe in 2012. Despite this overall decline, wine sales saw double-digit growth, over 10 percent, in family dining and quick service restaurants (QSR) during this period. The company analyzed more than $1.2 billion in on-premise wine sales.
“Despite growth in several categories, overall wine sales fell because bars and nightclubs sold 17.7 percent less wine from May to October 2013 than the previous year,” says Chuck Ellis, president and CEO of Restaurant Sciences LLC. “On a positive note, wine sales in quick service restaurants grew 10.2 percent over this same period. With an estimated 12 percent of 30,000 fast casual locations distributing wine, this segment provides ample opportunity for expansion, and we expect the wine industry to take notice.”
Restaurant Sciences defines family dining as restaurants with average guest checks of less than $32.00. Casual dining guest checks range from $32-78, while upscale-casual average checks are from $78–$122.50. Restaurants in the white tablecloth category have average guest checks of more than $122.50.
