AlcoCongress 2024 analysed the development of the industry
One of the major industry events of the Prodexpo 2024 international exhibition held at EXPOCENTRE Fairgrounds was the 19th Russian Conference on the Alcoholic Beverages Market – AlcoCongress 2024.
The head and moderator of AlcoCongress, Yuri Yudich, noted in his opening speech that such a conference, where alcohol market problems are discussed, is held annually during the Prodexpo exhibition.
At the first focus session of the congress, Analysis and Forecast, Nielsen marketing company analysed the state of the alcohol market. The presentation on Alcohol Market: 2023 Results and Trends in Brand Substitution was made by Ilya Smirnov, Head of Nielsen Customer Relations Group.
He reminded that at the end of 2022, the FMCG market showed negative sales dynamics, but is now recovering due to the food and alcoholic beverages group. The sales dynamics is supported by assortment development as well as new brand launches. For example, the alcohol range grew by 4% in 2023. At the same time, alcohol categories accounted for 15% of all new products launched in the FMCG market. The alcohol industry launched 1,610 new products during 2023.
Now the alcohol market is becoming more active and there is a struggle for new positions. New launches, half of which are beer and the other half are strong alcoholic beverages, play a major role in this struggle, the expert said. According to research, most alcohol categories are growing in volume terms. Alcoholic cocktails (40.6%), gin (24.3%) and vermouth (21.6%) show the fastest growth rates. At the same time, sales of cognac (all geographical origins) decreased by 22.3%, while brandy sales grew by 10.4%. Tequila sales decreased by 16.2% and vodka sales by 1.6%.
At the subsequent thematic sessions of the congress, experts spoke about state support for Russian winemaking, structural changes in the alcohol market, in particular, in wine sales, the balance of the assortment and the interaction of domestic producers of alcoholic beverages with retail chains, the strategy of competition with imports, and other important aspects of the market and its prospects.
Elena Saratseva, Deputy Head of Roskachevo, Alexey Plotnikov, Executive Director of the Association of Winegrowers and Winemakers of Russia, Alan Sokolov, Director of the Association of Sparkling Wine Producers, and other prominent experts as well as representatives of associations of small winemakers Olga Gerasimova (Novozavedennoye) and Daria Orlova (Vino.ru project) took part in the discussions.
At the end of AlkoCongress 2024, an award ceremony for the winners of the Prodexpo International Wine Competition & Guide was held.
Press Service, EXPOCENTRE AO