Heatwave sales hot up for water... and lager

THE sizzling summer heat has been thirsty work for our supermarkets – as the sales of bottled water have soared by more than a quarter.

Still water sales grew three times as fast as fizzy water, possibly because of the Europe-wide CO2 shortage, said retail data company Kantar Worldpanel.

And not to be outdone in quenching our thirst during the World Cup, lager sales soared too, up by almost 12% compared to a year ago. The hike is the equivalent of an extra 7million pints being drunk.

Overall, the supermarket chains are having a good summer – with sales across the stores up by more than 3%.

Kantar said in a report yesterday: ‘Two of the big winners have been bottled water and lager, which have seen takehome sales growth of 27.3% and 11.6% respectively, buoyed by the hot weather and the World Cup.’

Kantar’s consumer insight director Douglas Faughnan said: ‘A number of things may have influenced the surge of bottled water sales in Ireland – in particular the recent weather, speculation surrounding water shortages and this month’s hosepipe ban.

‘Irish shoppers bought bottled water on 1.8million more occasions in the latest 12 weeks compared to the same period last year, helping sales grow by over a quarter. Furthermore a Europe-wide shortage of CO2 may have stifled sales of carbonated water, which grew at a third of the rate of still water, with retailers and manufacturers shifting their focus to stills where necessary.’

Consumers’ Association of Ireland chief Dermott Jewell said: ‘That’s quite an extraordinary hike.’