Sales of Champagne and sparkling wines grew by 9% in UK supermarkets in the four weeks to 13 July, according to Wordpanel, the insight company previously known as Kantar. 

Elsewhere, in the same period, kombucha saw growth, with sales almost doubling over the same four weeks compared to 2024. 

Likewise, the low & no alcohol category continued to thrive, with nearly seven out of 100 households purchasing from it this month, increasing sales by 21%. 

More generally, take-home sales for grocers during the four weeks grew by 5.4% compared to the previous year. However, grocery price inflation also rose, hitting the highest level since January 2024 at 5.2%. 

Wordpanel estimated that with the average household spending £5,283 each year, the latest rise in inflation could add £275 to consumers’ bills if shopping habits stay the same. 

On the increase, Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Worldpanel, said: “Just under two thirds of households say they are very concerned about the cost of their grocery shopping, and people are adapting their habits to avoid the full impact of price rises. Own label products, which are often cheaper, continue to be some of the big winners and, in fact, sales of these ranges are again outpacing brands, growing by 5.6% versus 4.9%.” 

McKevitt continued: “Innovation is absolutely vital to help grocers keep up with new trends and make sure they’re meeting shoppers’ needs as behaviours and priorities shift. The drinks aisle in particular seems to be offering up plenty of inspiration.”