VdFw annual balance sheet: sales growth for cider and fruit wines - industry scores with product diversity and innovative strength
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"In 2023, the cider and fruit wine industry was once again able to score points with its wide-ranging portfolio. In addition to the versatile classic cider, drinks containing apple and fruit wines, as well as sparkling ciders and fruit wines, are gaining in importance. Both ensure that we reach new target groups. Thanks to the diversity and innovative strength of the industry, our overall outlook for 2023 is positive," summarises Klaus Heitlinger, Managing Director of the Association of the German Fruit Wine and Sparkling Fruit Wine Industry (VdFw).
Domestic sales of cider, fruit wine, cider and other cider- and fruit wine-based beverages fell by 3.8% from 107.7 million litres to 103.6 million litres in 2023 after a very strong result in the previous year, according to the VdFw. However, turnover in the cider and fruit wine industry has risen continuously over the last five years, from €114 million in 2019 to €135 million in 2023. Compared to the previous year, turnover growth was 1.5 per cent (turnover in 2022: €133 million).
Cider up slightly - strongest growth for cider and sparkling fruit wine
Cider, still the strongest industry product, achieved domestic sales of 40.7 million litres in 2023, slightly up on the previous year (2022: 40.5 million litres). "This classic product is receiving new impetus from single-varietal ciders, organic ciders and non-alcoholic variants," explains Heitlinger, adding: "Beverages made on the basis of cider or fruit wine have become an important additional mainstay for the industry." Compared to the previous year, domestic sales in this category rose from 38.6 million litres to 39 million litres in 2023 (+1.1%). In addition to cider, this includes spritzers, spritzers, punch and other products containing fruit wine. In terms of sales, cider and beverages containing fruit wine are now the second strongest category after classic cider (39.2 per cent share of sales). They account for 37.6 per cent of industry sales. The strongest growth in 2023 was recorded by semi-sparkling and sparkling cider and sparkling fruit wines: Domestic sales increased from 1.78 million litres to 1.87 million litres (+5.2%). The winter drinks cider and
At 10.9 million litres, sales of cider and fruit mulled wine fell short of the previous year's very strong result of 11.7 million litres (-6.9 per cent), but were still able to continue the upward trend of previous years (2021: 10.5 million litres), which only slowed in 2020 due to the effects of the Corona pandemic.
