Beer, Wine & Liquor Stores
Companies in this industry sell beer, wine, and liquor products from physical retail establishments. No major companies dominate; in the US, individual states have different laws regulating liquor stores, complicating the ability to form national chains.
Europe has the highest alcohol consumption by liters of pure alcohol per capita. Off-premise alcohol consumption is increasing at the expense of on-premise drinking there. Prices on off-premise alcohol are considerable lower than on-premise prices with retailers, especially supermarkets, able to purchase large quantities of alcohol at lower prices through volume discounts.
The US beer, wine, and liquor store industry includes about 34,000 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $50 billion.
Competitive Landscape
Personal income, consumer tastes, and entertainment trends drive demand. The profitability of individual companies depends on effective marketing and competitive pricing. Large companies offer wide selections and deep discounts, but small companies compete by offering specialized merchandise, providing superior customer service, or serving a local market. The US industry is highly fragmented: the top 50 companies account for less than 25% of sales.
Liquor stores compete directly with grocery stores, warehouse clubs, convenience stores, and some drugstores, and indirectly with restaurants, bars, and other establishments that serve alcohol. In addition, direct-to-consumer sales are growing as restrictions are eased.
The growing list of online players in the alcohol sales and delivery business include Blue Apron, which ships exclusive wines; alcohol delivery startups such as Drizly and Postmates; and Amazon. Amazon's 2017 purchase of Whole Foods Market increased the number of cities served by its Prime Now membership service, which delivers alcohol as well as groceries. Amazon's voice-activated assistant Alexa can even be used to order alcohol in some areas.
Products, Operations & Technology
Major products are alcoholic beverages, accounting for about half of the industry's revenues. Distilled spirits, including liquor, brand, and liqueurs,
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Sales & Marketing
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Finance & Regulation
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Regional & International Issues
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Human Resources
Also includes the following chapters:
Quarterly Industry Update
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Industry Indicators
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Business Challenges
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Trends and Opportunities
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Call Preparation Questions
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Financial Information
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Industry Forecast
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Industry Websites
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Glossary of Acronyms