ANBL wine sales fall 0.8% in the second quarter
Wine revenue at New Brunswick’s provincial liquor retailer declined by C$300,000 year over year during the 13 weeks ended September 27, while total sales and net income also fell.
Wine reverses the previous quarter’s gain
Alcool NB Liquor, or ANBL, reported that wine revenue fell 0.8%, or C$300,000, in the 13 weeks from June 29 to September 27. The comparison covers the corresponding 13-week period from June 30 to September 28, 2025. The provincial Crown corporation released the figures on October 28 as part of its draft, unaudited second-quarter results.1
The decrease followed year-over-year growth of 0.4% in wine sales during the preceding quarter, amounting to a 1.2-percentage-point deterioration between the two quarters. Using ANBL’s rounded changes for both periods, wine revenue was approximately C$200,000 lower on a combined basis than in the comparable periods a year earlier.1
Results limited to ANBL’s New Brunswick business
The figures cover only ANBL’s operations in New Brunswick and are not a measure of Canada’s broader wine market. ANBL is responsible for purchasing, importing, distributing and retailing alcoholic beverages in the province. As of March 29, its network comprised 38 corporate stores and 93 privately operated agency stores.1
ANBL did not disclose a quantified change in wine volumes, and its revenue figures were stated in nominal terms. The corporation uses a 52-week retail calendar, with its financial year ending on the Sunday nearest March 31; the current financial year contains 52 weeks.1
Other core categories also contract
Spirits revenue declined by 1.0%, also representing a C$300,000 decrease, while beer sales dropped 2.0%, or C$1.3 million. Coolers and cider were the only major category to grow, advancing 0.5%, or C$100,000.1
Sales across all products totaled C$156 million for the quarter, 1.1% below the year-earlier result. Net income decreased by 12.5%, from C$57.2 million to C$50 million.1
Consumer habits shift amid household pressure
ANBL attributed the weaker performance to changing consumption habits and financial pressure on households. President and chief executive Lori Stickles said customers were contending with economic uncertainty and that the company was adapting its product portfolio. ANBL is also continuing investment in a multiyear modernization project scheduled to become operational in January 2027.1
According to the company, moderation continued in beer, spirits and wine, while ready-to-drink products gained ground. Demand for convenient formats such as seltzers, sodas and cocktails supported coolers and ciders. ANBL nevertheless reported continued interest in premium products and stronger results for wines sourced from Australia, France and Spain, indicating that the overall decline in wine revenue was not uniform across every segment.1
Sources
Written by the Dionysus editors from the sources above.
