Freshers Week is Back!

^{Sponsored post in partnership with Diageo GB.}

Students return weeks are a significant opportunity to drive sales. Pre-pandemic* nearly a quarter (22%)¹ of students visited their local pub, bar or nightclub over that period, so outlets need to be prepared to capitalise on this influx of trade.

Students visit the on-trade more but spend slightly less than the average consumer, so it is worth making sure you have an excellent range to cater to their budget¹. Venues can do this by offering mainstream price tier brands, and good value serves. The main driver of student outlet choice is drinks promotions, so outlets should consider laying on promotions to drive footfall¹. Always encourage drinking responsibly.

Categories to watch 

Popular categories during students return week are Cider, Beer and Spirits². All cider sub-categories (apple, pear, other fruits) see an uplift², and within Beer, standard lager and world lager see the biggest uplift². Across Spirits, Gin, Rum and Specialties see the biggest uplifts². Specifically, premium gin and rum brands see a greater uplift than mainstream options, so make sure you also offer a trade-up option for those who wish to upgrade their drink alongside your core range².

Cocktails, of course!

Cocktails are also popular with students. More than 1 in 21 cite they chose cocktails during the students return week, so venues should be looking to include the most popular cocktails on their menu. In GB the top 3 cocktails are the Pornstar Martini, Sex on the Beach and the Mojito, whilst sparkling cocktail serves are also seeing plenty of growth³.

Getting social

Once you’ve sorted your ranging and drinks offers, you should ensure you are communicating with students to drive your footfall. Social media is key to communicating with students as nearly 1/3 of students said that social media has increased their awareness of retail brands¹, so make sure you are posting regularly about your outlet and brands on the top social media platforms.

SOURCES

1. CGA BrandTrack February 2020
2. CGA OPMS Data to 28.12.2019
3. CGA Mixed Drinks Report Q1 2021

*Please note Sources 1 and 2 are based on pre-pandemic data.