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Spirit Production in Ireland - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Timilehin Atere Timilehin Atere London, United Kingdom Last Updated: June 2024 SIC C11.010IE

Revenue

€1.4bn

2024

€1.4bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€XXX.Xm

Employees

2,326

Businesses

82

Wages

€XXX.Xm

Spirit Production in Ireland industry analysis

Spirit producers’ revenue is slated to rise at a compound annual rate of 3.2% over the five years through 2024 to €1.4 billion, including an anticipated increase of 3.7% in 2024. Despite recent growth, spirit producer have struggled with weak demand from the on-trade market due to low consumer sentiment, driven by the ongoing cost of living crisis, which is tightening consumers' budgets. However, this decline in on-trade demand has been offset by a hike in demand from supermarkets and grocery stores for Irish spirits as people drink more at home, helping to cancel out the revenue lost from the on-trade.

Trends and Insights

  • Weak on-trade demand challenges domestic revenue. Weak consumer sentiment has weakened demand in the on-trade market, hurting spirit sales.
  • Demand for Irish whiskey remains high. Innovation and connoisseur-level bottlings have resulted in Irish whiskey sales flourishing across the globe.
  • The South-West is a whisky production hub. Irish spirit producers in the South-West benefit from a large consumer market and have access to Ireland's second busiest port, the Port of Cork.
  • Irish distillers largely compete on price. Price-based competition is linked to product quality. Generally, spirit brands considered premium carry higher price tags – people are willing to pay more for quality.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 3.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €1.4bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Weak consumer sentiment dents demand from the on-trade sector

  • Irish spirit producers largely depend on sales from the on-trade market, with pubs and bars being essential markets. However, challenging economic conditions have seen demand in the on-trade market stagnate, reducing sales for spirit producers.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Spirit Production in Ireland
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Producers respond to falling alcohol consumption by launching non-alcoholic spirits

  • Falling alcohol consumption and growing health consciousness across Ireland and the EU, particularly among young people, threatens to cast a shadow over spirit producers’ future growth.

Biggest companies in the Spirit Production in Ireland

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Spirit Production in Ireland industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Spirit Production in Ireland
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Irish whiskey, Irish cream and Gin. Irish whiskey is the largest segment of the Spirit Production in Ireland.

Trends and Insights

The whiskey renaissance drives global demand for Irish whiskey

  • Irish whiskey is one of Ireland's three GI spirits cited in the Irish Whiskey Act 1980. Under Irish and EU laws, all GI Irish whiskeys must be wholly produced on the island of Ireland.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Companies in this industry carry out the end-to-end process of spirit production, with a particular focus on distilling, bottling and trading with retailers and wholesalers. The independent marketing and packaging of spirits are only included when these functions are part of a company’s manufacturing process.

What's included in this industry?

Irish whiskeyIrish creamGinVodkaPoitinRumBrandy

Companies

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION (GI)NEATCASKWHISKEY THIEVESCASEDRAMSLOSS LEADER

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 11.01 - Spirit Production in Ireland

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Weak on-trade demand challenges domestic revenue. Weak consumer sentiment has weakened demand in the on-trade market, hurting spirit sales.

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Demand for Irish whiskey remains high. Innovation and connoisseur-level bottlings have resulted in Irish whiskey sales flourishing across the globe.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The South-West is a whisky production hub. Irish spirit producers in the South-West benefit from a large consumer market and have access to Ireland's second busiest port, the...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Irish distillers largely compete on price. Price-based competition is linked to product quality. Generally, spirit brands considered premium carry higher price tags – people ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Jameson drives Irish Distillers’ revenue. Jameson is a premium Irish whiskey brand produced with a strong reputation for quality, which has helped drive Irish Distillers’ rev...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024

Detailed analysis

    External Environment

    Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

    Analyst insights

    Supermarket sales edge upwards. The off-trade market, including supermarkets, is a key market for Irish spirit producers, so a rise in sales presents an opportunity to boost ...

    In this chapter

    • External Drivers
    • Regulation & Policy
    • Assistance

    Key metrics

    • Regulation & policy level and trend
    • Assistance level and trend

    Charts

    • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
    • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

    Detailed analysis

    • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
    • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
    • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

    Financial Benchmarks

    View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

    Analyst insights

    Premiumisation props up profit. Despite the cost-of-living crisis eating into sales of spirits to on-trade venues, premium producers remain profitable, thanks to strong brand...

    In this chapter

    • Cost Structure
    • Financial Ratios
    • Key Ratios

    Key metrics

    • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
    • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
    • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
    • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

    Charts

    • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
    • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
    • Investment vs. share of economy

    Data tables

    • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Average Wage (2014-2029)
    • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
    • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

    Detailed analysis

    • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

    Key Statistics

    Industry Data

    Data Tables

    Including values and annual change:

    • Revenue (2014-2029)
    • IVA (2014-2029)
    • Establishments (2014-2029)
    • Enterprises (2014-2029)
    • Employment (2014-2029)
    • Exports (2014-2029)
    • Imports (2014-2029)
    • Wages (2014-2029)

    Top Questions Answered

    Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

    What is the market size of the Spirit Production industry in Ireland in 2024?

    The market size of the Spirit Production industry in Ireland is €1.4bn in 2024.

    How many businesses are there in the Spirit Production in Ireland industry in 2024?

    There are 82 businesses in the Spirit Production industry in Ireland, which has grown at a CAGR of 10.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

    Has the Spirit Production industry in Ireland grown or declined over the past 5 years?

    The market size of the Spirit Production industry in Ireland has been growing at a CAGR of 3.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

    What is the forecast growth of the Spirit Production industry in Ireland over the next 5 years?

    Over the next five years, the Spirit Production industry in Ireland is expected to grow.

    What does the Spirit Production in Ireland include?

    Irish whiskey and Irish cream are part of the Spirit Production industry.

    How competitive is the Spirit Production industry in Ireland?

    The level of competition is high and steady in the Spirit Production industry in Ireland.

    Related Industries

    Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

    View all industries in Ireland

    Methodology

    How are IBISWorld reports created?

    IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

    Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

    IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

    What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

    Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

    Key data sources in Ireland include:

    • Central Statistics Office
    • Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
    • Irish Tax & Customs

    Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

    These sources include:

    • Industry and trade associations
    • Industry federations or regulators
    • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

    Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

    How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

    IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

    IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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