Coca-Cola biggest-selling brand in Ireland

Coca-Cola is the biggest selling brand in Irish shopping baskets, it emerged today.

Research showed Avonmore milk is the second most popular brand being purchased, followed by Lucozade, Brennans bread and Danone.

The latest Checkout Top 100 Brands report showed that despite the credit crunch, consumers were still loyal to groceries from some of the best known manufactures.

Irish-produced Tayto, Cadbury Dairy Milk, 7Up, Denny and Jacobs all made it in to the top 10.

The shopping list, compiled for Checkout Magazine, is based on sales through grocery outlets.

John Ruddy, Checkout editor, said while the performance of the big brands the grocery market had gone through significant changes in recent years. “In 2005, private label (own-brand) had a 9% share of the market – this has now risen to 19%,” he said.

“Brands produced in Ireland now face much greater competition from cheaper imports while shoppers are reducing spend on grocery items.

“The challenge for brand owners is to continue their investment in innovation and new product development, while also competing on price with lower-priced imports or private label goods.”

New entrants to this year’s Top 100 list included Irish-produced brands such as Flahavans porridge and McCambridges bread, while iconic Cork milk brand CMP re-enters the list. And in a move reflecting increased health-focused trends, cholesterol reducing brand Benecol debuts in the top 100.

But tobacco sales were still high, with Silk Cut, Benson & Hedges, John Player, Marlboro and Superkings the favoured brands.

In the alcohol section, Budweiser remains in the number one position, followed Smirnoff, Heineken, Bulmers and Guinness.

The top selling wine in Ireland was Wolf Blass, while Smirnoff the top selling spirit.

“Overall, all alcohol categories have suffered due to the increased prevalence of cross-border shopping, with spirits the most affected alcohol category,” added Mr Ruddy.