Report: Pa. liquor profits up despite pandemic challenges

The covid-19 pandemic was as big a driver of alcohol sales as Christmas in Pennsylvania, according to the latest report from the state Liquor Control Board.

Allegheny County reported the top sales figures, with more that $288 million in 2019-20, according to the report. Westmoreland County ranked 9th with sales of more than $61 million.

“In a typical year, our biggest sales days are the day before Thanksgiving and the day before Christmas Eve,” PLCB spokesman Shawn Kelly said. “This past year, the biggest sales days were covid-related.”

The report details sales from July 1, 2019, through June 30, the PLCB’s fiscal year. During that time sales were $2.5 billion, about $110 million less than the prior year.

But net income for the board was $208.7 million — an all-time record — and was 9% higher than the 2018-2019 fiscal year.

“The fact that sales were down but net income for the year was up is probably one of the things that stand out when you look at the annual report,” Kelly said.

The income was larger because of decreased operating expenses, according to the report.

Liquor stores locations were closed from March 17 through April 20 because of the pandemic. After April 20, the PLCB started limited curbside pickup and in May, locations began reopening.

The anticipated closure of the stores prompted a surge in business. March 16 was the PLCB’s busiest day with sales of more than $29 million, busier that both Nov. 27 (before Thanksgiving) and Dec. 23 and 31 (the day before Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve) 2019.

All told, four of the top 10 sales days were covid-19-related.

While sales declined because of the closure, the PLCB’s online sales program was popular beyond any expectations, Kelly said.

“We never expected the (online) sales we saw,” Kelly said. “We scrambled to increase (online) sales capacity as best we could.”

E-commerce sales totaled $26.8 million with 1.3 million units sold — a 436% increase in dollar sales and a 851% increase in unit sales compared to the 2018-19 fiscal year when sales were $5 million with 135,776 units sold online.

Boxed wine sales were $128 million across the state, a 3.6% increase.

Unflavored vodka was the most popular spirit in 56 counties, including Allegheny and Westmoreland. The remaining 11 counties, including Greene and Somerset, favored American whiskey.

California cabernet sauvignon was the top wine seller in 30 counties including Allegheny and Westmoreland; drinkers in Fayette County preferred beverage wine; and Armstrong, Somerset and Indiana county residents were among those who favored boxed red wine.

To take a deeper dive into the report, click here.