South Africa, July 21 -- To do so successfully, suppliers need to look beyond basic channel definitions and master the primary drivers shaping the sector and changing shoppers' purchasing behaviours, such as those highlighted in the latest Trade Intelligence Liquor Retailing Report 2026/2027.

The corporate land grab In 2025, the off-trade liquor market (i.e. physical/online stores selling beverages for later consumption off-site) increased +4.2% to R109bn, driven heavily by corporate grocery channels outperforming traditional wholesalers.

This evolution is anchored in aggressive estate expansion, with corporate liquor store footprints growing at double the rate of grocery stores, reaching 75% brand saturation across supermarket networks...