Cost of living crisis sends sales of crémant fizzing to record high

• Crémant sales up 29% over the past year
• One in nine bottles of sparkling wine sold at Waitrose is now a crémant
• Crémant is now more popular than cava

Champagne, which is the quintessential luxury for celebrations, has a sparkling competitor ‘crémant’. Due to the cost of living crisis Waitrose’s sales of crémant, which like Champagne is produced in France, have reached a record high, having risen 29% over the past year.  Customers are now popping open more crémant bottles than cava. 

Alexandra Mawson, Waitrose Champagne & Sparkling Wine Buyer said; “Champagne will always be the icon of the sparkling world, steeped in centuries of heritage and prestige and an absolute go-to for the most important celebrations like getting engaged. However, recent pressures on household finances have meant customers have looked to crémant as a great value alternative for life’s more regular celebratory occasions. 

“More people are also now aware of this French sparkling wine which is produced using the same method as Champagne but doesn’t hold the same price tag, as it’s made outside of the Champagne region with less restrictive ageing regulations. When confidence in personal finances increases I expect to see sales of champagne increase.”

One in nine bottles of sparkling wine sold at Waitrose is now a crémant.  Waitrose sells five styles of crémant from different regions in France. The two best-sellers are: Cuvee Royale Brut Crémant de Limoux price £13.00 and Cave de Lugny Blanc de Blanc Crémant de Bourgogne Blanc de Blanc price £15.99