Wine Outsells Imported Beer at E-Mart

Sales of wine outpaced those of imported beer for the first time at supermarket chain E-Mart in the second half of this year.

Wine sales surged mainly because E-Mart offered many low-priced brands, with the cheapest one costing W4,900, amid dwindling sales of imported beer due to a boycott of Japanese products here (US$1=W1,178).

Out of some 800 items, wine placed 10th in sales between July and November, up from 21st in the second half of last year. Beer topped the list.

Wine accounted for 24.5 percent of the chain's total sales of alcoholic beverages, up 21.5 percent on-year, while imported beer took 20.4 percent, down 20 percent.