Every bar and restaurant operator knows the feeling: Memorial Day weekend hits, and suddenly your patio is full, your tables are turning twice as fast, and that carefully planned par level you had in March is nowhere near enough.
Summer doesn't ease you in. It arrives all at once.
The smart move? Stock up before everyone else realizes they're short. Because by mid-June, when every operator in your city is calling their rep for the same products, you want to already have yours on the shelf.
We looked at what operators actually ordered in May compared to April. Not what they searched for or thought about, but what they committed to buying. The numbers tell a clear story about what's surging as summer kicks off.
Here's what's trending, what it means for your shelves, and how to get ahead of it.
The Summer Surge: What Operators Are Actually Stocking
These are the categories showing the biggest growth in order volume from April to May. If your competitors are buying more of it, there's probably a reason.
1. Champagne & Sparkling Wine Are Leading the Pack
Champagne and prosecco are showing some of the strongest growth heading into summer. Add sparkling rosé to the mix, and the pattern is clear: bubbles are having a moment.
What it means for you: Summer entertaining skews celebratory. Bottomless brunches, rooftop happy hours, graduation parties, and wedding receptions are all occasions where sparkling wine moves fast. Prosecco in particular is approachable, affordable, and fits a wide range of menus without feeling overly formal.
Stocking strategy:
- Stock both Champagne (for premium occasions) and Prosecco (for volume and approachability).
- Don't sleep on Sparkling Rosé. It's Instagram-friendly and fits the seasonal aesthetic.
- Build a by-the-glass sparkling program if you haven't already.
2. Rosé Blend Is the Warm-Weather Staple You Expect
Rosé blends are up significantly, which should surprise no one. It's summer in a glass.
What it means for you: Rosé performs in summer the way pumpkin spice performs in fall. Customers expect it, ask for it, and order it without hesitation. If you're not stocked deep on rosé, you're going to feel it.
Stocking strategy:
- Go deeper on your by-the-glass rosé than you think you need to.
- Stock a range: approachable bottles under $15 and a few premium options for the wine-focused crowd.
- Rosé cocktails (frosé, rosé spritzes) are menu workhorses. Stock for volume, not just wine service.
3. Mexican-Style Lager Is Your Summer Sessionable
Mexican-Style lager is seeing strong growth, and for good reason: it's refreshing, pairs with everything, and appeals to the widest possible audience.
What it means for you: Mexican-Style lagers are no longer niche picks. They're reliable volume drivers that move fast in warm weather. If your draft lines or coolers aren't stocked to handle increased demand, you're going to run out faster than you expect.
Stocking strategy:
- Prioritize this category for bulk buys and early ordering. It's not a specialty item, it's infrastructure.
- Make sure your draft lines can handle the volume if you're pouring Mexican lagers on tap.
- Don't assume "everyone has this" means you don't need to plan for it; volume is the whole point.
4. RTDs and Hard Tea Are Growing Fast
RTDs (Ready-to-Drink cocktails) and hard tea are both seeing strong order growth. Specifically within RTDs, spirit-based canned cocktails are seeing the most growth leading into the season.
What it means for you: Customers want convenience, flavor variety, and options that feel lighter than a full cocktail. RTDs deliver on all three. Hard seltzers paved the way, but now consumers are reaching for canned margaritas, espresso martinis, and spiked teas with the same confidence.
Stocking strategy:
- Allocate cooler space for RTDs if you haven't already, as they need to be cold and visible.
- Stock a range of flavor profiles: citrus-forward, tea-based, coffee-based, tropical.
- Hard Tea, in particular, is trending upward; if you're not carrying it yet, now's the time to test it.
5. Non-Alcoholic Spirits Are Showing Steady Growth
Non-Alc spirits are up, and the category is maturing beyond "I guess we should have something for the sober person."
What it means for you: More customers are actively choosing non-alcoholic options not as a fallback, but as a preference. This isn't about accommodation anymore; it's about meeting demand from a growing segment that still wants a thoughtful drink experience or to break up their cocktails with a non-alc option.
Stocking strategy:
- Stock at least one or two non-alc spirits (gin-style, amaro-style, aperitif-style) that can be used across multiple mocktails.
- Train your bartenders to offer non-alc cocktails proactively, not just when asked.
- This category over-indexes in warm weather when people want the experience without the alcohol.
6. Blanco Tequila Continues Its Steady Climb
Blanco tequila is up, continuing a multi-year trend that shows no signs of slowing.
What it means for you: Tequila isn’t losing any steam this summer. Margaritas, palomas, ranch waters, and tequila sodas are menu staples.
Stocking strategy:
- Stock deep on Blanco, especially in the $30–$50 range, where quality meets volume pricing.
- Don't just stock for margaritas. Tequila sodas and simple serves are driving a lot of the growth.
- High-volume serves like ranch waters and tequila sodas move twice the inventory of standard margaritas. Ensure your recurring orders are adjusted to keep pace with these menu additions.
7. Fruit and Floral Liqueurs Are Quietly Essential
Fruit/Floral liqueurs are seeing steady growth, which makes sense when you consider what's actually on summer cocktail menus.
What it means for you: Elderflower, peach, raspberry, and hibiscus aren't just garnish flavors. If your bar program leans into craft cocktails or seasonal menus, these are must-haves.
Stocking strategy:
- Stock 3–5 fruit/floral liqueurs that cover different flavor profiles (stone fruit, berry, floral, citrus).
- These bottles move slower than base spirits, but they're what differentiate your cocktail program.
- Don't over-order. A little goes a long way in cocktails, so prioritize quality over quantity.
What This All Means: Stock Early, Stock Smart
The pattern across all of these categories is the same: operators are committing to these products before peak summer demand hits.
That's the strategy. You don't wait until July to realize that you don’t have prosecco or a Mexican lager on the menu.
Here's your summer-ready stocking checklist:
- Champagne, Prosecco, Sparkling Rosé — go deeper than you think you need to
- Rosé Blend — stock for volume, not just variety
- Mexican-Style Lager — this is infrastructure, not specialty
- RTDs and Hard Tea — allocate cooler space and test multiple brands
- Non-Alc Spirits — at least 2 bottles that can anchor a mocktail program
- Blanco Tequila — stock deep, stock backup suppliers
- Fruit/Floral Liqueurs — cover your seasonal cocktail bases
And if you're wondering what options are available to you and don't have a single place to see who carries what, you're making this harder than it needs to be. Search across all your distributors in one place and see what's actually available and from where before you commit.
Summer's here. Stock accordingly.
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