Despite higher sales volume for the January-June 2026 interim period compared with last year, Systembolaget's sales of wine and spirits continue to decline over time. However, customers appear to be increasingly interested in beer, cider, mixed drinks and non-alcoholic beverages, according to the company's interim report.
Sales of non-alcoholic beverages rose to SEK 139 million in the first half of the year, from SEK 129 million in the corresponding period last year.
Demand is the key
The company's CEO Ann Carlsson Meyer appears no stranger to investing more in alcohol-free beverages.
"Generally, alcohol consumption has decreased in Sweden in recent years. We are developing our range based on customer demand," she writes in an email response to TT.
While the company is reporting a loss of nearly SEK 7 million in the first half of this year compared with last year, net sales increased to around SEK 18.6 billion in the 2026 interim period, compared with SEK 18.4 billion last year. Two reasons are the general mortgage increase in 2025 and price increases among suppliers.
Fewer employees
However, costs and lower volumes are affecting staffing.
The number of employees fell in the second quarter of this year by 145 full-time employees compared with the same quarter last year, to 3,596 people. This primarily concerns fewer employees in stores.
"In most cases, we have solved it with natural departures and restraint when it comes to new recruitments," says Carlsson Meyer.
However, the company has not had to close any stores in the past year and there are no such plans in the near future.
However, relocating stores may become an issue in the future, something that has also happened during the year, Carlsson Meyer reports.
