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20 cost-saving strategies to help craft breweries survive inflation
As the craft brewing industry continues to experience exponential growth, many craft breweries are starting to feel the effects of inflation. With the cost of ingredients and labor on the rise, craft breweries are looking for new and innovative ways to save money and stay afloat in these turbulent economic times. This article will provide 20 cost-saving strategies that craft breweries can employ to help them survive inflation in 2023. Each of these strategies has proven to be effective in helping craft breweries cut costs, increase efficiency, and remain profitable.
Craft beer has a recycling problem: Cans are not being recycled and shrink wraps are a big part of it
For Colorado, Recycling Day was far from a cause for celebration – the state’s aluminum can recycling rate is dismal. According to experts, only 16% of cans are recycled in Colorado, the birthplace of canned craft beer. That number is even lower than the national average, which is only about 50%. Clearly, there is a need for improvement.
11 standout suppliers from the California Craft Beer Summit
At the highly anticipated California Craft Beer Summit 2023 in Sacramento, the exhibition floor was filled with an abundance of resources and services for brewers. With 1,100 attendees and a plethora of new flavors, equipment, and more, the event was an inspiring experience for brewers across the state. Hosted by the California Craft Brewing Association, the summit was the first in four years, and it showcased a variety of new and innovative items that were more appealing than ever before.
Urban South Brewery celebrates 3 years in Houston
To commemorate its anniversary, Urban South has teamed up with several of its favorite craft breweries nationwide to launch eight new beers for fans to savor. These breweries include Baa Baa Brewhouse, Great Notion, Martin House Brewing, Mortalis Brewing, RAR Brewing, Tripping Animals, Unbranded Brewing, and Weldwerks Brewing.
The EU’s packaging regulation plans – and what the beverage industry thinks of them
The European Commission has released its proposals for EU-wide rules on packaging to ‘tackle this constantly growing source of waste and of consumer frustration’. But what will this mean for the beverage industry?
6 beer industry trends to watch in 2023
Last year, the brewing industry surfed the choppy waves of carbon dioxide shortages, a tight labor market, and spiking expenses, as inflation impacted everything from cans to grains to freight. “Nearly everything costs more than it did before the pandemic,” says Bart Watson, the chief economist at the Brewers Association. “Brewers haven’t been able to fully pass those costs onto customers, meaning lower margins.”
Low/no alcohol consumption ‘to rise a third’ by 2026
Low-to-no beer, cider, wine, and spirit products grew over 7% in volume across 10 key global markets in 2022, according to fresh data from IWSR Drinks Market Analysis.
Are San Diego’s big breweries a thing of the past?
The craft-brewing industry has slowly but definitively shifted in favor of smaller, hyper-local operations for whom success does not equate to taking over the world or the beer aisle.
The Year in Beer: 2022 a year of ‘varied recovery’ for US craft brewers
US craft brewers have had to contend with supply chain disruption, competition from other beverage categories, and a continued unsteady on-trade recovery in 2022. But the innovation and flexibility of brewers will help them take on the challenges in 2023, says the Brewers Association, as it sums up the year.
The Bronx Brewery opens its third location in New York City at Hudson Yards
The Bronx Brewery recently announced its third location opened up in NYC on November 18. This third locale is at The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards, 20 Hudson Yards, Level Two. The new 1,400-sq-foot space is only the third operating brewery in Manhattan. Damian Brown, president and co-founder of The Bronx Brewery, made the announcement.
Craft beer on the rise in Mexico
Mexico is a beer-loving country, but it was relatively late to the craft beer scene, until now. Cerveza Mexico 2022 recently wrapped up in Mexico City. The three-day celebration of craft beer which drew over 16,000 attendees to the World Trade Center in late October culminated with the announcement of the winners of the Cerveza Cup 2022, a prize which recognizes the best in Mexican craft beer.
Distributors pessimistic about expected beer demand as 2022 ends
As 2022 winds down, there is a pessimistic outlook among beer distributors, reports the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA). The group’s Beer Purchasers’ Index (BPI), a forward-looking indicator that measures expected beer demand, sports a low reading of 38 in November, and the “at-risk” inventory index is relatively higher at 49.
Beer is back: Asahi Japan sees sales bounce back but cautions over low-to-no
Beverage giant Asahi has seen a resurgence of consumer interest in beer in Japan but believes that some challenges are upcoming for other segments including low-alcohol and non-alcoholic products.
Pernod Ricard USA invests in first RTD canning line
Pernod Ricard USA will invest $22m in creating its first-ever RTD canning line, located at its Fort Smith plant in Arkansas: boosting its ability to bring RTDs to market swiftly.
Keurig Dr Pepper takes minority stake in non-alcoholic beer producer Athletic Brewing Company
Keurig Dr Pepper is taking a minority stake in American non-alcoholic craft beer maker, Athletic Brewing Company: following on from the acquisition of non-alcoholic RTD cocktail brand Atypique earlier this year.
UK brewers focus on a pathway to net zero
UK brewers are taking “huge steps” to be more environmentally friendly with an expanded, targeted roadmap being launched to help the sector decarbonise at pace to reach net zero.
The fractured future of beer: Consumer demand pushes the industry to innovate
Craft brewers are starting to think of themselves as beverage companies rather than breweries, writes Maria Pearman, Beverage Practice Leader at US accounting and advisory firm GHJ.
Pandemic helped shape UK craft beer sector for future growth: ‘A decade’s worth of change happened in the space of barely 18 months’
Independent craft brewers in the UK dramatically expanded their routes to market through online webshops, taprooms and independent off-trade during the pandemic: all likely to become a ‘permanent additional string to independent brewers’ bows’.
Is there an opportunity for low and no alcohol in the economy space?
Premiumization has been key in the low and no alcohol category to date. With the cost-of-living crisis, does this open up opportunities for the low and no-alcohol category to develop products in the economy space?
Heineken Vietnam opens South-East Asia’s largest brewery
Heineken Vietnam has unveiled its largest brewery in Ba Ria Vung Tau: which has become the region’s largest after multiple expansions over the last five years.