Craft cans gained +3.6% share of craft dollars in 2023, and now account for 69.9% off-premise craft dollar sales, according to NIQ data shared in Bump Williams Consulting’s 2023 craft recap.
Craft cans increased dollar sales +5.2%, to more than $4 billion, in off-premise sales last year, the firm shared.
Meanwhile, craft bottles fell to 29.9% share of off-premise craft dollars, as dollar sales declined -11.1%, to more than $1.7 billion. Sales of craft bottles in off-premise retailers have now declined double digits in each of the last three years (-16% in 2022 and -17.4% in 2021).
The increased sales of craft cans (+$198.27 million compared to 2022) weren’t enough to offset bottles’ losses (-$213.5 million) in 2023.
Six- and 12-pack cans were the top-selling craft beer packages in 2023. Dollar sales of 6-pack cans declined -0.1%, to more than $1.5 billion (-$977,443), while craft can 12-packs increased sales +11.4%, and crossed the $1 billion mark (+$104.45 million).
Craft can 6-packs (27% share of craft dollars) and craft can 12-packs (17.9% share, +1.9%) combined held just under 45% share of craft dollars in 2023.
The share gains of craft can 12-packs were equal to the share losses of 6-pack craft bottles (-1.9% dollar share of craft, to 17.2% share of craft dollars). Craft can 12-packs’ share gains also exceeded 12-pack bottles’ share losses.
Last year, craft 6-packs bottles fell below the $1 billion mark, as off-premise sales declined -10.2%, to around $986.7 million.
Craft’s fourth best-selling packaging format, 12-packs of 12 oz. bottles, also declined double-digits (-12.4%) in off-premise retailers, to $510.7 million. Craft 12-pack bottles also shed -1.2% share of craft dollars, to an 8.9% dollar share of craft beer sales.
The average case price of craft can 6-packs ($45.28) and can 12-packs ($36.73) were slightly more than the average case prices of 6-pack bottles ($44.66) and 12-pack bottles ($35.54). The average unit price for craft 6-pack cans ($11.35, +3.6% versus a year ago) and craft 12-pack cans ($18.41, +3.3%) were also higher than craft 6-pack bottles ($11.14, +3.7%) and 12-pack bottles ($17.77, +4%).
Craft 4-packs of 16 oz. cans, popularized in the mid- to late-2010s, declined -1% in dollar sales, to $477.6 million. The format lost -0.1% share of craft dollars, falling to 8.3% share of off-premise craft dollars. Craft 12 oz. bottle 4-packs declined -11.6%, to $72.8 million (-$9.5 million).
The biggest dollar sales growth for craft in 2023 was in 19.oz can singles (+41.6%), growing to $406.76 million (+$119.5 million). Craft 19.2.oz singles also posted the largest dollar share gain in craft (+2.1%, to 7.1% dollar share). The average unit price for 19.2 oz. singles was $3.19 (+5.4% versus a year ago).
Craft can 24/25 oz. singles also posted double-digit sales gains (+14.6%), increasing to nearly $44 million. Craft 16.9 oz. single bottles also increased sales modestly (+0.2%), to $41.15 million (+$62,689)
However, other craft singles formats – 16 oz. cans (-10.5% versus a year ago) and 12 oz. cans (-6.9%) – shed sales and share.
Larger craft packs were a mixed bag. Craft can 15-packs declined -6.1% in sales, to $217.75 million (-$14.1 million) and shed -0.2% share of craft dollars, to 3.8% share. However, craft can 18-packs increased sales +16.4%, to $38.565 million (+$5.42 million).