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Heat Check: Trend Tracking as Summer Begins

Heat Check: Trend Tracking as Summer Begins

The summer selling season is upon us, signaling the start of the beer category’s most important stretch. Encouraging early trends this year have given way to a more cautious outlook. More recent trends “signal erosion from the stronger momentum seen in March and early April,” market research firm NIQ noted in a recent report. As the industry hopes the heat creates a summer thirst, here are eight storylines we’re tracking.

NIQ: How Moderation Is Reshaping Global Bev-Alc Sales

NIQ: How Moderation Is Reshaping Global Bev-Alc Sales

No/low alcohol has reached $6 billion in worldwide off-premise sales, but consumers are still reaching for water and soda over adult alternatives, according to a new moderation report from NIQ.

Numerator: Beer Leads Planned MDW Bev-Alc Buys

Numerator: Beer Leads Planned MDW Bev-Alc Buys

Beer tops the shopping list for consumers planning to imbibe during Memorial Day weekend, according to insights firm Numerator. Of the 43% of respondents who plan to purchase beverage-alcohol, 75% said they intend to buy beer, followed by spirits (45%), wine (35%), hard seltzer (31%) and ready-to-drink or pre-mixed canned cocktails (20%).

RNDC to Lay Off 146 in Oregon Ahead of Potential Columbia Deal

RNDC to Lay Off 146 in Oregon Ahead of Potential Columbia Deal

Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) issued WARN Act notices on Monday for nearly 150 layoffs in Oregon, as Columbia Distributing prepares to potentially take over certain wine and spirits distribution rights from RNDC across Oregon and Washington.

Bale Breaker Buys Cloudburst Brewing in Founder-Friendly Deal

Bale Breaker Buys Cloudburst Brewing in Founder-Friendly Deal

An acquisition that “just feels right to everyone” is in the works in Washington, Bale Breaker Brewing co-owner Kevin Quinn told Brewbound. Yakima, Washington-based Bale Breaker has struck a deal to acquire Seattle’s Cloudburst Brewing as its founder Steve Luke prepares to move to New Zealand, where his wife has taken a job.

Circana Weekly Scans: Cinco de Mayo Boost Missing; White Claw, Cutwater Leapfrog Legacy Brands in Latest Read

Circana Weekly Scans: Cinco de Mayo Boost Missing; White Claw, Cutwater Leapfrog Legacy Brands in Latest Read

Leapfrogging was the theme across beverage-alcohol last week, as several upstarts jumped over their stalwart peers in dollar sales, according to the latest weekly report from market research firm Circana. In the beer category, Mark Anthony Brands’ White Claw out-earned Molson Coors’ Miller Lite by $218,720 during the week ending May 10. In spirits, Anheuser-Busch… Read more »