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Anyone looking for an answer to when craft’s current era of compounding hurdles and declines will come to an end received a reality check Wednesday during Brewers Association (BA) president and CEO Bart Watson’s state of the industry address, held at the start of Day 2 of the Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) in Indianapolis.
Around 10,000 industry members are expected to make the trip to Indianapolis for the 2025 Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America (April 28 to May 1). The gathering takes place against a backdrop of growing headwinds for craft breweries and an overhaul of CBC’s host organization, the Brewers Association.
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (SGWS) has consistently charged independent retailers as much as 12% to 67% more than national and regional chains for the same products, according to newly unsealed redactions in the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) price discrimination case against the distributor.
Brewers Association (BA) chief economist Bart Watson continues to tease early data from the BA’s annual production survey, and the numbers aren’t getting any better.
Craft beer dollar sales and volume at off-premise retailers declined in 2022, and 2023 is not expected to be much better for the segment. If craft wants to win consumers and occasions, producers must meet new consumers on their level, Brewers Association (BA) chief economist Bart Watson shared last week at the New England Craft Brew Summit.
A federal jury has found that Constellation Brands’ production of products such as Corona Hard Seltzer and Modelo Ranch Water does not violate the company’s licensing agreement with Anheuser-Busch InBev (A-B).
The latest iteration of a bill that would hike tax rates for Oregon beverage-alcohol producers was introduced in the state House of Representatives last month. House Bill 3312 (H.B. 3312) would raise taxes on beer and cider produced in the state from $2.60 per 31-gallon barrel to $33.60 per barrel by 2028 – a 1,200% increase over half a decade.
A leaked Amazon confidential 2021 document shows that the e-commerce Goliath wanted to grow its alcohol sales by covertly lobbying to change liquor laws, Vice reported late last week.
Virginia brewers are one signature away from being able to self-distribute their beer in state. The Beer Industry Limited Distribution Act (House Bill 2258) passed the state Senate last week and has been sent to Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s desk. It would allow breweries to self-distribute up to 500 barrels annually.
Monster Energy Co. has filed a motion in a California federal court seeking an additional $167 million in its false advertising suit against Bang producer Vital Pharmaceuticals (VPX) on top of its $293 million jury verdict awarded earlier this year.
A lawsuit filed against Molson Coors’ Vizzy Hard Seltzer is nearing completion, after a federal judge said last week he plans to approve the company’s plan to settle with plaintiffs for $9.5 million.
Beer posted a Beer Purchaser’s Index (BPI) reading of 54 in February, the first BPI reading above 50 since May 2022, according to the National Beer Wholesalers Association’s (NBWA).
Hop supply in the U.S. has outpaced hop usage for more than six years, a disparity that is “unsustainable” and will ultimately be corrected with reduced crop in the future, Brewers Association (BA) chief economist Bart Watson warned during a Collab Hour webinar last week.
The Brewers Association (BA) generated $23,395,125 in total revenue in 2022, surpassing the $20 million mark for the first time since 2019, the trade group representing small and independent brewers shared this week.
Virginia state lawmakers are considering a pair of bills that would require retailers to keep alcoholic versions of non-alcoholic beverages, such as Hard MTN Dew, Fresca Mixed, Simply Spiked and Topo Chico Hard Seltzer, separate from their counterparts, according to Pluribus News.
Data and economy experts from 3 Tier Beverages, NielsenIQ’s CGA and the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) gave attendees insights into the state of the bev-alc industry and cider’s potential growth opportunities during the 13th annual CiderCon, held last week in Chicago.
California lawmakers have introduced a bill that would allow wine and beer retailers to sell spirits-based, ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages that are lower than 10% ABV and in containers no larger than 16 oz.
