🤓 Who Wants To Be A Data Nerd?

Craft found growth in the grocery channel in Q1. Brewbound reporter Zoe Licata dives into the latest quarterly craft report from Bump Williams Consulting. 

But that’s not all. In this data-packed edition, Zoe also digs into the latest big beer trends, including imports surpassing domestic premiums in the latest four-week period. Insiders can go in-depth in both reports. 

Insiders are also getting these newsletter exclusives: 

• Another state makes cocktails to-go permanent;
• Urban South shutters its Houston taproom;
• Ball reveals units lost during last year’s Bud Light fiasco;
• And Upland Brewing’s new sibling brand.

Insiders also have access to the Brewbound Newsletter Archive, including previous newsletter-exclusive Insider content.

Become a Brewbound Insider today!

Or, be in the know on all food and beverage news from Brewbound, BevNET and NOSH with Insider All Access.

We loved showing this amazing skateboard off at CBC and wanted to give people who didn't attend a chance to win it! This limited-edition skateboard would look dope on you taproom wall or cruising around the brewhouse. Enter to win today! Learn more

Craft finished Q1 with dollar sales nearly flat year-over-year (YoY), declining -0.3% in NIQ-tracked off-premise channels (total xAOC + liquor plus + convenience) through March 30, Bump Williams Consulting (BWC) reported in its first quarterly craft report for 2024.

While not quite in the green, craft had the smallest decline of all beer segments, in a quarter when only three segments recorded growth: imports (+6.8% YoY), flavored malt beverages (+11.3%) and non-alcoholic (NA) beer (+32.5%). Craft also outperformed total beer, which recorded a -1.2% decline in dollar sales in the quarter. 

Craft recorded growth in grocery – a channel that the segment has struggled with recently – posting a +1% increase in dollar sales YoY, on-par with total beer trends (+1.1%). In convenience, the strongest channel for craft, the segment increased dollar sales +1%, well above total beer (-3%). 

Craft took the biggest hit in liquor plus, where dollar sales declined -5.4%. Total beer recorded a -2.3% decline in the channel.

Insiders can dive deeper into the report, including performances from the top brands (new and old) and regional craft trends.

The first round of interviews from the Brewbound Podcast On Location at the Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) in Las Vegas are here. 

Breeze Galindo, the director of operations on the Michael J Jackson Foundation for Brewing and Distilling, discusses the foundation’s work, evolution and scholarship awards for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color professionals in the bev-alc industry. Galindo also dishes on her brewery in-planning, MiLuna Brewing Company, which she will open in New York.

Then, Icicle Brewing founder Pam Brulotte chats about her journey into the brewing industry, being married to a hop farmer and starting a brewery in Leavenworth, Washington. She also discusses her work with the Brewers Association (BA), including co-chairing the trade group’s diversity, equity and inclusion committee. 

Plus, Jess, Justin and Zoe recap Day 2 of CBC, including BA chief economist and VP of strategy Bart Watson’s state of the industry speech. 

Listen here or on your podcast platform of choice.

Move over domestic premiums, imports are king.

Imports overtook domestic premiums in dollar sales in NIQ-tracked off-premise channels in the four-week period ending April 20, making imports the No. 1 beer segment in scans, Bump Williams Consulting founder and CEO Bump Williams reported in the firm’s latest monthly report. 

Imports increased share of total beer dollars sales by +5.1 points in the four-week period, to 24.7%. Meanwhile, premium lights’ share declined -7.2 points, to 24%. 

Williams wrote: “We saw flashes of this also take place throughout Q3 and into Q4 last year … as the gap between segments rapidly tightened. But carrying over into the start of 2024 is yet another new phenomenon and it has to make you wonder at what point we’ll see imports claim that No. 1 rank on a running YTD [year-to-date] basis in addition to selective cuts of more recent time periods.”

Insiders can dive into those consumer shifts, as well as top new brands in the latest week.

Sharing your news & press releases is now easier and quicker than ever.

With our new self-service press release portal, you can get your press release/news posted more quickly with increased control over formatting AND the ability to make changes after publishing.

🍷 Expanded Coverage: Wine, Supplier & Service Provider News, & More

We’ve expanded our coverage to include wine, suppliers, service providers, and more. Press releases on BevNET.com, Brewbound.com, and Nosh.com cover non-alcoholic beverages (RTDs, powders, mixes), beverage alcohol (spirits, wine, RTDs), cannabis beverages, beer and related (FMBs, hard seltzers, cider, sake), and packaged food products.

Additionally, we now cover industry-related supply chain topics and service providers. This includes co-packers, flavor and ingredient companies, industry related software companies, and retail and distribution related topics.

Learn more and submit a press release now.

The Brewbound Live business conference returns December 11 and 12 in Marina del Rey, California.

Brewbound Live will feature beverage-alcohol industry leaders taking part in business-focused conversations, data presentations, networking and much more across two days at the Marina del Rey Marriott.

Brewbound announced the first speakers for this year’s conference. They include:

• Russian River co-owner Natalie Cilurzo;
• Deschutes Brewery CEO Peter Skrbek;
• National Beer Wholesalers Association chief economist and VP of analytics Lester Jones;
• Draftline Technologies founder and president Jennifer Hauke.

Additional speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.

Register for Brewbound Live 2024.

At Brewbound Live in Marina del Rey, CA on December 11 + 12, beer and beverage-alcohol brands can participate in retailer one-to-ones. Leaders from Whole Foods Market will be available for private, pre-scheduled meetings. Brands will be selected at each retailers’ discretion.

As the world’s leader in natural and organic foods, with a vast network spanning over 500 stores, Whole Foods holds substantial influence in the market. These meetings present a unique opportunity for beer and beverage-alcohol brands aspiring to excel in retail channels focusing on natural and organic products. 

Participating brands can gain invaluable insights and strategic guidance tailored towards facilitating growth within these specialized retail environments.

You must be registered for Brewbound Live to be considered for a retailer meeting. Once you register for the event, you will receive an email with instructions for signing up.

Register for Brewbound Live Winter 2024.