🧘‍♀️ Is Focus the Key to Craft Growth?

Less appears to be more in 2024 for craft suppliers, Bump Williams Consulting shared in its latest monthly report. An analysis of the top 150 craft suppliers revealed that those with more focused portfolios are posting growth numbers.

Insiders are also:

• Seeing how much trouble Monster is having cycling the launch of its FMBs;
• Getting a warning about potential CO2 supply shortages;
• Diving into the latest weekly scans, with a prolonged post-July 4 hangover;
• And reading about Dunkin’ Spiked’s first LTO.

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Deschutes Founder/Owner Gary Fish said “For the last 35 years, Black Butte Porter has been the best-selling porter in the nation and Briess has been key to that success”.  We couldn’t agree more. Click to hear Deschutes’ story. Learn more

An analysis of the top 150 craft suppliers found those with more focused portfolios are posting “stronger trends and outperforming their competitors,” according to Bump Williams Consulting’s latest craft report. 

“Of course there will always be exceptions on an individual basis, but from what we have seen over the latest 52 weeks [ending June 22], perhaps right now ‘less’ could end up being ‘more’ as it relates to the craft beer business,” the firm wrote.

Insiders can go deeper into the numbers and why less is more appears to be working in 2024. 

Monster Beverage Corp. struggled to overcome weak sales growth for its energy drinks in Q2, while its nascent beverage-alcohol division also took a step back.

The Corona, Calif.-based company’s quarterly earnings report showed net sales increasing +2.5%, to $1.9 billion.

Monster’s Alcohol Brands segment – which includes The Beast Unleashed, Nasty Beast Hard Tea, and various craft beers and hard seltzers – also took a hit, with decreasing FMB volumes pushing net sales down -31.9% to $41.6 million, from $61 million in Q2 2023. 

Insiders can find out more about Monster's energy drink biz, as well as a write down on related to brewery closures.

World of Beer has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, in an effort to reorganize. Brewbound managing editor Jess Infante shares details of the filing and what it means for craft breweries. 

Jess and Brewbound editor Justin Kendall also review the latest earnings reports, including Anheuser-Busch InBev cycling the anniversary of the Bud Light boycott, how A-B is faring in the U.S. a year later, and the fallout being felt by one of its top competitors, Molson Coors, and one of its biggest supply chain partners, Ball Corporation. 

Jess and Justin also reveal how little they know about soccer, and discuss car trips with toddlers and adjusting to a new puppy. 

Listen here or on your preferred podcast platform. 

At Brewbound Live in Marina del Rey on December 11 + 12, beer and beverage-alcohol companies can participate in retailer One-to-One meetings with ExtraMile Convenience. The buyer will be available for private, pre-scheduled meetings, and brands will be selected at the retailer’s discretion.

ExtraMile Convenience is a successful, industry-recognized c-store brand with more than 1,000 franchised convenience stores in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Alabama, and Mississippi. The growing ExtraMile network leverages experience and efficiency of scale to deliver “extra” value.

Meet with Michelle Abdollah, the Category Manager of Alcoholic Beverages, during Brewbound Live. Michelle is a seasoned retail expert with over 15 years of experience in merchandising and operations. With a proven track record of driving growth and profitability, Michelle has honed her skills through various leadership roles at 7-Eleven and Target. Her expertise has earned her recognition as one of the Top Women In Convenience by Convenience Store News in 2024.

Beer and beverage-alcohol professionals attending Brewbound Live can also meet with Whole Foods beer category buyers, with additional retailers to be added soon!

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 2024.

As part of a new exclusive data series for Brewbound Insiders, we’re partnering with CGA by NIQ, a trusted On Premise measurement, insight & research consultancy to food & drink businesses across the globe, empowering growth & shaping On Premise strategies for success.

Through quarterly reports, CGA will provide data on on-premise market trends, consumer behavior in the hospitality sector, global and regional market differences, and alcoholic beverage insights.

Our first report in partnership with CGA will be a roundup of summer trends in beer, wine, spirits.

All reports will be accessible exclusively to Brewbound Insiders. To access these and other valuable data reports on Brewbound.com, join our Insider community.