According to Information Resources, Inc. (IRI), beer sales and import figures have lived up to their New Year’s resolution, increasing by 3% in just the first month. The category’s growth has favored a handful of segments. In the lead are super premiums and imports, up 13.8% and 9%, respectively. Craft products experienced solid growth over the month, up 5.8%, and even cider is off to a significant start, up 3.3%.
The January 2018 Beer Purchasers’ Index for total beer also has had noteworthy 2018 success. “The total beer index for January 2018 at 52 is significantly above the January 2017 reading at 42.2, which is not surprising giving the low inventory levels reported at the end of 2017,” said the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) Chief Economist Lester Jones. The index is reported as a composite measurement where a reading greater than 50 indicates the segment is expanding, and a reading below 50 indicates the segment is contracting.
Source: Beer Business Daily, February 2018