Suntory denies rumour that it wants to buy Boston Beer

USA | As if doing business in such tough times was not difficult enough – Boston Beer again fell prey to rumourmongers, who suggested that it was in sales talks with Japan’s brewer and drinks firm Suntory, the owner of US whiskey brands Maker’s Mark and Jim Beam.

USA | How times are changing for the craft brewing industry. A decade after Lagunitas’ founder Tony McGee opened the Chicago brewery and taproom, all production will return to Lagunitas’ original brewery in Petaluma, California, on 1 August.

Wine firm Gallo moves into beer

USA | So Gallo seeks to transform itself into a total alcohol beverage firm? The world’s leading wine, spirits, and RTD supplier Gallo, on 15 May, announced a “strategic investment” in Montucky Cold Snacks, marking the group’s first venture into the beer category. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Workers and Molson Coors agree to terms after three-month strike

USA | Union members and Molson Coors agreed to a three-year contract, ending the more than three-month-long strike of 420 workers at Molson Coors brewery in Fort Worth, Texas.

Heineken Mexico to add 1000 outlets to its Six retail chain in 2024

Mexico | Heineken's chain of convenience stores, branded as Six, is gearing up for expansion in Mexico by adding 1000 new outlets this year. With over 17,000 outlets nationwide, Six offers a variety of products, including snacks, juices, soft drinks, and Heineken’s beers. Competition with the market leader in convenience stores, Oxxo (owned by FEMSA), which had nearly 23,000 outlets in 2023, is set to intensify.

Boston Beer goes hard and soft with recent product innovations

USA | In its recent first quarter 2024 earnings call (29 April), Boston Beer positively surprised investors by reporting a 3.9 percent increase in revenue to USD 426 million, while depletions (that is sales to retailers from distributors) were flat compared with the same period last year. The revenue hike came after a disappointing fourth quarter 2023, which had seen Boston Beer’s revenue decline 12 percent due to the continuing malaise of its Truly hard seltzer.

Brooklyn’s Garrett Oliver launches campaign for fonio grain

USA | Celebrating his 30th anniversary as brewmaster of Brooklyn Brewery, Mr Oliver has launched a campaign with the help of several breweries around the world to showcase the versatility of the African grain fonio.

How to enter the Mexican beer market: Find a resilient craft brewer

Mexico | Why has it proven so difficult for domestic craft brewers and foreign brewers to make a splash in the Mexican beer market, although punters seem to like a beer? In 2022, domestic beer consumption was 99 million hl or 75 litres per capita. Some 40 million hl beer were exported.

USA | According to the Brewers Association (BA), the number of operating craft breweries continued to climb in 2023, reaching an all-time high of 9,683, including 2,071 microbreweries, 3,467 brewpubs, 3,900 taproom breweries, and 245 regional craft breweries.

The ripple effect of the strike at Molson Coors Texas brewery

USA | Seattle is out of draught Rainier beer, while at Molson Coors brewery in Fort Worth, Texas, workers have entered their third month on strike for better wages, benefits and working conditions. At the time of writing (22 April), the strike was still ongoing.