Craft Beer and Brewery Trends: 2022

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One of the strongest methods of gauging the vibrancy of restaurant markets is by keeping an eye on craft brewery trends. Beer sales compose one of the main tenets of restaurant success because it helps comprise the almighty beverage costs that bottleneck profit margins or losses. Essentially, if the brewery can survive, the establishment might just thrive. So, watching how the market fares is vital for predicting success.

A look at past brewery sales data

The foodservice industry was completely rocked by the pandemic. According to the National Restaurant Association, more than 8 million restaurant employees were laid off during the Covid outbreak. An estimated $280 billion loss was sustained during the first year. This impacted eat-in brewery sales directly because the industry was directly hit by a fundamental aspect: labor shortage.

If there’s no one to sell the product, then the product cannot be sold. However, something interesting was going on with brewery sales. The overall foodservice industry sales were dismal and sunken,  but brewery sales were able to tread water. There were some hits, but brewery sales did not tank.

The profit margins of breweries

Profit margins dipped in 2020 but saw a huge comeback in 2021. Brewery profits had actually dipped in 2019 before being further hampered by a pandemic in 2020. However, 2021 saw industry records rise, according to the Brewers Association, it spans over subtypes of breweries, which include microbreweries, brewpubs, taproom breweries, and regional craft breweries.

As patrons were able to venture out to breweries and restaurants, any deficits the industry sustained didn’t just quickly stabilize. Beer drinkers came back in full force, creating a greater demand that needed a higher supply.

The impacts of supply chain issues

“Candemic” is a coined term that went toward the supply chain issues that heavily impacted breweries. Without access to materials and products, while lacking the labor and means to deliver these items, a large number of products, such as aluminum, got tied up in the supply chain.

That unfortunate delay has continued into 2022, mainly due to the clamoring demand for aluminum products that manufacturers are still struggling to meet. Industry-wide, breweries are seeking ways to alleviate that obstacle. However, there is hope on the horizon.

How breweries are looking toward the future

As the furor of the pandemic diminishes, breweries are seeing an increase in patronage. People are able to get back out into the world and frequent the restaurants they like. The ability to do so is the first natural step toward rising numbers of customer sales.

At the same time, breweries’ impact on communities is solid. Craft beer trends have set rules that are always true. People are drawn to dedicated places of gathering. Breweries and pubs have served as loyal hubs for centuries. That is not due to change. While the industry did suffer setbacks, it is far from being a death knell of future success. If any portion of the foodservice industry can find its footing and flourish, breweries are always leading the race.

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