• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • About Craft Brewing Business

Craft Brewing Business

Professional Insight, Unfiltered

Craft Brewing Business Craft Brewing Business
  • News
  • Business & Marketing
  • Packaging & Distribution
  • Equipment & Systems
  • Ingredients & Supplies
  • Webinars & White Papers
  • News
  • Business & Marketing
  • Ingredients & Supplies
  • Packaging & Distribution
  • Equipment
  • Webinars & White Papers
  • COVID-19

Beer purchasing continues to normalize while FMBs, seltzers keep falling

May 4, 2022Chris Crowell

beer-store-grocery-distribution-wholesaler-cartoon-rendering

For the fourth month in a row in 2022, distributors report that the beer industry is reverting to pre-pandemic trends. The April 2022 Beer Purchasers’ Index (BPI) from the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) shows a “total beer” reading of 55 and an “at-risk” inventory reading of 47. This combination of readings is an improvement over the first three months (Q1) with “at-risk” inventories falling below 50 as the industry heads into the second quarter.

The dramatic drop in the FMB/seltzer category continues, falling to 40 in April 2022 from 90 in April 2021. Imports and premium lights both reported expansionary readings for the month. The craft beer index also took a hit this month.

The BPI is the only forward-looking indicator for distributors to measure expected beer demand. The index surveys beer distributors’ purchases across different segments and compares them to previous years. A reading greater than 50 indicates the segment is expanding, while a reading below 50 indicates the segment is contracting.

Looking across the segments for April:

  • The index for imports continues to remain in expansion territory with a reading of 70 in April 2022, only slightly below the April 2021 reading of 74.
  • The craft index at 48 is significantly below last April’s reading of 64.
  • The premium lights index posted a higher reading of 52, below the April 2021 reading of 69, but indicating expansionary volumes.
  • The premium regular segment index is at 38, which is significantly below the April 2021 reading of 56.
    The below premium segment is at 37, well below the April 2021 reading of 51.
  • Finally, the cider segment remains below 50 with a reading of 33 in April 2022, compared to the April 2021 reading of 44.

beer bottle empty fall over dead sad-001
New year, same pessimistic outlook from beer distributors
down arrow
Distributors pessimistic about expected beer demand as 2022 ends
Beer distributors
Beer Purchasers Index starts fourth quarter on pessimistic note
alliance-for-women-in-beer
Inaugural Alliance for Women in Beer conference takes place in Chicago

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

  • Cadaverine: When your beer smells like dead human
  • Unfiltered: There are weevils in my grain – what do I do?
  • Festo takes new approach with VZXA angle seat valves
  • People news: Industry icon John Mallett steps down from Bell’s + moves from Craft ‘Ohana, BrewDog USA and more

Sign up for our newsletter

unsubscribe from list

Most Popular Today

Recent Features

  • Cadaverine: When your beer smells like dead human
    January 26, 2023
  • beer taps brain distribution cbb cropUnfiltered: There are weevils in my grain – what do I do?
    January 26, 2023
  • People news: Industry icon John Mallett steps down from Bell’s + moves from Craft ‘Ohana, BrewDog USA and more
    January 25, 2023
  • Premium beer products were one of the top growth markets of 2022, says IWSR 
    January 23, 2023
  • Fair State Brewing Cooperative launches Minnesota’s first cannabis beverage fulfillment, copacking and distribution center
    January 23, 2023
  • Fat-Tire-cansFat Tire and other craft beer legacy brand updates to know in 2023
    January 17, 2023

Footer

  • Email Newsletter Sign Up
  • About Craft Brewing Business
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise on Craft Brewing Business
  • Media Kit Download
  • Privacy and Terms

© 2023 · CBB Media LLC