• 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

Craft beer contracts while hard seltzers rise in latest Beer Purchasers’ Index

September 9, 2019Chris Crowell

The National Beer Wholesalers Association‘s (NBWA) Beer Purchasers’ Index (BPI) for August 2019 fell in August after a strong July, but still remained positive overall with a reading of 57.6 — stronger than August 2018’s reading of 54.4. The positive month was largely led by the continued success of flavored malt beverages, including hard seltzers, which posted a reading of 82.1. Craft beers contracted for the first time since October of last year.

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

  • Repeating last months performance, the flavored malt beverage/progressive adult beverage (FMB/PAB) segment saw another significant increase over 2018 with an index reading of 82 compared to 69 in August 2018.
     
  • The craft index dropped below 50 for the first time in 2019 with a reading of 49. The last time the craft index dipped below 50 was October 2018. 
     
  • The index for imports took a significant step down from 2018 highs, but remained in expansion territory with an index reading of 58 compared to the August 2018 reading of 68.
     
  • Premium lights and below premiums posted slight increases over 2018 readings, while premium regulars fell by 1 point compared to August 2018. All three segments continue to struggle with below 50 index readings for 2019.
     
  • The cider segment continues to show the most variability of any segment in the BPI, falling to 34. Cider orders continue to contract from peak readings in late 2018. This series will continue to play out as regional ciders brands compete aggressively against larger national cider brands. 
self distribution craft beer
Beer Purchasing was down in June, with FMB, seltzers falling back to earth
beer store fridge shelves distribution beer store supermarket
Craft beer gets a bump in May 2021 Beer Purchasers’ Index
BPI-April
Hard seltzers continue to outperform all segments in Beer Purchasers’ Index
NBWA-BPI-march-2020
Beer distribution purchasing continues to normalize

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

  • NBWA releases January Beer Purchasers’ Index, craft demand sinks low
  • Watch a drone release insects over hop yards for sustainable pest control in this Yakima Chief Hops video series
  • BarTrack scales nationwide presence to over 40 states, announces big Series A investments
  • Distro update: Connecticut’s Two Roads Brewing goes to Colorado + news from Surreal, New Sarum and more

Sign up for our newsletter

unsubscribe from list

Most Popular Today

Recent Features

  • Watch a drone release insects over hop yards for sustainable pest control in this Yakima Chief Hops video series
    January 30, 2023
  • Distro update: Connecticut’s Two Roads Brewing goes to Colorado + news from Surreal, New Sarum and more
    January 30, 2023
  • 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

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