America’s beer wholesalers played a critical role in the 120-fold increase in craft breweries since the 1980s, said National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) President Craig Purser.
Purser’s comments came as honor of American Craft Beer Week – May 14 through May 20 – got under way.
Purser highlighted the strong partnerships between craft brewers and local distributors that have helped strengthen the craft beer segment. He noted that distributors have invested heavily in state-of-the-art warehouses, fleets of temperature-controlled vehicles, and creative marketing teams that have helped support new brews across the country.
“Through independent distribution networks and marketing strategies, beer wholesalers introduce and promote their craft brew partners to retailers, bars and restaurants nationwide,” Purser said. “This model not only gives smaller brewers the same exposure as larger brands, it also allows all brewers to focus on what they do best – making delicious beer.”
Purser pointed to a report by the Boston Consulting Group which suggested that today’s system of alcohol distribution creates an open and competitive market for brewers of all sizes. According to the report, “small brewers’ ability to reach more drinkers has been enabled by the open U.S. beer-distribution system – a system that was once thought to lock out smaller players.”
Data from the Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) at the U.S. Department of the Treasury show that in 1980s there were fewer than 50 breweries in the United States. Today there are over 6,000, a 120-fold increase.
“The 135,000 men and women in the beer distribution industry are proud to be part of craft beer’s success,” Purser said.