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Independent Brewers Resilient
There is good news from one sector of the industry at least..
SIBA (The Society of Independent Brewers) is reporting a growth in sales of some 4% even in spite of the recession. Although the overall beer market in the UK declined by some 4.2% in 2009, local brewer’s volume sales were actually up by 3.75%. This was helped by 12% more pubs now sourcing their beers from independent breweries.
SIBA’s chief executive Julian Grocock said: “Over 60% of our members were founded after 2000, so the current recession is the most severe they have traded through. That the vast majority managed a sales uplift last year and are anticipating the same in 2010 speaks volumes about the resilience and resourcefulness of the UK’s quality independent brewers. The UK’s local brewing industry, though rooted in tradition, is a relatively young one. Most of our members are younger than SIBA itself, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Our success through the past few, exceptionally tough years, however, surely demonstrates that local ales are no passing fad, but a permanent asset that can offer a much-needed boost to the nation’s troubled pub trade.”
You can get more information directly from SIBA