Beer Distributors
Industry Profile Report
Dive Deep into the industry with a 25+ page industry report (pdf format) including the following chapters
Industry Overview Current Conditions, Industry Structure, How Firms Operate, Industry Trends, Credit Underwriting & Risks, and Industry Forecast.
Call Preparation Call Prep Questions, Industry Terms, and Weblinks.
Financial Insights Working Capital, Capital Financing, Business Valuation, and Financial Benchmarks.
Industry Profile Excerpts
Industry Overview
The 1,400 beer distributors in the US are the middlemen between the suppliers (breweries and importers) and retailers (grocery stores, convenience stores, bars, restaurants, sporting venues etc.). Distributors must provide climate-controlled storage, transportation, and maintenance for perishable malt beverages from the time they leave the brewery until they arrive at the retailer.
Competition from Larger Distributors
Beer distributors are typically small, local operations, but the industry has been consolidating as larger distributors expand through acquisitions.
Declining Market Share
Beer has been gradually losing market share since 2000, when it accounted for over half of all beverage alcohol sales.
Industry size & Structure
The average beer distributor operates 1-2 warehouses, employs 80 workers, and generates about $48.5 million in annual revenue.
- The US has about 1,400 beer distributors with annual sales of about $68 billion and about 112,000 employees.
- The largest populations of beer distributors include California (221), New York (176), Texas (167), Florida (134) and Pennsylvania (119).
- Average inventory is about $5 million.
- 77% of distributors employ less than 100 employees.
- Top distributors in the US include Reyes Holdings, Goldring Gulf Distributing, Ben E. Keith Beverages, Silver Eagle Distributors LP, and Manhattan Beer Distributors LLC.
- The number of breweries that supply the distribution industry is rapidly increasing. Currently, there are about 9,700 breweries in the US, up from 250 in 1990 and 2,300 in 2010.
Industry Forecast
Beer Distributors Industry Growth
Recent Developments
Dec 20, 2024 - Prices Rising Amid Flat Performance
- Producer prices for beer, wine, and distilled alcoholic beverage merchant wholesalers rose 5.6% in November after rising 1.9% in the previous November-versus-November annual comparison, according to the latest US Bureau of Labor Statistics data. At the retail level, the consumer price index (CPI) for beer at home in November was in line with overall inflation, while beer away from home continued to outpace inflation and that of the rest of the beverage-alcohol industry, according to the most recent BLS report. Employment by beer distributors fell 0.8% year over year in October, while average wages at alcohol distributors rose 5% over the same period to $26.47 per hour, BLS data show. Beer is losing ground to other alcoholic beverages, most notably spirits. In 2023, US beer shipments reached their lowest levels in 25 years, according to data from Beer Marketer's Insights.
- Craft beer underperformed in 2024 and performance deteriorated as the year progressed, according to the Brewers Association’s yearend recap. Per the association’s midyear survey, craft beer saw an estimated decline of 2% in production, compared to a 1% decline for the full year 2023. In the second half of 2024, third quarter scan data suggested weaker performance than the first half of the year, suggesting weaker performance for the full year than was indicated in the midyear estimate. “Craft has been going through a painful period of rationalization as demand growth has slowed and retailers and distributors look to simplify their offerings or add options for flavor and variety outside of the craft category,” said Bart Watson, the BA’s VP of strategy and membership. Also, closings have outpaced openings so far in 2024, with the BA tracking 335 new brewery openings and 399 closings.
- Beer purchasing activity rose in October compared to September, but declined year over year, according to the National Beer Wholesalers Association’s (NBWA) Beer Purchasers’ Index (BPI). The October BPI reading of 42 is an 11-point jump from September, representing an increase in monthly ordering levels by US beer distributors. However, the year-over-year decrease in the BPI (down from 48 in October 2023) — coupled with an at-risk inventory reading of 50 — indicates a continued downshift in distributor sentiment to a more cautious outlook, according to NBWA. Imports, craft, premium light and regular beers, and cider all posted YoY declines in October, while FMB (flavored malt beverages), seltzer, and below premium brews posted YoY increases. The annual decline in beer purchasing activity in October followed the trend set by the previous three Octobers, all of which posted contracting YoY readings (a BPI below 50).
- Breweries in Europe produced less beer last year, The Drinks Business reported in August. In 2023, breweries in EU countries produced 34.3 billion liters of beer, about 5% less than the previous year, data has shown. Of that total, 32.5 billion liters contained alcohol, while 1.8 billion liters were low- and no-alcohol beer. The bright spot was the production of low- and no-alcohol beer, which rose 13.5% over 2022 levels, illustrating the continued impressive growth of the low- and no-alcohol beer category across Europe. Germany was the top EU-producing country with 7.2 billion liters of beer, which was around a quarter (22.3%) of the total EU production. The beer scene in the US closely mimics the EU, with overall US beer production and imports down 5% last year, according to the Brewers Association, while sales of no-alcohol beer surged.
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