
With the majority of bars worldwide still closed to consumers, beer manufacturers have struggled to shift their sales back into retail to offset their losses. Big brand Heineken reported a 14% decline in beer sales in March. The lockdown landscape is proving difficult regardless of scale, according to GlobalData analytics company. GlobalData expects the beer and cider industry to stand at a global value of U.S. $595.6 billion in 2020, reflecting a forecasted year-on-year (YoY) decline of 5% between 2019 and 2020. This is in stark contrast to a baseline growth of 3.2% expected over the same period, which suggested continued robust growth before COVID-19. In GlobalData’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Tracker Consumer Survey, 73% of respondents from 11 countries surveyed stated that they drink alcohol, demonstrating a sizeable consumer base that remains active through online and brick-and-mortar retail. It is likely that the beer industry will see a significant rebound immediately after social-distancing recommendations are lifted.