The future of the global beer industry: What is brewing beyond the Covid-19 pandemic?

The global beer industry took an unprecedented hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Around the world, governments implemented restrictive coronavirus containment measures such as national lockdowns, curfews and social distancing mandates. Bars, pubs, restaurants and clubs were shuttered. Concerts, festivals and sports events were cancelled or postponed. Global tourism came to a standstill. The beer industry, which was largely tied to the hospitality sector, suffered furloughs, layoffs and steep declines in sales, as countries went in and out of (partial) lockdown in staggered stages throughout 2020 and 2021. While some companies had managed to offset on-trade losses with off-trade gains, overall, e-commerce and supermarket sales weren’t enough to prevent the market from significantly contracting during the pandemic. Despite government support in certain countries, bankruptcy was a looming threat for many breweries, potentially giving way to a reconfiguring of market share around the world. The global beer industry was in distress even before the disruptive events of COVID-19, but the pandemic accentuated major vulnerabilities and accelerated key trends. What would define the beer industry during its COVID-19 recovery and beyond? How could players bounce back and thrive after the crisis? What lessons could be taken into the post-pandemic future? Elizabeth, a young associate at a top consulting firm, grapples with these questions while working for a leading client in the beer industry.