Pandemic, costs and synergies

Ingredient, energy, wage and logistics costs keep rising, but thanks to the excellent employer branding strategy of breweries there is no workforce shortage in the sector. Craft breweries and their innovations have had a positive influence on the beer industry. There is a premiumisation trend going on, which goes hand in hand with decreasing cheap beer sales. Lager is the dominant beer type, but fruit flavoured products are also popular, especially lemon and sour cherry. Low- and no-alcohol beers are also gaining ground.

Breweries are committed to making production sustainable: in the past they needed 15 litres of water to make 1 litre of beer, but now 3 litres are already enough. In the next five years another 1.5-litre water use reduction will occur. Breweries are also dedicated to keeping the large-scale bottle return system alive. Currently one of the most important tasks for the industry is developing a nationwide drink packaging collection system. //