Beer remained the largest segment of the U.S. adult beverage industry, accounting for more than four-fifths of total alcohol volume, but was challenged by both economic and consumer trends that resulted in a 1.3% decline in 2011.
Wine in a box finally became a reality, so could wine in a can be too far behind? A European beverage can manufacturer has unveiled a “protected quality,” airtight and light-proof seal for wine in cans, promising a shelflife of 12 months.
A majority of adults in the U.S. consume alcohol, and these drinkers, on average, have four beverages per week, with beer the preferred choice, according to an annual Gallup survey.
Anheuser-Busch InBev says it is paying $1.24 billion for a majority stake in Dominican brewer Cerveceria Nacional Dominicana as it pushes deeper into the Caribbean.
Wine introductions had a good year in 2011. Despite slipping somewhat from 2010 numbers, the segment remained strong in terms of product launches. The year saw nearly twice as many wine debuts as 2009 and nearly three times the number reported in 2008, according to Mintel’s Global New Products Database (GNPD).
New Beer Institute data shows that retail beer sales rose more than 2% in 2011, highlighting beer’s continued strength within the alcohol beverage sector.