American Craft Beer The Best Craft Beer, Breweries, Bars, Brewpubs, Beer Stores, And Restaurants Serving Serious Beer.
London-based Brand Finance has just released its latest report on the most valuable beer brands in the world. And it was dominated by mass-market brands and one Scottish craft brewer.
Here’s some highlights…
Big beer brands ruled in 2019. They’ve the money, power and distribution networks to dominate around the world and Anheuser-Busch was sitting pretty with 11 brands ranking in this year’s Brand Finance Beers 25.
Budweiser claimed the top spot for the first time swiping the crown from long-standing leader Bud Light which fell to number two in the ranking.
According to Beverage Daily it was Budweiser’s successful FIFA campaign (it’s most expensive ever) that led to the “The King of Beers” rise. The extensive campaign, which tapped into 3.2 billion soccer fans globally, helped Budweiser make considerable inroads in developing markets including South Africa, Columbia, China and Australia.
But while Bud grew in value by 6.2% Bud Light, which continues to struggle in the US, declined according to the report…
“Budweiser and Bud Light (down 5% to US$7 billion), the flagship brands of Belgian brewing giant AB InBev, have had to contend with the changing consumer drinking habits across the US.”
“The general decline in beer consumption across millennials, and the preference for healthier alcohol-free alternatives have contributed to the slowdown in their brand value growth compared to previous years.”
Asia looked particularly strong in this year’s ranking according to Brand Finance CEO David Haigh…
“As you can see across this year’s ranking, it is the Asian, particularly Chinese, beer brands that are seeing the highest brand value growth.”
“With demand for beer at an all-time high in China and predictions of inflated growth over the coming years as a result of greater disposable income from the emerging middle class, this trend looks set to continue.”
“If these brands begin to expand beyond China and into new markets, we could potentially see some very stiff competition to established Western beer brands.”
China’s Snow and Tsingtao brands showed the most rapid growth up…52% and 49% respectively.
The most important aspect of 2019’s Beer 25 (at least from our perspective) was the addition of BrewDog to the global ranking…
“Innovative Scottish craft beer brand, BrewDog, is the highest new entrant in the ranking in 19th position, with a brand value of US$1.5 billion.”
“Now 11 years old, the brand is undertaking ambitious growth plans across key international markets, with new breweries and bars in the pipeline both at home in the UK and abroad.”
