Despite pain in the UK beer market, Britain’s “local brewers” have enjoyed a stellar year of growth, according to a new report from the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA).
The group’s members, which include 400 beer makers ranging from long-established regional groups to small businesses supplying a tight geographical area, have recorded sales growth of 10.7% in the past year.
The figures contrast sharply with a wider beer market that is significantly down, with current figures almost in double-digit decline.
SIBA’s annual report says: “Against the background of the most challenging year for beer retailing for decades, the continued growth of demand for local beer is spectacular.”
It said that business confidence among local brewers remained strong, with the majority of its members “confident or more confident about trading in 2008”.
Local brewers are defined by HM Revenues & Customs as having an annual production of up to 30,000 hectolitres (660,000 gallons or 18,330 bulk barrels).
