US: Oregon’s craft breweries face continued challenges

Oregon’s craft brewing sector has seen its draught beer sales decline as a result of the pandemic changing consumer habits. Oregon has approximately 400 breweries, brewpubs and taprooms which provide 50,000 jobs and almost US$9 billion in economic output, according to the state’s brewer’s guild. But, according to local reports, around 30 of those businesses closed last year, and many more are facing challenges. In a report via OPB. Sonia Marie Leikam, the co-owner of Leikam Brewing and the vice president of the Oregon Brewers Guild explained how consumer preferences were changing and how this was having a knock-on effect on the margins that the breweries could make. Leikam revealed: “We are seeing national trends towards canned cocktails, seltzers and more nonalcoholic beer options. Those make up now about a third of our sales. They are lower profit margins for us, and that impacts our bottom line.” According to Leikam, the need to continually market extra events is also taking ...