Italian beer exports have quadrupled over the past ten years, reaching a new record in 2015 with a value of €183 million and double digit growth in Northern Europe.
According to a report by Italian farmers’ association, Coldiretti, based on Istat data; the export boom is present in practically all countries, from Germany (+49%), The Netherlands (+49%) to the UK (+10%), while in Belgium, Italian beer purchases have grown tenfold.
With the arrival of summer, beer consumption is on the rise in Italy, registering a record 6 per cent growth of purchases, resulting partly to Italian craft beers.
A decade ago there were slightly over 30 craft microbreweries in Italy, a figure that has now risen to about 1,000 for a production estimated at 45 million litres.
The new craft production is very diversified, from beer flavoured with hemp, to the Apulian artichoke pale yellow, or sour cherries to red radicchio or rice.
There are over 23 million beer drinkers in Italy, with an annual per capita consumption of 29 litres, with ample margins for growth compared to countries such as the Czech Republic (144 litres per capita), Austria (107.8), Germany (105), Ireland (85.6), Luxembourg (85) and Spain (82).
© 2016 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. To subscribe to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine, click here.
