Founders Brewing co-founder cautions that shelf space will run out
However, like (Michigan Brewers Guild Executive Director, Scott) Graham, Stevens thinks the industry could get too big for its own good. He said it is possible that someday soon there could be too many varieties of beer and not enough shelf space in stores. "Eventually, retail operations like Meijer or Spartan are going to throw their hands up and say: ‘Enough. We can’t get any more on the shelf.’ "
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Breweries: Founders Brewing
I feel we’re already there in some areas/stores.
No doubt.
Agree 100%. New locals should be able to push out beers that have no business traveling that far away from the brewery in the first place. Expand as much as you want to, but just know everyone else is trying to expand within the same space.
Well, push out the various Bud and Bud Light sizes, and you’ll open up at least 20 craft sizes right there. My local grocery store has 7oz 6-pack bottles, 8oz 12-pack cans, 8oz 24-pack cans, 12oz six-packs of cans and bottles, four-packs of tall boys, 12 packs of cans and bottles, 18 packs of cans and bottles, and 24 packs of cans and bottles, Of each, making for a grand total of 24 facings, many of which get multiple rows and/or are wide enough for a couple six-packs. That’s a lot of room that can be saved by condensing SKUs. Just carry the tall-boys, six pack of bottles, and twelve-packs with a case discount when you buy both. Boom, there’s room for at least 16 new craft SKUs. That’ll never happen though.
From a consumer perspective, the more brands and variety, the less likely you’ll be to get fresh beer. My experience is that the stores with the massive selections have a considerable amount of out of date (not less than fresh, but past the suggested limits) – and it’s only getting worse. This is how it is on Long Island, NY, anyways.
We are there in Chicago. At Whole Food and Binnys you need to ask what is not on the shelf all the time.
Thats why there are new stores opening….just for craft beer!
It’s called having a “Selection”. Hopefully the buyer isn’t buying everything available but selecting the best products for their customers. This happens in the wine industry.
@Royald — I think that’s exactly the point of all those bud varieties
@Andy B – I agree for the most part, but I’ve found that there are certainly stores with a good rep and are fairly beer dedicated that have both variety and turnover. However, for every good store there are 5-10 stores with similar selection (mostly supermarkets and bodegas) that doesn’t turn it around and let it sit on the shelf. IMO if you stick to buying at beer-centric stores then you’ll be fine
I know from being in grocery business, with a large chain, that the craft business can be done with 20 brands. I don’t need the Stones, Lagunitas or Founders type breweries. Although, I love them the majority don’t consume them. The grocery biz in my region will live off the macros and almost macro crafts for the near future.