ALEXANDRIA, Va. – As Memorial Day weekend approaches, America’s more than 3,000 independent beer distributors are bringing a tremendous variety of beer brands to help retailers across the country stock up for the beginning of the summer beer selling season.
“Over the course of the year, beer distributors across the United States deliver nearly 3 billion cases of beer to more than 600,000 retail establishments – including restaurants, pubs, convenience stores, bottle shops, grocery stores, ballparks and concert venues,” said National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) Chief Economist Lester Jones.
“Memorial Day ranks only behind July Fourth as the top holiday for beer sales in the United States,” Jones said. “And, on average, beer sales are 20 percent higher in the summer months compared to the rest of the year. In preparation of the Memorial Day holiday, some beer distributors will deliver 30-40% more cases to local retailers compared to a typical weekly delivery.”
Jones added, “Weather is always key for the summer holidays. After all, consumers are more likely to enjoy a cold beer when it is warm and sunny outside.”
America’s nearly 135,000 beer distribution employees – including truck drivers, warehouse employees, brand managers, sales teams and marketing employees – are working to make sure that consumers are able to grab a cold one for their cookout, trip to the beach or family dinner this weekend.
According to a report by the Center for Applied Business & Economic Research at the University of Delaware, independent beer distributors provide more than $23 billion in transportation efficiencies for the beer industry each year. A well-run beer distribution network saves retailers on average more than $37,000 a year for each retail establishment.
According to an NBWA survey, independent distributors deliver an average of more than 980 unique packages (or SKUS) of beer, including imports, well-known national brands and labels from emerging local brewers.
“Thanks to an open and independent system that helps new brands get to market, beer drinkers today have more choice than ever before with more than 5,000 domestic brewers and hundreds of importers offering thousands of styles and brands that make the beer industry innovative and exciting,” Jones said.
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The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents America’s 3,000 independent beer distributors with operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Licensed at the federal and state levels, beer distributors get bottles, cans, cases and kegs from a brewer or importer to stores, restaurants and other licensed retail accounts through a transparent and accountable regulatory system. Distributors build brands of all sizes -- from familiar domestic beers to new startup labels and imports from around the world – and generate enormous consumer choice while supporting 135,000 quality jobs in their home communities. Beer distributors work locally to keep communities safe by sponsoring programs to promote responsible consumption, combat drunk driving and work to eliminate underage drinking.