UK: Craft beer keeps momentum in the UK

The craft beer boom has kept up momentum in the UK in the last 12 months, new data has shown.

A record £135 mln was spent in the category in the year to June, up 47 per cent from last year's total of £92 mln, according to Kantar Worldpanel.

This was on par with the 47 per cent increase in consumption recorded last year, when the boom got into full swing.

Growth in the category has accelerated swiftly since 2015, when spending rose just 13.5 per cent to £46 mln.

More people are now going hopping mad for the craze, not only spending more on specialist beers but drinking higher volumes too.

Over the past 12 months, British drinkers consumed 38 mln litres of craft beer, up 52 per cent on the year.

The fast-growing sector has become a target for more established companies, which are now snapping up British breweries.

Most recently, Beavertown sold a stake to Heineken to fund a new £40 mln brewery. Other notable sales include Camden Town Brewery to AB InBev, and London Fields Brewery to Carlsberg.

Meantime was also sold to AB InBev, but later sold on to Asahi.

Commenting on the fresh data, Meantime general manager Laura Edwards said: "As industry sales flourish, it’s clear that consumers’ love, knowledge and enjoyment of craft beer is extending from the pub to the home, as more people than ever look to enjoy a proper brew like Meantime. It’s fantastic that there’s more choice for beer drinkers than ever before.”

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