Singapore: Singapore continues to be an important and growing Asian beer market

Singapore continues to be an important and growing Asian market, according Will Julius, managing director of Lion Brewery, one of Singapore’s first and largest craft breweries, according to a FoodNavigator Asia report.

The brewery, which also operates internationally, attributes the local craft beer scene’s vibrancy to an evolving appreciation for diverse and high-quality beer options among both consumers and bar owners.

It already has five core range beers available in both supermarket and retail and on-trade settings, as well as 20 to 25 other beers on tap at its own local brewery location.

Its beers have also successfully expanded their presence to five other international markets, comprising the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom (UK), Hong Kong, Macau, and Indonesia; and it also produces and exports from both Singapore and the UK.

However, Julius, expressed concerns about the restrictive practices of larger commercial beer companies in Singapore, alleging that some impose exclusive contracts on bars and hotels, which can hinder the entry of craft beer products into these venues. This not only makes it hard to supply these venues and sell products, but also reduces consumer awareness of craft products which is vital to supporting growth in the sector.

There also regulatory challenges facing craft beer in the country, says Julius, and Lion Brewery will continue to advocate for a more competitive market environment that would benefit the entire craft beer industry in the region.

Notwithstanding, Lion Brewery remains committed to contributing to the growth and diversification of the craft beer scene in Singapore, striving to overcome such regulatory and anti-competitive barriers to continue to bring innovative and high-quality products to consumers, says Julius.

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