Craft beer’s scan data woes continue in the latest report from market research firm Circana. Brewbound Insiders are getting all the details courtesy of managing editor Jessica Infante, who compared YTD and L4W data for the top 30 craft brands. Only 5 brands are growing at a higher rate as the summer approaches. 

Insiders are also:

• Finding out what Ball Corp. CEO Daniel W. Fisher wants the beer industry to do to help boost can sales;
• Learning about BrewDog’s tough road in the U.S.;
• Checking out a new party-centric app from Instacart;
• And taking a peek at Corona’s sunny innovations.

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The craft segment’s dollar sales and volume declines have accelerated to start the second quarter, traditionally the lead-up to beer’s all important summer selling season, according to the most recent off-premise report from market research firm Circana.

In the L4W through April 20, craft’s dollar sales and volume, measured in case sales, declined 6.3% and 7.2%, respectively, at multi-outlet grocery, mass retail and convenience stores (MULO+C). Those metrics mark an acceleration from the segment’s YTD trends, down 4.9% and 6%, respectively. 

Losses were most acute in grocery, where craft over-indexes (No. 3 segment overall behind domestic premium and import) compared to c-stores (No. 6 segment overall). In grocery stores, craft’s dollar sales declines accelerated to 7.8% in the L4W (versus -6% YTD) and volume losses accelerated to 8.1% (versus -6.8% YTD).

Insiders can read more about how the top 30 craft brands fared and check out which brands broke through in grocery and c-stores.

Ball Corp. chairman and CEO Daniel W. Fisher has once again called on major beer manufacturers to deploy “more aggressive pricing” strategies to “push volume,” suggesting those strategies have worked for energy drink companies and other NA beverage producers.

“Non-alcoholic, in general, there's been enough innovation in that segment, along with more constructive pricing to drive volume,” Fisher said during Ball’s 2025 Q1 earnings report, echoing similar sentiments made on earnings calls last year. 

“You haven't seen that on the beer side.”

Brewbound Insiders can go deeper into Ball’s financial results and strategies, including just how much per can tariffs will amount to per can, the wildcard in the tariff strategy and a new home for the aluminum cup business. 

Under new leadership for the first time in more than a decade, the Brewers Association (BA) is “relentlessly focused on members and what their needs are,” CEO and president Bart Watson said last week.

Watson spoke to members of the beer-centric media during the BA’s annual Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) in his first press event since taking the helm in January of the largest trade group representing small and independent brewers. 

Insiders can read more from Watson about the BA’s priorities, CBC attendance, the evolution of craft and the playing field with hemp beverages.