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🔐 What You're Missing |
| | Among the varying theories behind beer’s continued declines is the belief that industry members have picked up bad business habits and are getting in their own way. That sentiment was shared by Bump Williams Consulting (BWC) founder and CEO Bump Williams in his latest monthly report, which gave a pointed reality check to an industry that he deems “lazy.” In today’s Brewbound Insider Newsletter and on Brewbound.com, Insiders are diving into Williams’ opinion and the 5 key pain points he believes are plaguing beer. Insiders are also reading about: Valentine’s Day sales in the on-premise compared to 2025; The Beer Institute’s new director of federal affairs; Additional people moves at Boston Beer and Molson Coors; A brewpub hermit-crabbing in D.C.; And which economic class will drive bev-alc sales growth over the next 5 years.
Insiders also have access to the Brewbound Newsletter Archive, including previous newsletter-exclusive Insider content. Become a Brewbound Insider today! Or, be in the know on all food and beverage news from Brewbound, BevNET and NOSH with Insider All Access. |
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📰 Today's Top Story |
| | | Festivus is still 9 months away, but there is already an airing of grievances among industry thought leaders before the end of Q1. The latest to share his list of “a lot of problems with you people” is Bump Williams Consulting (BWC) founder and CEO Bump Williams. Williams’ underlying message in BWC’s latest monthly report: The beer industry has gotten “lazy.” “It’s been an 18-year slow-burn of decline and now the lobster in the pot of cold water 18 years ago has turned bright red from the boiling water,” he wrote. Williams ID-ed 5 key “pain points” he believes the beer industry needs to address to reverse its momentum. Check them out |
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📊 Data Dive |
| | | More people went out to bars and restaurants to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year compared to 2025, according to the last on-premise report from market research firm NIQ, citing “CGA intelligence” data. On-premise velocity on Valentine’s Day (February 14) was up 24% YoY, NIQ reported. That growth was driven by a 30% YoY increase in traffic, which outweighed a 5% decline in average check value. Dive deeper |
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🤝 People Moves |
| | | The Beer Institute (BI) has tapped Chris MacArthur as its new director of federal affairs, the trade group announced Tuesday. MacArthur joins the BI from the office of Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) – who owns a hop farm and represents a district that includes Yakima Valley – where he served as a senior adviser. Read more |
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👀 ICYMI |
| | | Nearly 500 workers will lose their jobs with the closure of 38 BrewDog-owned pubs across the U.K. following Tilray’s acquisition of parts of the Scottish craft brewery, consultant firm AlixPartners shared in a press release. AlixPartners wrote: “No offer was made at any stage of the sales process, from any prospective bidder, which would have preserved BrewDog in its entirety. Regrettably, a total of 38 bars in the U.K. will close with immediate effect, leading to 484 redundancies.” Dig in further |
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📅 Save the Date |
| | The Brewbound team is heading to the New England Craft Brew Summit (Friday, March 6) in Portland, ME. We’ll be on the ground covering the latest news and conversations coming out of the event, as well as recording Brewbound Podcast On Location interviews. Here are a few ways to connect with us: Stop by Booth #3: Watch a podcast recording, grab a T-shirt and chat with the team. Share your news: Have updates from your brewery? We’d love to hear from you. Reach out to meet: Email us at podcast@brewbound.com if you want to catch up in Portland.
See you there! |
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👋 That's all for today's Brewbound Newsletter |
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