Beer bottles meet growing brewery demand
While bars, restaurants and pubs remain closed in many countries, growing beer sales via doorstep deliveries, online orders and retail sales have created increased demand for glass packaging. According to a survey by the Society of Independent Brewers, in the UK alone, beer sales have slumped by 82% since the start of lockdown but glassmakers like Beatson Clark have seen growing demand for their products.
The South Yorkshire company is concentrating on producing its 330ml amber 1907 beer bottle, which is considered ideal for local and international breweries.
“Our 1907 beer bottle is a very popular design and is used by many well-known breweries” said Charlotte Taylor, Marketing Manager at Beatson Clark. “It’s important to maintain the production and supply of food, beverages and pharmaceutical products during the Covid-19 crisis and to do that, producers need packaging. That’s why we took the decision to keep our glassworks running and to put in place stringent health and safety measures to protect our staff while they carry out their work.”
The SIBA report found that 70% of craft breweries are offering new delivery or takeaway services to keep the beer flowing and around 61% of breweries are offering free delivery.
Meanwhile over half of craft breweries (55%) say they have seen an increase in online beer sales.
A number of breweries and cider makers that use Beatson Clark’s bottles are seeing an increase in online sales, including Dunkertons Cider, Saltaire Brewery and BrewDog. Dunkertons Cider in Gloucester has seen a 1100% increase in sales of bottled cider, advertised via social media and through the company’s online shop, while Saltaire Brewery has introduced a delivery service for its beers across West Yorkshire using Beatson Clark’s 330ml and 500ml amber bottles.
The brewery reports that the delivery service has been so successful it may continue deliveries if there is still demand even after the lockdown is lifted.
Meanwhile BrewDog, a longstanding customer of Beatson Clark, has also reported an increase in online sales since the start of the lockdown.
