Beer sales plummet during coronavirus lockdown

Dutch brewing company Heineken said global sales have slumped by 14% in March and the company are expecting sales to fall even further over the next three months.

As a result of the global lockdown beer volumes have plummeted by 2.1% overall in the first quarter.

On Tuesday, an industry sector expert claimed the UK pub sector could be hit by a “bloodbath” and a third of the sector are at “risk” if lockdown measures last until Christmas.

Chief executive of UK Hospitality, Kate Nicholls, has called on the government for intervention “as a matter of urgency.”

She told the Treasury Select Committee some pub landlords are facing legal action as they are unable to pay their rent.

This comes as Michael Gove said last week that pubs will be the last businesses to re-open once lockdown measures are reduced.

The government have introduced a lease forfeiture mortarium for three months to prevent people being kicked out.

Nicholl said this is not taking any effect “across a large swathe of the hospitality industry.”

She said that “many pubs are seeing the first threats of winding up petitions being waved around,” where they have missed rent payments.

Earlier this month, Corona beer production has been suspended due to the global coronavirus pandemic, the Mexican brewer, Grupo Modelo announced.

Grupo Modelo said they made the decision as the government have deemed their business activities as non-essential.