Global brewers are set to sell more beer this year after several quarters of declines, helped by factors from sports and slower inflation to weather patterns and a fading boycott.
Heineken, the world's No. 2 brewer, already reported its first quarterly volume growth in over a year in the three months to end-March. Rival Carlsberg also reported higher volumes after several quarters of decline.
Anheuser-Busch InBev, meanwhile, reported a smaller-than-expected drop in volumes on Wednesday. Its sales have been hit hard by a boycott of key US brand Bud Light, but the impact is now set to ease over a year after it started.
"Now we are past the anniversary of the Bud Light calamity, we expect organic volume and sales growth to improve," James Edwardes Jones, analyst at RBC Capital, said of AB InBev, referring to a backlash from conservatives over a social media promotion with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
Analysts on average expect the brewer to see a one per cent rise in volumes over the full year, according to a company-compiled consensus.
If AB InBev reports a return to volume growth in the second quarter, it will be its first since Q1 2023.
AB InBev CFO Fernando Tennenbaum said the company was already growing volumes in most of its markets, with only a handful driving the decline, including the US.
Brewers will also be boosted by a summer of sport, including the Paris 2024 Olympics and the 2024 European Championship football tournament.
Alongside potentially less of the extreme weather that dented sales last year, these events should support volumes even in mature beer regions like western Europe, Carlsberg chief executive Jacob Aarup-Andersen told journalists at the company's first-quarter results.
"We do expect positive volume growth going forward," he continued, adding Carlsberg would also benefit from rising sales in growth markets in Asia in particular.
Brewers' revenue growth in recent years has largely been driven by price increases. Volumes have fallen or seen only slow growth.
The companies were forced to hike prices rapidly to cover rising costs for everything from barley to aluminium, hitting the amount of beer they sold.
Now, those cost increases are set to ease and price rises should slow.
"Price increases have dominated as a source of growth in the last two years... We're now in a situation where we hopefully see volumes taking over as a revenue driver," said Berndt Maisch, a fund manager at Carlsberg investor Tresides Asset Management.
Maisch and Siphelele Mdudu, investment analyst at AB InBev investor Matrix Fund Managers, said these changing trends will also help margins.
Higher volumes help margins because brewers are utilising their capacity better, Maisch said. Even if brewers sell more of their lower priced beers, falling costs will help drive margin expansion, Mdudu added.
Overall, companies whose growth is based in price tend to be valued less highly by investors, Maisch continued. "We are, as investors, ready to pay higher multiples if we see volumes growing."
The resurgence of in-person shopping is set to continue into 2025, a new survey has revealed, as a generation of savvy, younger shoppers is breathing new life into brick-and-mortar retail stores.
According to the latest research by Lightspeed Commerce Inc., the one-stop commerce platform empowering merchants to provide the best omnichannel experiences, nearly eight in 10 Brits (79%) currently shop in physical stores, with four in 10 planning to increase their shopping on the high-street in the coming year.
The research has identified four key shopper trends that could impact the British high streets in 2025.
Gen Z
Gen Z are the most optimistic age group of the nation, with almost a quarter (24%) of Gen Zers spending more money now than they did 12 months ago, and with 28 per cent saying they make more impulsive purchases, thanks to social media.
#TikTokmademebuyit reigns true as it is the platform with the biggest influence in social purchases amongst this age group (59%), followed by Instagram (53%), and Facebook (24%). Nearly one in three (31%) of Gen Z respondents will be influenced by what they see on social media and subsequently head to the high street to find the item they’ve seen on social media.
AI-enhanced experiences
The research reveals a growing appetite for AI-powered shopping solutions among British shoppers, with 35 per cent identifying as a ‘Personal Shopper’. These consumers look for curated, brand-driven shopping experiences, and 32 per cent are comfortable with AI being integrated into their shopping experience.
Looking ahead to shopping in 2025, AI-powered personalised discounts top the list of what excites shoppers, with 39 per cent looking specifically for tailored promotions. Other in-store innovations, such as self-checkouts (41%), and virtual fitting rooms (26%) are also seen as a pull for tech savvy shoppers.
Preloved items
There’s a surge in secondhand goods, with those under-45 being the most likely group to shop for pre-loved or reconditioned items, primarily driven by cost-effectiveness (61%) followed by environmental concerns (35%). With recurring fashion trends and growing opposition to fast fashion, nearly a quarter (24%) of shoppers are now buying second-hand or refurbished goods, which is set to continue into 2025.
‘Deals Shopper’
70 per cent of consumers surveyed identify themselves as 'Deals Shoppers' meaning they actively seek out discounts, offers, and promotions, such as taking advantage of 2-for-1 deals (51%), switching retailers for better prices (39%), and waiting for sales (24%) before hitting the high street.
“It’s encouraging for retail businesses to hear that people are looking to shop in store next year, and even more exciting to know that they can make strides in converting business by taking steps to look at what ‘makes’ the shopper experience,” Liam Crooks, managing director of EMEA at Lightspeed, commented.
“From simple and easier AI powered tech, to personalised deals and offers to show they really know their customer, and understanding the motivations around ethical purchases, retail in the UK can once again thrive in 2025.”
Half of people believe that it is acceptable to steal food from a store in case of starving, a poll has found, highlighting the mixed attitudes of Britons towards shoplifting, with a majority saying it is excusable in some circumstances.
According to a recent YouGov poll of more than 2,000 adults, 51 per cent said it was acceptable to steal food if they were starving, but this fell to 40 per cent if they were simply short of money. About 30 per cent said it was acceptable to steal toiletries if they could not be afforded. This dropped to 20 per cent for clothes.
The survey found people were most narrowly split on the question of whether stealing baby products was acceptable if parents could not afford them; 44 per cent said it was acceptable and 47 per cent said it was not.
The latest annual survey by the British Retail Consortium found there were 16.7 million incidents of shoplifting in the 2023-24 financial year, equivalent to 45,750 every day. Retailers say shop theft adds 6p onto every transaction.
Less than half of cases reported are resolved- 56 per cent of cases lead to a suspect being identified and 17 per cent to a suspect being charged. Not to overlook the fact that the vast majority of offences are not recorded by police or reported to them.
The recent YouGov poll found a consensus on police’s response to the crime. Three quarters of the public said police dealt with shoplifting badly. Just 8 per cent said police were handling it well. Most people view shoplifting as a serious crime, with one in five describing it as “very serious”, although a quarter said they did not think it was serious.
There was a clear age divide in attitudes, with 93 per cent of those aged over 65 saying it was serious but only 30 per cent of 18-24 year olds agreeing.
This comes days after a House of Lords inquiry released its report highlighting that shoplifting was seriously under-reported and the problem so urgent that police forces needed to take “immediate action”. Retailers needed to be able to report crimes more easily and called on the government to introduce regulations to crackdown on online marketplaces where sellers are able to sell stolen goods anonymously. The report also said there should also be a focus on prevention, with more funding made available for rehabilitative programmes to halt prolific shoplifters who steal to fuel an addiction, for example.
For the second successive year TOVARITCH! Vodka is supporting Save the Children by supplying drinks to The Arora Ball, a major fund-raising event for the charity.
The event is on Saturday 9 November 2024 and is taking place at The Intercontinental London. Save the Children has been chosen as one of the beneficiary charities.
The Arora Ball was started by Surinder and Sunita Arora of The Arora Group and is a flagship event in the charity sector. The event is attended by some 800 guests. Since 2010, this annual event has raised millions of pounds for a variety of charities. Previously the event raised around £1million for charities.
TOVARITCH! has supported Save the Children since 2016 and consistently supported events since 2017 by providing various produce to serve to guests or to raise money. In one year, for example, the company donated a package that included its multi-award-winning vodka alongside its premium fresh caviar and a luxury mountain stay in St. Moritz, raising over £20,000 as a result.
“We are delighted to support such an important event in the charity calendar," said Eugenio Litta Modignani, CEO and founder of TOVARITCH! Vodka (owned by TSI SA)."Our brand name, TOVARITCH! translates as ‘friend’ and our ethos is based on creating supportive friendships wherever we can. We are therefore delighted to once again support this worthy cause.”
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners GB (CCEP) has reached a new milestone of providing seven million surplus soft drinks to food redistribution charity FareShare since 2017.
The milestone coincides with FareShare’s 30th anniversary and marks seven years of the partnership with the GB Coca-Cola bottler.
CCEP aims to maximise the impact of its surplus drinks, ensuring that products which might otherwise go to waste are instead diverted to support the many charities in FareShare’s network. Redistributing surplus drinks also aligns with CCEP’s wider sustainability target to reduce food waste in its operations by 50% by 2030 in GB. As a longstanding partner of FareShare,
CCEP’s donations have reached more than 7,000 charities and community groups. These include supporting over 500 homeless charities, and nearly 400 charities working with community groups supporting elderly people.
Beyond surplus stock donations, CCEP expanded its support for FareShare this year through a collaboration with Tesco. For every 24-pack of 330ml Diet Coke or Coca-Cola Zero Sugar cans sold, 20p was donated to FareShare – enough to redistribute one meal (as per WRAP’s guidance). The initiative raised £35,000, equivalent to 175,000 meals.
Looking ahead to Christmas, CCEP will partner with grocery and wholesale partners on further in-store promotions to boost awareness and donations for FareShare.
“At CCEP, we’re committed to giving back to the communities we work in, whether that’s through donating stock or our time, to help us deliver a more positive and meaningful impact in society," said Holly Firmin, Senior Community Partnerships Manager at CCEP.
“It’s fantastic to reach such a large milestone and especially to coincide with FareShare’s 30th birthday. I look forward to continuing this successful and important partnership for many years to come and helping those who need it most.”
Polly Bianchi, Chief Income and Engagement Officer at FareShare said: “We’re very grateful to Coca-Cola Europacific Partners for their support of FareShare over the last few years. Their generosity in providing seven million drinks that may otherwise have gone to waste has helped support the 8,000 charities and community groups across the UK, including older people’s lunch clubs and community centres, all working harder than ever to strengthen communities up and down the country.”
Keep ReadingShow less
Seema Misra (L-4) and Vijay Parekh (L-5) receive Ramniklal Solanki Editor’s Award at the 2024 Asian Trader Awards
Sub-postmasters and mistresses caught up in the Post Office Horizon scandal have been honoured at the 2024 Asian Trader Awards, conferring them with the Ramniklal Solanki Editor’s Award.
The Award, instituted in the memory of the founder of Asian Media Group and Asian Trader Ramniklal Solanki CBE, is presented to a person, or group of people, who have made an outstanding contribution the convenience retail sector.
Seema Misra and Vijay Parekh represented the postmasters at the event held on 5 November at London's Park Plaza Westminster Bridge hotel.
Wrongly convicted due to bugs in the Post Office's computer system, both Misra and Parekh were sent to prison in 2010 – Misra while two months pregnant. Their conviction finally overturned in 2021.
Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds attended as chief guest at the ceremony, which celebrated excellence in convenience retail across the UK. The event marked its 35th anniversary this year, continuing its tradition of recognising outstanding achievements in the sector.
Jonathan Reynolds speaks at the 2024 Asian Trader Awards
Speaking at the event, Shefali Solanki-Nair, associate publisher of Asian Trader, highlighted the crucial role of convenience retailers in local communities, amidst the many challenges facing the sector.
“With rising energy costs, inflation, and changes in taxation, many retailers are feeling the pinch more than ever. It’s a tough environment for convenience retailers who are already working with narrow margins while striving to offer exceptional service and products,” she said.
“These challenges are daunting, but the ability to adapt and innovate speaks volumes about retailer’s character and dedication.”
Noted impressionist Rory Bremner hosted the event, which also saw 16 retailers being honoured in different categories, including Shaan and Arshan Chaudry of Costcutter, Triple A Foodstore in Nuneaton, who won the top prize, Asian Trader of the Year.
Bestway Sher Depot, Kilbirnie Street, Glasgow won the Wholesale Depot of the Year award. Six new product launches from the last year, voted for by the retailers, were also feted.
The event also raised funds for Lepra, a charity that support people affected by leprosy.
Attendees at the 2024 Asian Trader Awards
Despite decades of selfless service running businesses that serve as local community hubs, the victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal endured extraordinary hardship.
The implementation of a new computer system turned hundreds of conscientious and hard-working retailers into criminals almost overnight. They were accused of theft and fraud, when it was actually the new software that was faulty.
Despite protestations of innocence, they have been slandered, abused, prosecuted, imprisoned, bankrupted and perhaps most hurtful of all, ignored – by the justice system, by the government and by the public, who had been kept in the dark about this greatest miscarriage of justice our country has ever seen.
Asian Trader and a handful of other publications shed light on this injustice, thanks to the bravery of our winners who continued to campaign in a David and Goliath battle as they took on one of the country’s largest organisations and the State itself.
Then, at the beginning of this year, an ITV drama series, Mr Bates versus the Post Office, finally stamped that tragic tale front and centre on the national consciousness, where it has remained.
Winners of the 2024 Asian Trader Awards
Winners List
Ram Solanki Award For Excellence in Convenience and Wholesale: Sub postmasters and mistresses caught up in the Post Office Horizon scandal
Product and Manufacturer Awards
Snack Brand of the Year: McCoy's Epic Eats (KP Snacks)
Soft Drinks Brand of the Year: Coca Cola Lemon (CCEP)
Confectionery Brand of the Year: Cadbury Starbar Duo (Mondelez International)
Vape and Next Generation Brand of the Year: Blu Bar Pod (Imperial Brands)
Lager, Beer and Cider Brand of the Year: Birra Moretti Sale di Mare (Heineken)
Grocery Brand of the Year: McVitie’s Signature (pladis)
Asian Trader Awards 2024
Responsible Retailer of the Year supported by Imperial Brands: Priyesh Vekaria, One Stop Carlton Convenience, Salford, Manchester
Wholesale Depot of the Year supported by Tilda: Bestway Sher Depot, Kilbirnie Street, Glasgow
Convenience Chain of the Year: Kashif Jaffar, Southern Co-op Bromham Stores, Bromham, Bedford
Best smokeless alternatives Retailer of the year supported by VELO: Prashant and Trupti Patel, One Stop Brockworth in Gloucester
Bakery Retailer of the Year supported by Warburtons: Jess Read and Gary Hunt, Budgens of Holt, Norfolk
Next Gen Award: Harman Puni, HP Convenience Premier, Chesterfield
World Food Retailer Award supported by Tropical Sun: Reji Thomas & Siddique Chenganakattil, Essentials Supermarket, Bedford
Independent Retailer of the Year supported by Booker: Jenarthen Saravanamuthu, Premier Rassau Stores, Ebbw Vale, South Wales
Food to Go Retailer of the Year supported by KP Snacks: Priyesh Patel, Londis, Stoke Newington, London
Spirit of the Community Award supported by Mondelez International: Amarjit Singh Rakhra, Budgens Pomeroy Street, London
Symbol Retailer of the Year supported by Bestway: Kersheaup Vagadia, Costcutter Kearsley, Bolton
Off Licence of the Year supported by Molson Coors (Cobra): Pradeep Thangaraj, Wine Rack, Bicester, Oxford
Impulse Retailer of the Year supported by pladis: Bharat Khunti, Shivom Convenience Go Local, Nuneaton
Tobacco Retailer Award supported by JTI: Suresh Arulanantham, My Costcutter Murco, Rye, East Sussex
Local Hero Award: Nathalie Kaur, One Stop Partick Convenience Store, Glasgow
Businesswoman of the Year supported by Philip Morris Ltd: Sue Nithyanadan, Costcutter, Epsom, Surrey
Asian Trader of the Year: Shaan and Arshan Chaudry, Costcutter, Triple A Foodstore, Nuneaton, Warwickshire