ATHLETIC BREWING CANNED NON-ALCOHOLIC BEER

With a lot of creativity and dedication, entrepreneurs in the brewing industry are more than demonstrating how the non-alcoholic canned beer segment, with thousands of followers, can become refreshed and surprising. One of those driving interest in non-alcoholic beer is Stratford, Connecticut-based Athletic Brewing Co.

Bill Shufelt, co-founder and CEO of Athletic Brewing, notes that as new players and veteran brands have expanded their non-alcoholic beer offerings, the beer segment has experienced massive growth. Growth that, according to Shufelt’s forecast, will continue to disrupt the market, in a good way.

“We believe non-alcoholic beer will represent 10% of the global beer market in five years and 20% in ten years. Non-alcoholic beer is the first credible growth driver for the beer category in 25 years. Athletic brewing is moving beer drinking occasions from very specific times of the day, Fridays and Saturdays, to being an any day, any time beverage,” the executive adds.

As Shufelt points out, consumers’ conscious decision to adopt mindful drinking has driven the market for non-alcoholic beer. “Over the past 12 months, we have seen significant growth and interest in the NA industry, with more millennials actively reducing their alcohol consumption, and those numbers are expected to increase again in 2022, as health and wellness remain top of mind for millions of Americans. And with non-alcoholic craft beer sales continuing to increase 100%, Athletic Brewing leads the market with more than 50% share (51%), far outpacing its competitors, as well as about 11% share of the overall non-alcoholic beer category in the U.S.,” notes the Athletic Brewing executive.

“Athletic Brewing came out of a real need in my life,” says Shufelt. “Our non-alcoholic beers are on par with high alcohol beers and consistently outperform them in national beer tasting competitions,” adds Shufelt.