Channel Check

Spotlight Category: IMPORTED BEER

52 Weeks through 7/10/2011

Interesting look at imports for what this summary doesn’t say: that small craft imports are helping drive a slight recovery for the category (see our Brewbound report in this issue for more details on that trend). While this shows a less than 2 percent improvement over the last year, in 2010 overall imports bloomed by 5 percent. Stella Artois, driven by lots of marketing, is finally starting to make headway, cracking the top 10. Also note the continued strength of chase pack of Mexican brands like Modelo Especial. Ain’t that special!