Canned craft beers produced by South Korean breweries. (image: BGF Retails)
SEOUL, Feb. 10 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s craft brewers, which are now in a life or death situation due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, are urging the government to allow online sales of their craft beers.
The Korea Craft Brewers Association recently issued a statement urging the government to clear the way for online sales of craft beers to protect the survival of small craft brewers who are at the crossroads between life and death.
According to the association, sales at small craft brewers plunged after restaurants and bars, the main outlets for craft beers, were forced to either shut down or adopt restricted working hours due to the spread of the coronavirus.
The association added that last year’s growth in overall sales of craft beers was primarily driven by a limited number of large companies which were able to supply to retail channels such as convenience stores.
The association stressed that sales of small craft brewers plunged by 50 to 90 percent after the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that they are now moving heaven and earth to survive, taking a variety of drastic belt-tightening measures.
The association conducted a survey with 41 small craft brewers, of which 23 replied that they are now under restructuring, while implementing paid or non-paid leave.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
