Even before the pandemic, breweries, can packagers and distributors and manufacturing plants have been stretched thin as aluminum cans gained recognition as the superior beverage format. Coca Cola was out for 3 weeks. The U.S. has been facing an aluminum can shortage caused by the pandemic for months, and local breweries are still being impacted. By Royce Jones August 2, 2020 at 11:33 pm. READY-TO-DRINK, CANNED COCKTAILS BOOMING WITH BACARDI. It’s a pretty tricky time to even operate if you can’t even plan for the future.”, Anheuser-Busch North America CEO on growth of Bud Light Seltzer, alcohol sales amid COVID pandemic, Jamie Dimon sees COVID-19 relief, vaccine fueling American rebound this summer, Top House Dem pressures hotel, travel companies to deny service to 'extremists' ahead of inauguration, Defiant gym not deterred by NJ seizing funds amid coronavirus lockdown battle, Today's mortgage rates stay below 3% for 14 consecutive week | January 15, 2021, Today's mortgage refinance rates crawl upward | January 15, 2021, Here’s how much debt the average American has — and how to pay it off. The shortage of cans has been building up for a number of years but pandemic lifestyle trends have only exacerbated the recent growth in demand. A nationwide shortage of aluminum cans has sent breweries into a frenzy. Over the decade, craft brewers gradually moved away from the bottle fad to embrace the freshness and sustainability that cans allow. A good chunk of those popular brands are based in Mexico, where non-essential breweries have closed as the country continues to battle the pandemic. “We are going into a holiday season, which is one of the most important seasons for us, at a big risk of having empty shelves at retail,” Eric Ottoway, Brooklyn Brewery general manager and co-owner, told FOX Business. I have maybe a couple pallets left and after that I don't know what I'm gonna do. Brett Trump, the CFO of Free Will Brewing Co. in Pennsylvania told WFMZ: "I cannot get 12-ounce cans at all and it's hurting us. An aluminum can shortage has reportedly started to impact the beer industry. Unlike bottles, aluminum cans limit exposure to both light and oxygen, keeping the liquid inside fresh and flavorful for longer. The coronavirus crisis is causing an aluminum can shortage as lockdowns accelerate demand for packaged food and drinks, The Wall Street Journal reported last … Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Some breweries are expecting to run out of inventory as near as the holiday season. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. The sound of popping open a fresh, cold can of beer may become more and more rare for some Michigan breweries. But if you’ve noticed that you there are fewer options to choose from in the beer aisle these days, there’s a reason for that: An aluminum can shortage. Oct. 8, 2020 at 2:06 p.m. UTC A nationwide shortage of cans is the latest threat to craft beer. See why nearly a quarter of a million subscribers begin their day with the Starting 5. Prior to Covid, lead times for introducing a new can have increased from about eight weeks to 24 weeks, according to Brooklyn Brewery’s Ottoway. Now, the amount of available capacity has been pushed to its limits, dismantling supply chains. According to the Can Manufacturers Institute (who knew that was a thing), the can industry is experiencing a shortage due to “unprecedented demand” in aluminum cans right now. Recycled aluminum cans are seen at the Norcal Waste recycling facility July 11, 2003, in San Francisco. Other beer brands have been absent from shelves but not because of an aluminum can shortage. Quite a few brands have seen shortages, including Modelo, Corona, Coors Light, and Dos Equis, according to Forbes . The most logical candidate is Mexico, from where aluminum cans can be exported without being subject to tariffs. To continue reading login or create an account. In light of uncertainty, canned beverages have instead made for a safer bet, allowing businesses to meet demand for to-go sales, as well as align with preservation mechanisms. There’s a limited supply of aluminum cans to put the beer in. 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