The Irish Brewers Association has welcomed new report, The Contribution Made by Beer to the European Economy, which reveals that the number of brewing companies in Ireland increased from 30 to 50 between 2013 and 2014, while employment in the sector also rose to 44,741.
The report, published by Europe Economics also shows that companies are responding to the opportunities, as well as the challenges, facing them by increasing investment, especially in product development.
It also says that the industry exported 2,807,000 hectolitres of beer in 2014, and that 64% of beer in Ireland is consumed "in the on-trade", meaning in restaurants and pubs.
As craft beer continues to be popular, microbrewery production is increasing, with 40% of Ireland’s microbreweries exporting to other markets.
Jonathan McDade, Head of the Irish Brewers Association commented, "The Irish beer industry is experiencing an exciting period of development, with 20 new brewing companies opening across Ireland between 2013 and 2014.
"As the report states, investment in product development is also up. These trends reflect an increasingly diverse beer sector, with more high-quality Irish beer products for consumers at home and abroad.
"This is having a knock on effect on employment, up by around 370 between 2013 and 2014 to almost 44,800 jobs."
Overall, the value added by the beer sector to the Irish economy was €1.72 billion in 2014. The report found that the beer industry’s contribution to government revenues increased from 2013 to 2014, with increases in excise duties and on-trade and off-trade VAT, in particular.
However, it also notes that beer production fell slightly between 2013 and 2014, which it says reflects conditions in international markets.
© 2016 - Checkout Magazine by Jenny Whelan.
