Sporting chance
Beer and football go together like £10 Champagne and footfall, so there is no better time to promote world beers than the impending World Cup.
During the 2010 World Cup beer and cider sales were 34% higher than average (IRI, four weeks to July 2, 2010) and lager was the main driver of this.
Four years later the greatest tournament on the planet returns to its spiritual home in Brazil, and more than 20 million Brits are expected to regularly tune in throughout June as Steven Gerrard and co compete with the might of Spain, Argentina, Germany and the host nation in a bid to capture the famous trophy.
Budweiser is the tournament’s official beer sponsor and has a range of limited-edition SKUs and a broad marketing campaign.
UK marketing manager Jennifer Anton says: “While football brings out regional pride and fierce rivalries, it also brings fans across the globe together once every four years through shared passion.
“Our Rise As One campaign will excite fans here at home to come together to celebrate, whether at a viewing party in a local bar or a party with friends at home.”
But Budweiser’s monopoly of the above-the-line marketing hasn’t stopped rivals ensuring they cash in.
Heineken will be aggressively promoting the likes of Kronenbourg 1664, Foster’s and its eponymous lager, and Craig Clarkson, category and trade marketing director, says: “The World Cup is the godfather of all televised tournaments and is expected to be viewed by 60% of UK adults – 24 million people – this summer, 83% of whom will watch it in their home with friends and family [HIM 2010 World Cup survey], significantly increasing the number of at-home food and drink consumption occasions.
“For retailers, the World Cup offers a key trading opportunity that comes just once every four years but, just like the teams that compete in Brazil for the coveted trophy, retailers will need to produce a world-class performance to emerge as winners.
“As the nation’s favourite sport, football can bring a marked uplift in the number of shoppers looking to purchase products to drink at home while they watch televised matches. Attracting a loyal following of fans who love to watch matches together, the beautiful game presents retailers with a significant opportunity to increase sales this summer.”
Graham Archibald at Morgenrot believes the distributor is ideally placed to capitalise on the World Cup because its portfolio includes beers from strong footballing nations. “When it comes to the football, it’s advantageous to offer beers from nations which are expected to do well at the tournament as opposed to stocking beers from every obscure country,” he says.
“To this end, we expect to see a keen interest in our Spanish brand Alhambra, German brand Krombacher and Argentinian brand Quilmes.”
Another distributor, which is conveniently named World Beers, has launched two Brazilian beers from brewery Amazonia into the UK off- trade.
Managing director Peter Karsten said: “There is a host of brilliant sporting events this year which I am sure the off-trade will be licking their lips about. With the Commonwealth Games, the football in Brazil, the cycling or even the Ryder Cup, we are spoilt for choice – so let’s just hope we get some good weather as well.
“To compete against the multiples, independent off-licences have to look to offer a point of difference rather than just price promotions.
“We have recently launched two beers from Brazil’s leading craft brewery, Amazonia, to take advantage of the sport-filled summer and consumer trend for craft. The two beers are premium quality, perfect for summer, beautifully packaged and tap into a real consumer trend for unique and creative brews.
“With the Commonwealth Games and the World Cup adding international flair to summer, we are excited about the beer’s prospects and feel it will see strong interest in the off-trade as the summer hots up.”
Be a competitor: beers to stock from each of the nations taking part in the World Cup
Algeria: Tango
Argentina: Quilmes
Australia: Foster’s
Belgium: Stella Artois, Duvel, Chimay
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Nektar
Brazil: Brahma, Amazon
Cameroon: 33 Export
Chile: Cristal
Colombia: Aguila
Costa Rica: Imperial
Croatia: Karlovako
Ecuador: Club
England: Carling, Nobel, Camden
France: Kronenbourg 1664
Germany: Holsten, Beck’s
Ghana: Star
Greece: Mythos
Honduras: Port Royal
Iran: Non-alcoholic beer
Italy: Peroni, Moretti
Ivory Coast: Flag, Mamba
Japan: Asahi
Mexico: Corona, Sol
Netherlands: Heineken, Amstel, Grolsch
Nigeria: Star, Gulder
Portugal: Sagres
South Korea: Cass, Hite
Spain: San Miguel, Alhambra
Switzerland: Cardinal
Russia: Baltika
Uruguay: Patricia
US: Budweiser, Miller Genuine Draft
