The topic is very topical both because during the summer the consumption of beer grows strongly, and because also in Italy the number of artisanal beer admirers is growing exponentially. Micro-breweries is therefore a topic of great interest, in particular for operators in the agricultural world , given that the craft production of beer has increasingly close links with agricultural activity. It is no coincidence that in recent years, in this sector, national and regional regulations have favored small producers, especially those who use self-produced agricultural raw materials.
It is therefore on this issue that the new and exhaustive Veneto Agriculture report focuses (available here: https://bit.ly/3mcw4CA) which in practice takes stock of the " beer " product, its main nutritional and health aspects. and regulations, but above all it deals with the production aspects in detail, providing a considerable amount of data and information that outlines the framework at national and regional level. The focus is based on a direct survey conducted by Veneto Agricoltura on a representative sample of Venetian artisanal beer producers. Let's see in summary what emerged.
The sector in figures
At the end of 2020, 128 companies were active in this sector in Veneto. 37% are breweries, while brew pubs, i.e. places that produce and sell beer directly, and beer firms, i.e. companies that produce their own brand beer but use third-party plants, in both cases represent 12 %. A surprising fact concerns agribirrifies, that is, those beer producers who are also agricultural entrepreneurs as they self-produce a part of the raw materials used. This group represents almost 39% of the realities active in the Veneto; this is a truly surprising percentage, considering that these entrepreneurs make over 60% of the craft production of beer in the Veneto region. On the basis of the data collected by the regional agency, it is estimated that overall the lot of the Veneto micro breweries is worth about 100 thousand hectoliters of beer, for a total turnover of 100 million euros, with good prospects for further development and growth.
Companies and entrepreneurs
In Veneto, the micro-breweries sector is mainly made up of joint-stock companies (40%), mostly run by two or three partners, and to a lesser extent by sole proprietorships (about 31%) or partnerships (29%) . The owners or partners of craft beer companies are predominantly male (84.8%), given that women represent only 15.2%. The average age of brewing entrepreneurs is relatively low (45 years): 29% are under 39 years old and 33% are between 40 and 50 years old. Their education is medium-high, with over 50% having a high school diploma and more than 30% also having a degree. Overall, it is estimated that the craft beer production sector in Veneto employs almost 500 employees, 62% full-time, 27% part-time and about 11% seasonal.
Venetian beers
The production range is wide and diversified: most of the artisanal realities produce three or more different types of beer. However, in quantitative terms, almost three quarters of production consists of low fermentation (41% of the total) and high fermentation (33%) light beers; red beers (amber) make up 17.5% of production while dark or special beers are residual.
The market
To date, Veneto's micro-breweries are mostly aimed at the regional (55%) and national (40%) markets, while the share destined for export is less than 5%. Although almost all producers sell beer in their direct sales point or through the ho.re.ca channel, the main outlet channel for Venetian craft beer is still that of wholesalers / distributors. If on the one hand this indicates that the dimensions reached by the Venetian producers are quite considerable, on the other hand it follows a penalty in terms of retractable added value, which is inevitably contracted due to the increase in the rings and passages along the production chain. To overcome this aspect, an increasing number of producers are equipping themselves with a company " tap room ", where consumers can sip and taste the product before buying it.
Lights and shadows
From the Veneto Agriculture report it emerges that in recent years the regional sector of craft micro breweries has unfortunately also recorded some critical issues, highlighted by the fact that new openings decrease while closures increase. The competitive arena is therefore starting to be too crowded, while bureaucratic constraints and strong competition are of great concern to operators. A concrete simplification of regulations and bureaucracy, greater public support and tax incentives are instead the interventions that are most requested. However, sector operators are continuing to invest, in particular in the expansion of production plants, but also in communication and visibility tools (websites) and innovating the product range and sales methods (e-commerce).
Ultimately, the report argues that in the Veneto the business of craft micro breweries still represents a good investment opportunity and that the entrepreneurial skills and production structures of the operators are adequate to face it with a good chance of success, so much so that most of the operators sees good if not excellent prospects for the development of their business in the near future.
