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Beer Sales: The Importance of Imports

Imported beer drinkers are slightly less likely (80%) to know the kind of beer they are going to buy before going to a store, compared to those who drink domestic beer (85%), according to a Mintel International survey on imported beer. Conversely, imported beer drinkers are more likely to pick a store based on the availability of wide selections of beer (62%, vs. 53% for domestic beer drinkers).

CHICAGO — Imported beer drinkers are slightly less likely (80%) to know the kind of beer they are going to buy before going to a store, compared to those who drink domestic beer (85%), according to a Mintel International survey on imported beer.

Conversely, imported beer drinkers are more likely to pick a store based on the availability of wide selections of beer (62%, vs. 53% for domestic beer drinkers).

Meanwhile, women are about half (18%) as likely as men (35%) to drink imported beer.

Only one-third of import drinkers say they are “very loyal to a favorite brand of beer,” as opposed to 42% of domestic beer drinkers.

The survey also polled Hispanics about their beer-buying preferences.

Among the results:

  • Whites and Hispanics tie as the top groups of domestic beer consumers, and Hispanics are also the top consumers of imported brews (36%, vs. 26% average).

  • Twenty-four percent of Hispanics who drank imported beer in the past 30 days are likely to select a beer imported from their country of origin, compared to the average of 15% for all respondents who drank imported beer in the past 30 days.