“We have had problems with loggerheads of all brands and with the lack of Carta Blanca. The bad thing about this is having to go to the shops where there is stock, especially on the weekend because that is when people buy the most and if I don’t have them, they go elsewhere, ”he says.
The lack of the drink made with barley is presented by region. A survey carried out by the National Alliance of Small Merchants (ANPEC), revealed that the north of the country is where there is a greater problem for the supply, and, in some cases, it is expected that the distribution of the different brands and presentations be regularized in three months.
Zacatecas and Guanajuato also register shortages. In Guerrero, where most of the coverage is from Grupo Modelo, shopkeepers who try to make purchases through the brewery group’s e-commerce find that there is no beer, says Cuauhtémoc Rivera, president of ANPEC, which takes it to the warehouses where they buy it at a higher price.
Why is there a beer shortage in Mexico?
Beer groups, soft drinks and other industries face the low availability of glass containers, to which are added the high costs of aluminum and cardboard. This situation, according to ANPEC, adds to the seasonality.
“In summer is when more beer is consumed, the demand increases in some places up to 100%”, explains Cuauhtémoc Rivera, president of ANPEC.
Both the lack of supplies and an increase in demand have led to the lack of certain presentations of the different Grupo Modelo and Heineken Mexico brands. Expansion consulted Grupo Modelo, Heineken and Cerveceros de México to discuss the shortage and lack of raw materials, but they were not available for comment as of press time.
The ANPEC representative insists on the importance of having a sufficient supply of beer. “It’s a powerful sales engine for a business,” he says. “A customer goes for beer, but ends up adding snacks, glasses and even charcoal (for the grill). That’s why it’s important to have a supply of beer,” he adds.
A small business with a license to sell alcoholic beverages has up to 50% more sales -sometimes more- for beer.