华润啤酒总裁赵春武：啤酒要由“大”变“小”

Core Viewpoint - The beer market is not shrinking significantly despite the reduction in bottle sizes and the closure of breweries, as evidenced by stable sales figures and the performance of major players like China Resources Beer [1][3] Group 1: Market Trends - The capacity of beer bottles has decreased from 500ml to smaller sizes like 330ml and 250ml, indicating a shift in consumer preferences [1] - National Bureau of Statistics data shows that major beer producers sold 19.04 million kiloliters of beer in the first half of the year, with a year-on-year decline of only 0.3% [1] - Beer consumption has remained stable, with annual sales fluctuations of less than 1% in recent years [1] Group 2: Company Performance - China Resources Beer reported a revenue of 23.9 billion yuan in the first half of the year, a 0.8% increase year-on-year, and a net profit of 5.78 billion yuan, up 23% [3] - The company achieved a 2% increase in sales volume, reaching approximately 6.5 million kiloliters, despite a slight industry-wide decline [3] - For the first time, China Resources Beer surpassed Budweiser APAC in revenue and profit in the Asia-Pacific market [3][4] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Budweiser APAC experienced a significant decline in revenue and profit, with a nearly 10% drop in sales in China, which is much worse than the industry average [4] - Other beer companies like Yanjing Beer and Chongqing Beer showed varying performance, with Yanjing's net profit increasing by 45% [4] Group 4: Strategic Shifts - The beer industry is shifting from a focus on large single products to catering to niche, diverse, and premium consumer demands [2][3] - China Resources Beer is leveraging data to better understand consumer preferences, allowing for quicker product development and adaptation [9] - The rise of regional beer brands is linked to cultural confidence and consumer loyalty, with some brands experiencing significant sales growth [9][10] Group 5: Retail Dynamics - The proportion of beer sales through retail channels has increased, with retail now accounting for 60% of sales, while the share from dining channels has decreased [10][12] - The company is capitalizing on the opportunities presented by new retail formats, contrasting with Budweiser APAC's struggles in the dining sector [10][12]