Thought leadership, data, and strategy for beverage brands and distribution partners.
Tech That Tastes Good: How Automation is Reshaping Beverage Sales in Chicago The beverage alcohol industry is undergoing a fundamental shift. Automation and digital tools—once considered optional—are now essential to how bars, restaurants, brands, and distributors operate. Rising labor costs, margin pressure, and changing consumer expectations have accelerated adoption across the on-premise, reshaping how beverage programs are built and how sales teams go to market. This isn’t about flashy tech. It’s about efficiency, data, and smarter execution. Why Automation Is Accelerating Across Hospitality Hospitality has always been a relationship-driven industry. But economics are now forcing operators…
In today’s competitive beer market, success hinges on more than just brewing great beer; it’s about strategically getting that beer into the right hands. Local beer marketing is the new advantage for breweries, enabling them to create real consumer demand in local bars, restaurants, and stores. By partnering with platforms like AppyHour, breweries can amplify their presence and enhance distributor relationships. Discover how focusing on local relevance, freshness, and targeted promotions can transform your brand’s visibility and drive sales. Ready to turn distribution into demand? Dive into actionable strategies that will keep your beer on tap and on shelves!
Packaging Innovation and Consumer-Driven Flexibility: How 2026 Trends Will Redefine Priorities in the Beer Industry By AppyHour® Industry Insights As breweries face tighter margins and rapidly shifting consumer tastes, one area has emerged as a decisive battleground in 2026: packaging. No longer merely functional, packaging now influences purchase decisions, sustainability positioning, and the economics of production. As a result, for suppliers, this shift means adapting to the realities of beer packaging trends 2026: more formats, faster changeovers, and materials that meet both marketing and environmental demands. The Consumer Push Toward Flexibility Today’s drinkers expect choice,…
Breweries are rethinking production lines, leaner, more efficient, and ready for 2026.
Brewing Through the Crunch: Why Leaner Is the New Normal. By AppyHour Industry Insights The beer industry has always been dynamic, but 2026 is shaping up as a reset year for breweries across the country. The numbers don’t lie: consumer demand is cooling, operating costs are rising, and many breweries are being forced to rethink their entire business model. For suppliers, this isn’t just background noise—it’s the context that defines how your brewery customers will make decisions moving forward. To thrive in this environment, suppliers must understand the realities breweries are facing and evolve alongside…
