In this article, we discuss the top 20 beer companies in the world. To skip the detailed analysis of the beer industry, go directly to the Top 5 Beer Companies in the World.
According to Oxford Companion, beer is the third most popular beverage in the world. As we reported previously, the global beer market was valued at $600 billion and is expected to reach $747.7 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 1.9%. As for the beverage's global economic output, a World Wide Brewing Alliance 2022 report found that beer accounted for $555 billion of gross value-added contribution to the world's GDP in 2019. Additionally, the beer industry was also responsible for 23 million jobs worldwide. The report used 2019 metrics as it was considered a "normal year" since the 2020 pandemic caused the hospitality industry to shut down.
According to a Gallupreport, 35% of Americans prefer beer as their choice of beverage, compared to 31% and 30% who prefer wine and liquor, respectively. Resultantly, in recent years, there has been a significant expansion in the beer market in the U.S. Between 2016 and 2021, there was a 9.8% growth in the number of breweries in the country.
The Beer Industry Forecast
The Russia-Ukraine war caused the price of raw materials such as barley, CO2, and aluminum (for packaging) to skyrocket. Apart from that, wage inflation also had a negative effect on the industry as labor costs increased.
Craft beers were the most affected type of beer due to the hike in CO2 prices. The effect was notable enough as one of the top beer producers, Asahi Group Holdings, had to close its Dark Star Brewery due to below-capacity operations. Furthermore, in the UK, the CO2 surcharge increased from GBP 225 per tonne to GBP 1,540 per tonne in September 2022 as the country’s largest ammonia plant announced closure. Subsequently, beer companies have hinted increasing beer prices in the coming months. Recently, Heineken N.V. has increased its beer prices by over 15% in the UK due to “unprecedented cost increases.”
Despite the adverse events of the previous year, the beer industry has growth opportunities owing to the latest no/low alcohol consumption trend. According toIWSR, no/low alcohol beverages are expected to grow at a CAGR of over 7% between 2021 and 2025. As beer covers 90% of the no/low alcohol beverage consumption in 10 central markets, the growth of the beer industry is expected to skyrocket.
After analyzing the beer industry, we believe that Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD), Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO), and Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP) are some of the notable beer stocks that investors should keep an eye on.
Top 20 Beer Companies in the World
Pixabay/Public Domain
Our Methodology
We carefully analyzed the global beer market and the companies involved in the sale and production of beer. We chose top 20 companies based on their revenue.
Top 20 Beer Companies in the World
20. Bell's Brewery, Inc.
Revenue in 2022: $111.5 million
Bell's Brewery, Inc. is an American craft brewing company. It is a craft beer brewery in Michigan and has distribution in 43 states. The company’s most famous beers include Hopslam Ale, Oberon Ale, and Two Hearted Ale. Bell’s Brewery employs over 500 people.
19. Stone Brewery
Revenue in 2022: $630 million
Stone Brewery was founded in 1996 by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner. Currently, the company has production facilities in California and Virginia. Stone Brewery is available in 50 states of the US and is also sold in over 40 countries.
18. Olvi Oyj (OLVAS.HE)
Revenue in FY 2022: €583.7 or $632.2 million (€1 = $1.08)
Olvi Oyj (OLVAS.HE) is a Finland-based manufacturer of beers and non-alcoholic beverages. It is Finland’s largest beverage company. In 2022, Olvi Oyj (OLVAS.HE) experienced a sales volume growth of 12% and crossed the 900 million liters sales mark for the first time at 956 million liters. On top of that, the company’s net sales experienced a 26.3% growth in the year and a significant part of it was accounted for by its new facilities in Denmark and Latvia.
17. Royal Unibrew A/S (RBREW.CO)
Revenue in FY 2022: $1.6 billion
Royal Unibrew A/S (RBREW.CO) is a Danish brewing company that also manufactures and sells soft drinks. In 2022, the company’s beverage sales volume increased by 9% to 13.4 million hectoliters. Moreover, Royal Unibrew A/S (RBREW.CO) experienced 31% of revenue growth. The company’s products are sold in over 70 countries and its most famous brands include Ceres, Albani, Thor, Karlens, and Royal.
16. HITEJINRO Co., Ltd. (000080.KS)
Revenue in FY 2022: KRW2.5 trillion or $1.92 billion (KRW 1 = $0.00077)
HITEJINRO Co., Ltd. (000080.KS) is a South Korean manufacturer of beers, wines, whiskeys, and other alcoholic beverages. The company is the largest producer the soju, and its brand, Chamisul is one of the most popular liquors in the world. The company’s soju exports in 2022 hit a record high of $120 million.
15. Distell Group Holdings Limited (OTC:DSTZF)
Revenue in FY 2022: R34.1 billion (1 South African Rand = $0.055)
Distell Group Holdings Limited (OTC:DSTZF) is a South African brewing company. The company is expected to be acquired by Heineken N.V. by April 2023. Heineken first announced its plan to acquire Distell Group Holdings Limited (OTC:DSTZF) in November 2021.
Distell Group Holdings Limited (OTC:DSTZF)’s fiscal year 2022 ended on June 31, 2022. At that time, the company generated a revenue of 34.1 billion South African Rand, which was equal to around $2 billion at that time.
The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE:SAM) is an American manufacturer and seller of alcoholic beverages and was founded in 1984. The company offers over 50 styles under its flagship product, Samuel Adams beer. The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE:SAM) mainly operates in the United States. However, its brands are also sold in Canada, Mexico, Europe, Israel, the Caribbean, the Pacific Rim, Australia, New Zealand, and Central and South America.
On March 22, the firm Bernstein implied that The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE:SAM) may be acquired by Heineken N.V. (HEIA.AS), which led to the company’s share price increasing by 1.5% on the day.
Revenue in FY 2022: CLP 2.711 Trillion or $3.4 billion (CLP 1 = $0.0012)
Compañía Cervecerías Unidas S.A. (NYSE:CCU) is a Chilean food and beverages company. Across Latin America, the company has operations in Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Peru. Compañía Cervecerías Unidas S.A. (NYSE:CCU) is Chile’s largest brewer.
Apart from selling its own brands, Compañía Cervecerías Unidas S.A. (NYSE:CCU) has licensing and joint-venture agreements with several notable brewers such as Heineken N.V. (HEIA.AS), Anheuser-Busch Inc., and Guinness Brewery along with some others.
12. Anadolu Efes Biracilik ve Malt Sanayii Anonim Sirketi (AEFES.IS)
Revenue in FY 2022: TL $90.5 billion or $4.7 billion (TL 1 = $0.052)
Anadolu Efes Biracilik ve Malt Sanayii Anonim Sirketi (AEFES.IS), or Efes Beverage Group, is a Turkish beer, malt, and non-alcoholic beverages producer and marketer. It is the largest alcohol-selling company in Turkey, covering over 80% of the country’s market share. On top of that, it is also a franchise holder of The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) in Turkey.
11. Tsingtao Brewery Company Limited (OTC:TSGTY)
Revenue in FY 2022: $4.86 billion
Tsingtao Brewery Company Limited (OTC:TSGTY) is China’s second-largest brewer and accounts for nearly half of the country’s beer exports. In addition, its flagship Tsingtao beer is the second most consumed beer in the world.
Tsingtao Brewery Company Limited (OTC:TSGTY) was founded in 1903 by German and British merchants and has multiple headquarters in different cities in China.
10. China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited (0291.HK)
Revenue in FY 2022: CNY 35.26 billion or $5.13 billion (CNY 1 = $0.15)
China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited (0291.HK) is a subsidiary of the state-owned China Resources Holdings Company Limited. In 2011, it bought the largest beer company in China, CR Snow.
For FY 2022, China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited (0291.HK) reported revenues of CNY 35.26 billion which is close to USD 5.13 billion as of March 27.
Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) is a New York-based beer, spirits, and wine manufacturing company. The company is also setting its foot in the recreational and medical cannabis industry. As of 2022, Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ)’s portfolio includes over 100 brands and its most famous beer brands are Corona, Modelo Especial, Negra Modelo, and Funky Buddha.
In 2022, Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) reported revenue of $9.557 billion, a 10.22% increase from $8.821 billion generated in the previous year.
8. Carlsberg A/S (CARL-B.CO)
Revenue in FY 2022: DKK 70.265 billion or $10.2 billion (1 DKK = $0.14)
Carlsberg A/S (CARL-B.CO) is a Danish brewing company. It is listed on the Copenhagen stock exchange with the ticker symbol CARL-B.CO. The company sold 102.4 million hectoliters of beer in 2022, compared to 98.8 million in the prior year. Moreover, the company also reported a 16.6% revenue growth YoY in 2022.
Including its flagship beer brand with the same name, Carlsberg A/S (CARL-B.CO) owns over 140 beer brands and sells its beer in over 100 countries.
Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP) was a result of a merger between the Adolph Coors Company and Molson, Inc., becoming one of the largest North American beer companies. It sells its products in over 100 countries. In 2022, the company generated a revenue of $10.701 billion, 4.1% up from the previous year’s $10.28 billion.
Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP) has two headquarters in the U.S., one in Colorado and the other in Illinois. Its other North American headquarters is in Québec, Canada.
Around 80% of Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP) is owned by institutional investors.
6. Pernod Ricard SA (OTC:PRNDY)
Revenue in FY 2022: €10.7 billion or $11.6 billion (€1 = $1.08)
Pernod Ricard SA (OTC:PRNDY) is a French company that manufactures and sells alcoholic beverages. It is headquartered in Paris and sells its products in over 160 countries. Pernod Ricard SA (OTC:PRNDY) is most famous for its aniseed-flavored beverages.
Pernod Ricard SA (OTC:PRNDY)’s portfolio consists of 240 different brands and its Malibu® Beer was launched in 2015 and has grown over 300% since then in the Netherlands. In April 2017, it was named the best beer of the month by Beverage Industry in the US.
