Global beer consumption topped 182.69m kilolitres in 2010, a rise of 2.4% on the previous year, according to Japanese brewer Kirin Holdings.
It sounds even more impressive when put into English - it works out at 329bn pints - or 47 pints a year for every man, woman and child on the planet. Little wonder then that barley supplies are so tight, so to speak.
It’s good news for UK producers. Between July and November, DEFRA reckons brewers, distillers and maltsters used almost 731,000t of barley, 6% higher than the previous year. And malting barley prices remain firm, up around €15/t on September levels and about €73/t above feed barley, reflecting concern over EU supplies this season.
Meanwhile, the latest USDA figures show world barley trade is set to rise by 0.2m tonnes to 16.32m tonnes in 2011/12.
Agricultural supply and specialist retail business Wynnstay Group has revealed its strongest ever set of annual results for the year ending 31 October 2011.
The group has achieved a 42% rise in turnover to £346.18m, driven by increased volumes and contributions from two recent acquisitions - Yorkshire-based Woodheads Seeds in May 2010 and Shropshire’s Wrekin Grain in May 2011. Pre-tax profits increased from £5.88m in 2010 to £6.85 in 2011.
The former co-operative based in Llansantffraid, Mid-Wales, is still farmer controlled with 50% of the company’s 3,804 shareholders being farmers and the remainder outside investors and staff.
“You can win ... you can grow
you can be one of the food industry’s great success stories,” was the positive message from Joanne Denney-Finch to producers at Quality Meat Scotland’s conference this week.
IGD’s research showed that farmers were viewed as hardworking, down to earth, professional and vital to the future, said chief executive Ms Denny-Finch.
“I find farmers are usually very pleasantly surprised to discover just how staunchly they’re supported by the public!”
But shoppers hunting harder for deals create complications for retailers and their suppliers, she warned. “Demand is going up and down in waves
sales are harder to predict and profit margins are regularly squeezed.
“Red meat has been relatively less affected and you’ve been spared some of these problems although you could lose out on sales. So if not through price cutting promotions
you will need to keep finding other ways to grab attention and convince shoppers of the value you offer.”
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