WINES, BEERS & CIDERS
How art thou brew?
Turning the challenges posed by shifting consumer demands into opportunities in the brewery industry can be difficult. Darryl Macdougall, managing director at Verder Pumps South Africa explains how having the right partner who can provide the best solutions suited to your specific needs can make it somewhat easier.
T
Even prior to the onset of the pandemic
eliminate any risk of contaminants during
and lockdown impacts, the brewery market
production are necessary for producers who
was becoming increasingly dense and
want to stay ahead of the variety trends.
Covid-19 pandemic began. The local alcohol
competitive. Over the last several years,
For example, throughout the production
industries have had a gruelling time over
there has been a growing number of micro
process, there are many areas where
the last two years due to the impacts of
and craft or artisanal players entering the
hygienic pumps with a modular design can
the lockdowns, bans and the subsequent
market. In turn, this has placed pressure on
be integrated, allowing for streamlined
restrictions on the sale of alcohol locally as
the industrial or mass producers to keep up
disassembly, cleanability and reassembly.
well as the reduced export trade volumes
with modern and shifting consumer tastes
and ongoing supply chain disruptions.
and corporate retail demands – from new
financially – and to turn the challenges
flavours, fashions and fads to low and non-
posed by shifting consumer demand into
market has not been immune to these
alcoholic beers, and focus being placed on
opportunities – processes must be reliable,
impacts, it should be noted that local brews
product quality and premiumisation. This
repeatable and error-free. Integrating
still prove to be significantly popular for
had led to modern facilities - from artisanal
the right equipment is critical to steering
local consumption and exportation. In fact,
to industrial or mass production facilities -
through the pandemic upheaval, sustainably.
market research indicates that the local
moving from having a dedicated production
The technical aspects of selecting the right
beer market was valued at $6.65 billion
line for each product to an innovative multi-
pumping solutions for specific applications
(calculated in retail prices) in 2014 – and
product line, which could be processing
can also be complex. Brewers, therefore,
has been forecast to reach $12.05 billion
several different liquids or flavours every day.
should look to a trusted and reputable
he world has changed at breathtaking speed in almost every sphere of human civilisation since the
However, and while the local brewery
(in retail prices) by 2024, at a CAGR of
However, the multi-product line approach
As the brewery industry seeks to recover
brand that can offer not only a wide range
5.48% per annum for the period 2019-
raises more challenges that every production
of pumping solutions, but solutions that are
2024. Interestingly, this forecast takes the
line manager will invariably face – such as
long-lasting, cost-effective and efficient –
impacts of the pandemic into account and
deciding how best to manage the transition
because they are 100% fit-for-purpose for
yet, the forecasted annual growth rate
from one product to another on the same
the application. •
for this period is only slightly decreased
line. Another potential hazard is cross-
when compared to the calculated growth
contamination, which can lead to spoiled
rate of about 6.97% per year, registered in
products, shorter shelf-life, production
2014 – 2018.
downtime and risks to employees during the
With this positive outlook of future market
cleaning process. Finally, a multi-product line
growth, local brewers are turning their
can increase the exposure risk to microbes,
attention to rethinking and restructuring
which present an ever-looming threat.
their plans from even 24-months ago,
So, at the heart of maintaining the highest
where maintaining business continuity and
hygiene standards across multi-product
sustainability in a far more competitive and
lines lies the careful selection of equipment.
changed-consumer market has become
Fit-for-purpose hygienic pumping solutions
more the order of the day.
that have been designed and built to
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May 2022 | FOOD REVIEW
Verder Pumps – www.verderliquids.com/za/en
