Labeling system operator denies problems with retail beer sales

CRPT (operator of the state labeling system) does not confirm the information about the refusal of retail chains to accept draft beer. Brewing companies complained, that the problem arose on January 15, when stricter requirements for the transportation of draft beer by stores began to apply. It was alleged that retail chains refuse to sell beer, among other reasons, because the marking codes on kegs become unusable in the cold.

CRPT assures that it is not aware of a single example of a trade organization that refused to sell beer because of the labeling. The operator explained that codes on beer, which can be stored at temperatures below zero, “are applied with the same materials and on the same equipment as tires and ice cream,” which are stored in extreme cold. “All brewers have implemented (the beer labeling system.— “Ъ”) in full, nothing is known about the problems that arose at this stage,” says a press release from the CRPT received by Kommersant.

The X5 Group chain said that stores that sell draft beer “continued selling it as usual from January 15.” Magnit said that they do not expect any difficulties at the stages of introducing beer labeling. The Bristol convenience store chain said it had registered in the labeling system by January 15 and carried out all test operations.

According to retail audit NielsenIQ, the main packaging format in terms of sales volume in the beer market – plastic bottles – is losing ground. In 2023, sales of beer in PET containers decreased by almost 5% in volume terms, while the share of glass bottles and aluminum cans increased. Market participants explain the trend by the switch of consumers of inexpensive beer in plastic bottles to other alcohol and the growing demand for premium brands.

Details – in the material “Kommersant” “Beer is changing format”.

Laura Keffer