Germany: Warm weather and FIFA World Cup cause supply problems in breweries

Unusually warm weather in central and northern Europe in May and the first half of June and consumer's higher stockpiling of beer in view of the starting FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia has created supply bottle necks in many breweries across Germany. Leading breweries like Krombacher, Veltins and ABInBev’s Spaten-Franziskaner reported up to six hours waiting time for beer trucks before being loaded. Others like Maisel or Andechser had to slash available products because of shortages.

The situation is aggravated by the fact that the booming German economy has nearly eradicated unemployment in the country. Forwarding companies are in urgent need of truck drivers. One beverage wholesaler in the south of Germany has already placed radio adverts to find qualified staff.

As it looks like now, only rainy weather or an early exit of the current football world champion Germany can save the escalating situation. Neither German football fans nor the German breweries hope for one of the two solutions.

However, Germany lost in its first match on Sunday against Mexico unexpectedly 0:1, which complicates a successful defense of the title. Germany’s national team coach, Joachim Löw, could in this respect unintentionally help to alleviate the difficult situation for the German brewing industry.

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