This is the age of disruption

The term “disruptor” or “disruption” is the current go-to expression for many industries that want to use the vernacular to describe new products or key employees. One might even consider the word “disruptor” the business model de jour!  The key question is: how does this label, “disruptor” apply to the beer industry? From a distance one might think the industry is nothing but disruptions, while in reality, it is just the opposite.

When thinking of major product launches that created a new segment, one would certainly think of the impact the light beer introductions had in the 1970s.   Driven by the boomer generation, the introduction of lights to the market would be considered a disruptor to the status quo. In just a few years, light beers became the largest selling segment in the industry as beer drinkers left regular beers in droves. The rise of Corona, and what Modelo accomplished, could also be considered a disruptor.  And of course, the growth of crafts has definitely disrupted the industry.  What might be the biggest disruptor in years is the seltzer segment.  Seltzers could be the latest example of a disruptor in the beer industry.  Or is it too early to make such a declaration?

Both companies and individuals can be considered disruptors.  When Philip Morris bought Miller Brewing, and brought the concept of marketing to the industry, Philip Morris was a disruptor. Russell Cleary of G. Heileman had what might be considered a disruptor model by acquiring a number of breweries and assigning brands to different distributors in the same market. This business model of pitting distributor against distributor was disruptive, but the distributors ended this by changing their state franchise laws and eliminating the brewery practice. Was Paul Kalmanovitz a disruptor as he acquired many regional and national breweries and brands? Probably not. Perhaps one would think that Jim Koch of Boston Beers is a disruptor? If not, Koch’s influence on the industry has helped create the craft or better-beer segment.

In recent years, the beer industry has been faced with what could be the greatest disruptor in its history, cannabis. As the cannabis industry expands, it will have an effect on beer sales and the distribution to the consumer will be a disruptor. What is an unknown is just how much of a disruption cannabis will be. Only time will tell.

Either way, when one looks at the beer industry one could either say the industry has been in a disrupted state for decades based on the changes in brands/segments. Or one could say that the beer business is not a disruptive industry due to the structure, laws, and state franchise protections. Simply put, the structure of the industry, in itself, is the disruptor. If that is the case, we will not know for decades to come.  

This is the age of disruption.