Craft Breweries and the Corona Crisis–Exploring the Scandinavian Context

Abstract

This paper addresses the way the Corona pandemic has impacted the rapidly growing craft beer sector. More specifically, it does so through a qualitative study of two bordering regions in Sweden and Norway. Interviews with a total of 20 breweries highlight the pandemics major impact on the sector. The patterns that were identified in the two regions in our study in many ways point towards similar effects. Firstly, the study showed that the pandemic has hit craft breweries rather hard, but most have managed to survive and some have even increased production and sales. These breweries have done so through creative adaptability, such as finding alternative income sources, cutting production and reducing costs. Other dimensions that have been crucial for the breweries in this crisis have been a location with high population density, large numbers of domestic tourists, or a greater emphasis on selling to retailers instead of bars and restaurants. As the pandemic and its effects continues, taking on new shapes and patterns, the findings of this study could have relevance for the support systems of craft breweries and the creative economy. It would also be beneficial to perform follow-up studies with varying methodological approaches during later stages, or after the pandemic.