An interesting outcome of the coronavirus pandemic has been continued strong demand for craft beer in the U.S. Although many breweries have faced the challenge of adjusting their business models, the overall beer market has been quite steady, with falling on-premise (bars, restaurants, taprooms, etc.) beer sales being replaced by off-premise (e.g., supermarkets, convenience store, direct to consumer) beer consumption.
As a result, Hokusei’s partner, Oregon Fruit Products (Salem, Ore.) has busily been producing its aseptic fruit purees to keep up with brewer demand. And, as similar changes are occurring in the Japanese beer industry, Hokusei is working with Oregon Fruit Products to send more fruit puree over to Japan, starting this summer.
To help increase fruit puree exports to Japan, we are working with our partners at Oregon Fruit Products in a number of new ways:
— Launch of collaboration beers with Japanese craft brewers
— Videoconferencing support for Japanese brewers’ technical- and production-related injuries
— Introduction of new fruit purees (apricot, passionfruit)
We are looking forward working with Oregon Fruit Products and Japanese brewers as the Japanese craft beer industry emerges from the coronavirus crisis, to offer Japanese consumers tasty beers during the hot summer months.
