How can Craft Beer brands thrive in a stagnant category?

The UK Craft beer category is treading water with a slim 1.9% volume growth YOY (NIQ EPOS data to 22^nd Feb 2025) and only accounting for 4.7% of the total beer market.

Added to that the residual effects of lockdown on the On Trade, and the cost-of-living crisis pushing prices up and squeezing margins, it’s no wonder that 100 craft beer breweries stopped trading last year.

With the major retailers rationalising their ranges and giving more shelf space to World Beers and No/Low, is there any good news for craft beer brands?