Big Drop Brewing Co. secures Tesco listing

Tesco has made a listing deal with low-alcohol beer producer Big Drop Brewing Co. marking the independent brewery’s first major supermarket listing.

Big Drop’s stout and pale ale are now both available at Tesco Extra stores nationwide, retailing at £1.30.

The announcement comes as sales of low and no-alcohol beers have soared in recent years, experienced revenue growth of 20% between 2016 and 2017, according to figures from Kantar.

Rob Fink, the brewery’s founder, said the new listing will “make quality alcohol-free beer more accessible across the country. We want to raise the standards for low and no-alcohol beers and feedback from customers so far has been brilliant. It turns out that plenty of beer lovers have been waiting for a tasty beer that they can enjoy whether it’s a Sunday night or lunchtime.”

While many low-abv producers make de-alcoholised drinks — where a beer, wine, or spirit is fermented and distilled as normal before the alcohol is removed — Big Drop is brewed without extracting the alcohol.

Last month, the brewery secured its first nationwide listing in the on-trade, landing a deal with pub group Mitchells & Butlers.

The pub group — which owns chains like Toby Carvery and Vintage Inns, will sell Big Drop’s stout and pale ales through its city centre-focused brand All Bar One, and will also be launched through its 100-strong chain Castle Inns.