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Microbreweries, brewpubs and beerfirms in the Sicilian craft beer industry

Vincenzo Alfeo (Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy)
Aldo Todaro (Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy)
Giuseppina Migliore (Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy)
Valeria Borsellino (Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy)
Emanuele Schimmenti (Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy)

International Journal of Wine Business Research

ISSN: 1751-1062

Article publication date: 3 September 2019

Issue publication date: 28 February 2020

573

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to illustrate the organisational and managing models characterising the craft beer producers in Sicily (Southern Italy) and the main issues of the provision of raw materials.

Design/methodology/approach

A direct survey involving the overall population of 41 craft breweries operating in Sicily in 2016 was carried out. Then 29 questionnaires were collected for exploratory analysis. A hierarchical cluster analysis was also performed out to group companies by similar structural, productive and economic features.

Findings

The findings of the survey showed a Sicilian craft beer industry characterised by a substantial dependence on the import of malts hops and yeasts and the limited use of local raw materials among brewers. Furthermore, the characteristics of the processing plants and the sales channels appear to influence the diversification of the products and the turnover levels of the Sicilian craft beer producers.

Originality/value

This is the first study describing the craft brewing industry in Sicily. The findings contribute to enrich the knowledge on the organisational models applied in the craft beer industry. In particular, the findings could contribute to shed light on some critical issues about the provision of raw materials, suggesting possible paths for the successful development of the craft beer industry in the region.

Keywords

Citation

Alfeo, V., Todaro, A., Migliore, G., Borsellino, V. and Schimmenti, E. (2020), "Microbreweries, brewpubs and beerfirms in the Sicilian craft beer industry", International Journal of Wine Business Research, Vol. 32 No. 1, pp. 122-138. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJWBR-01-2019-0005

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

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