Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd reckons that on-trade volume recovery is still in flux despite the gradual lifting of dine-in restrictions by the authorities, according to managing director Stefano Clini (pix).
While the previous lockdown and the ensuing restrictions had affected the brewer’s on-trade channels – coffee shops, restaurants, pubs and bars – he pointed out that a lifting of dine-in restrictions translated into a bigger pickup in sales through such channels then.
This time around, however, Clini observed a different scenario playing out in Penang, which eased restrictions on Aug 8 but has seen slow progress in sales via on-trade channels.
“This is a combination of two factors. One, most operators still don’t feel like opening yet, so most of the outlets are still closed, and the other is that consumers are still a bit worried about going out and dining in,” he told the media at the group’s virtual briefing on its second-quarter 2021 results on Friday.
The Carlsberg Malaysia managing director conceded that the situation in the Klang Valley, which saw the lifting of dine-in restrictions for fully vaccinated individuals last Thursday, might play out differently than Penang’s experience as it has younger consumers.