Sapporo says it is weighing up “various options” around the production of its non-alcoholic beers sold in the US market.
Chief strategy officer Rieko Shofu told Bloomberg last week the business planned to move production of non-alcoholic beer for the US market from Canada to the US by the first half of 2027, citing the 50% US tariffs on beer imports from Canada.
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Shofu also told the publication Sapporo was considering buying or constructing a brewery on the West Coast, or by contracting with other businesses.
In a statement to Just Drinks, the Japanese brewer said it is “evaluating various options regarding the production of non-alcoholic beer for the US market based on changing business conditions”.
Sapporo said the review is “not a new initiative driven solely by tariffs” and described it instead as one of “several options as part of our broader, long-term discussions on supply chain optimisation”.
The company also said: “No production transfer has been approved or finalised at this time.”
The brewer’s non-alcoholic offering for the US market, Sapporo 0.0%, is currently brewed in Canada.
Last week, US President Donald Trump also announced an import ban on Canadian-made alcohol products, including beer and non-alcoholic beer imports. The restrictions are due to come into force on 29 September.
In April, Sapporo set out wider changes to its US production footprint following the sale of Stone Brewing assets to Firestone Walker and another US subsidiary of Duvel Moortgat.
At the time, the business said it would make its brewery in Richmond its “core production base” for its namesake products and “consolidate all US production” there.
Production of Sapporo and Stone brands at Escondido in California is due to cease by the close of this year.
