Mexico City, Mexico — June 1 marked the day for essential businesses to restart operations. On the list of essential services were beer producers in Mexico City. Mexico City mayor Claudia Sheinbaum says that as of June 1, beer producers were able to start operating, at least in Mexico City according to the gradual plan for reactivation.
On Monday, the beer industry restarted production since it was included as an essential business in Mexico City, however, many merchants still do not know when they will be able to restock their shelves.
Like other essential services operating during the red light, they can only operate at 30 percent capacity. In Mexico City, there are approximately 35 craft beer production plants that generate around 850 direct jobs.
The president of the National Association of Small Merchants, Cuauhtémoc Rivera, explained that after learning that the beer industry had been considered essential and could return to its activities, the supply of the product has started to regularize.
With the regularization of beer the “black market in product prices that have tripled” is ended. He said previously, there was a shortage of beer where a can that normally costs from 10 to 12 peso was increased as high as 35 pesos, which is abuse.
“It is not yet a regular supply in all sales channels. Distribution is taking place first in shopping centers, but we hope that this week it will be in all points of sale,” he said.
Rivera acknowledged that the second phase of the contingency is beginning, since we are starting the new normal. In addition to the beer industry, the construction, mining and automotive sectors were also reactivated, all at a reduced capacity.
Large Mexican beer producers such as Grupo Modelo and Heineken Mexico announced the temporary suspension of beer operations in early April due to the coronavirus epidemic.