Two-thirds of all off-trade beer volume will be in multipacks in three years' time. This was the ambitious prediction by Bass sales director John Holberry, who said this was one of the key reasons independents and specialists were losing their share of the market. While off-trade beer volume has been steadily increasing ­ it has almost doubled in size in 20 years ­ the market for beer in packs fewer than eight is in decline. Holberry said: "The multiple grocers have led the way with big packs and independents are falling between two stools. They are not selling big packs for home storage and they are not selling cold packs for immediate consumption. "There is not a particularly good future selling warm, small packs." {{DRINKS }}

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