Global drinks industry still upbeat over 2016, although operating environment concerns grow – just-drinks survey (Excerpt)

Source: Just-Drinks

By Richard Woodard

5 January 2016

A deteriorating operating environment is expected to hamper the international drinks industry in 2016, according to the annual just-drinks Confidence Survey.

While optimism in the overall industry remains at similar levels to this time last year, the survey, which is published on just-drinks this week, saw increased concerns from respondents to the broader operating environment in the coming year.

More than two-thirds of respondents expect 2016 to be a better year for their businesses than 2015, but this year’s figure of 67.2% falls slightly short of last year’s number, 67.5%. However, while just under half of those surveyed predict an improved operating environment in the year ahead, the number forecasting a deterioration almost doubled to over 22%.