This documentary is of a Michael Moore genre depicting the David and Goliath battle brewing over the difficulty of small brewers finding distribution for their products as well as shelf and tap space in retail outlets.

The sales volume of imported beer brands, which are generally more expensive than domestic brands, is slowing as Americans cut discretionary spending. The beer industry’s overall sales in the U.S. were down about 4 percent in the first two months of this year compared with the same period in 2008.

Upon announcement of the anti-flu measures in Mexico City, Grupo Modelo’s stock fell the most in six months. It declined 8.9 percent, while Fomento Economico Mexicano SAB (FEMSA), Latin America’s largest beverage company, also slumped, dropping 4 percent. The decline in Femsa, the maker of Dos Equis beer, was the biggest since 7 April 2009.

Coca-Cola and Pepsi spun off their bottlers in the 1980s and 1990s on the assumption that by selling off the bottling rights, they could keep the companies asset-light and less capital-intensive. The beverage companies just produce the concentrates and syrups. Bottlers do the manufacturing and distribution, usually with exclusive rights within a defined geographic region.

Changes from last year’s list include breweries moving up or down in the rankings based on volume sales. Two craft brewers have claimed spots in the Top 50 Overall list—Big Sky Brewing Co. and Mac & Jack’s Brewery. Consolidation of MillerCoors, last year’s number 2 and 3 brewers, opened up a slot, and the merger of Widmer Brothers and Redhook into the company now named Craft Brewers Alliance, Inc. opened up another slot filled by emerging small and independent craft brewers.

"In 2007, 35 of the top 50 brewing companies were small and independent craft brewers. In 2008 there were 37," states Paul Gatza, Director of the Brewers Association. "Craft brewers continue to have success and generate excitement behind the flavorful beer movement, but not without recent challenges including price increases for raw materials and supplies, as well as access to market issues."

For its fourth quarter, Constellation reported a net loss of USD 406.8 million compared with a prior-year net loss of USD 834.8 million.

According to Carlos Laboy and John Gilmore, two analysts with Credit Suisse, AB-InBev should buy Grupo Modelo because the largest Mexican brewer’s USD 1.5 billion in cash would accelerate AB-InBev paying down its debt and improve its debt coverage ratios. This is what the two bankers reportedly told beer distributors, brewers and importers at a beer industry meeting in Austin, Texas, last month.

Looks like the recent industry consolidation is taken its toll on members’organisations too. Does anybody still do any research at former Anheuser Busch’s headquarters in St Louis? As far as we are aware the 100-odd jobs research department does not exist any longer.

This year’s keynote speakers are Tom Long, President and Chief Commercial Officer, MillerCoors, Deryck van Rensburg, President, Venturing & Emerging Brands, Coca-Cola North America, David A. Peacock, President and CEO, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. and Luis Duran, Vice President of International Markets, FEMSA – CCM.