SABMiller said beer sales to retailers at its U.S. division Miller Brewing dipped 0.3 percent in the last quarter 2004, but this compared favourably to a U.S. beer industry which saw beer volumes down between 1.5 and 2.0 percent in that quarter. SABMiller blamed the beer volume fall on the rise in petrol prices in the U.S., price discounting in the beer market in December and rising consumption of wines and spirits. Now, what’s new about that?

For some in St. Louis Christmas came early last year. Anheuser-Busch Co. announced shortly before Christmas that it had won ‘an important victory’ in the World Trade Organization (WTO) in its battle to protect the Budweiser brand name against use by a Czech brewer. In a statement Anheuser-Busch President Stephen Burrows said: ‘This decision by the WTO halts Budejovicky Budvar‘s efforts to rely on this registration of "Budejovicke pivo" to justify its use of the Budweiser name.’ By all accounts the WTO ruling implies that the Czech brewer, Budejovicky Budvar, cannot justify its use of the Budweiser name on the grounds that it was the translation of the place name it had registered for exclusive use under the European Union ‘geographic indications’ regime.’.

Heineken USA announced at the end of last year that it had created an independent panel to review complaints about its advertising amid rising scrutiny over the effects of alcohol marketing. The company, part of Heineken NV, said three experts on public policy, advertising and psychiatry had agreed to serve one-year terms on its review panel. Apparently, beer and drinks producers are seeking to shield themselves from potential lawsuits over advertising messages perceived to contribute to alcoholism or underage drinking.

...but only for some. Anheuser-Busch, Inc., the US beer subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch Cos, has said that fourth-quarter beer shipments to wholesalers decreased 1.5 percent. Wholesaler sales-to-retailers were down 0.3 percent for the full year and decreased 3.2 percent in the fourth quarter. However, for the full-year Anheuser-Busch reportedly managed to increase U.S. beer shipments to wholesalers to 103 million barrels (121 million hl) in 2004 – up 400,000 barrels or 0.4 percent over 2003. Its domestic market share, excluding exports, for the full year 2004 was 49.6 percent, compared with a 2003 market share of 49.7 percent. Meanwhile in Golden, Colorado, ­Coors said its U.S.
For the 13-week quarter ending 26 December 2004, U.S. sales volume to wholesalers increased 4.0 percent..

Mexico’s number two brewer FEMSA is expected to grab more market share from its bigger rival Modelo this year as it expands its convenience store chain and considers a cost-cutting merger of its distribution channels.
After gains last year at the expense of Modelo, analysts were reported as saying that FEMSA will chip further away at the maker of the popular Corona beer in 2005, boosted largely by an expected major expansion of its Oxxo convenience store chain.
FEMSA, the brewer of Sol, Tecate and Dos Equis beers, has more than 3,000 Oxxo stores dotted across Mexico, selling its beers alongside soft drinks made by its Coke unit, Coca-Cola FEMSA .
As FEMSA opens more stores, it will sell more beer. Imports are minimal and Mexico only has a handful of microbreweries..

The Gambrinus Co., U.S. importer of Corona, has taken Mexican brewing giant Grupo Modelo to an arbitration court to block the loss of its agreement to import the brewer’s beers. According to the San Antonio-based Gambrinus, Grupo Modelo attempted to buy the importer last year, but when it was rebuffed, Grupo Modelo and its U.S. arm, Procermex, notified Gambrinus that its rights to import Corona and other Modelo brands would not be renewed after 2006.
A decision by the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce is expected this autumn, according to a Gambrinus statement.
Carlos Alvarez, a former Modelo executive and CEO of Gambrinus, has helped build the Corona brand in the United States over more than two decades.S. sales of the brands.S.S.S.S.S..

Molson Inc. announced at the beginning of February this year that it had received the final court approval for its USD4 billion merger with Adolph Coors Co., after both sets of shareholders voted overwhelmingly in favour of the union.
The merger will create the world’s fifth largest brewer by volume behind Heineken with annual sales of more than USD6 billion. The new company, to be called Molson Coors Brewing Co., will have a 43 percent market share in Canada and 11 percent in the United States, with brands such as Molson Canadian and Coors Light.
On the announcement, shares of Molson rose 7 Canadian cents to CD38.77 on the Toronto Stock Exchange. On the New York Stock Exchange, Coors’ shares fell 11 cents to USD74.90. Well, thanks for that gentlemen.44 a share, up from CD3.26..

In Latin America few men are richer than the patriarch Julio Mario Santo Domingo, 80, Colombia’s top businessman whose net worth the Forbes Magazine estimated to be USD1.4 billion in 2004. On the Forbes list of the world’s richest men he ranked 406. Not bad, ey? Santo Domingo may not only be one of the wealthiest persons alive, he is also one of the most sought after. Through his majority stake of Grupo Empresarial Bavaria, Latin America’s number two brewer, and holding company Grupo Empresarial Valores Bavaria he controls more than 100 companies in a variety of industries from beverages to newspapers, crude oil production and temporary staffing. It is hard to believe that in our dangerous times Santo Domingo is said to be a familiar figure in the international jet set. Says Forbes..

Holiday meal replacement

Yuk. We dread to think what it could taste like. But one thing is certain. It could only happen in the U.S.. Jones Soda Co., located in Seattle, announced that it has released a limited edition holiday pack of five new seasonal flavours: Green Bean Casserole Soda, Mashed Potato & Butter Soda, Fruitcake Soda, Cranberry Soda and Turkey & Gravy Soda. The idea was to cut down on the time spent eating to leave consumers with more time to spend with their loved ones. Let’s hope they meant this as a joke. The limited edition holiday pack was available in stores through the Jones Soda distributor network and selected Target stores during the week of 8 November. Each pack of five bottles retailed at USD15.95.

Mr Smith does not go to Washington

At least he was spared Mr Smith’s experience. In Frank Capra’s Hollywood classic Mr Smith goes to Washington of 1939, Mr Smith (played by James Stewart) is appointed to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate. His idealism promptly collides with what is called "realpolitik", but he doesn’t back down.
Pete Coors was supposed to be golden. But in the end, the Republican brewer’s image was tarnished by a punishing series of what are called "attack ads" which linked him to implied problems with his company. In his bid for U.S. Senate, Pete Coors (47 percent) lost to Democrat Ken Salazar (50 percent). Many had thought that the 58-year-old political novice was the one candidate well-known enough and rich enough to beat the popular attorney general who has years of political experience..