The Wall Street Journal
Anheuser Weighs Change in Beer Sales, UBS Says
Anheuser-Busch InBev NV is studying the idea of consolidating its network of independent U.S. beer distributors, perhaps by owning many more distributors itself, according to an analyst report that represents a potential blow for the beer titan's roughly 600 distributors.
Management at the maker of Budweiser and Stella Artois is exploring the concept of someday selling as much as 50% of its U.S. beer volume directly to retailers through its own distributors, up from 7% today, according to the report Wednesday by Melissa Earlam, a UBS AG analyst who recently met with company leaders, including Chief Executive Carlos Brito.
But Anheuser, the world's largest brewer by sales, Wednesday appeared to play down the potential strategic shift. "There is no change in our current U.S. strategy," a spokeswoman said in an emailed statement. "Anheuser-Busch InBev has no plans to force consolidation. Consolidation has been occurring for many years, and we believe it will and should continue."
Read full article [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124584478314047047.html?mod=googlenews_wsj]
Reuters
AB InBev mulls U.S. beer distributor shift - paper
BRUSSELS, June 25 (Reuters) - Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI.BR), the world's largest brewer, is studying the idea of consolidating its network of independent U.S. beer distributors, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.
The paper cited a report by an analyst who recently met with the company's management, including Chief Executive Carlos Brito, as saying the group was exploring the concept of someday selling as much as 50 percent of its U.S. beer volume directly to retailers through its own distributors.
It currently sells only 7 percent through its own distributors, the report said.
Read full article [http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUSP29344020090625]
FoodBizIntel®
Anheuser-Busch InBev NV
Address: Brouwerijplein 1 Leuven, 3000 Belgium
Telephone: +32-16-247111
Fax: +32-16-247407
About Anheuser-Busch InBev NV
Anheuser-Busch InBev NV, formerly InBev NV, is a Belgium-based company. It produces, markets, distributes and sells a portfolio of over 200 beer brands. These include beer brands with global reach such as Stella Artois and Beck’s; multi-country brands such as Brahma, Leffe, Hoegaarden, Staropramen and Loewenbrau; and many local beers such as Skol, Bohemia, Quilmes, Labatt Blue, Siberian Crown, Chernigivske, Sedrin, Cass and Jupiler. In addition, the Company also produces and distributes soft drinks, particularly in Latin America. As per September 30, 2008, the Company had operations in over 30 countries across the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific and sales in over 130 countries. Anheuser-Busch InBev is organized along seven business zones or segments: North America, Latin America North, Latin America South, Western Europe, Central & Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific and Global Export & Holding Companies. The first six correspond to regions in which the Company’s operations are based.