tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315262155858800734.post774646922116104548..comments2024-03-09T00:31:10.190-05:00Comments on Seen Through a Glass: ABIB small brands not doing so well; actually, they suckLew Brysonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04084380741402026573noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315262155858800734.post-62031313875419168942009-08-05T10:45:46.726-04:002009-08-05T10:45:46.726-04:00Thanks, Lew. I have no experience approaching the ...Thanks, Lew. I have no experience approaching the issue from the macro level, but always try to assume the worst.The New Albanianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10757531658514051905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315262155858800734.post-4360474689298512712009-08-05T09:35:32.093-04:002009-08-05T09:35:32.093-04:00"Bud Ice is up 34 percent. What?"
Low e...<i>"Bud Ice is up 34 percent. What?"</i><br /><br />Low economic times, fast buzz. Just my guess. Like Malt Liquor days of old.Stevenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10585545034172431563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315262155858800734.post-62740459689366412272009-08-05T08:33:32.863-04:002009-08-05T08:33:32.863-04:00I've been thinking the exact same thing, Sam; ...I've been thinking the exact same thing, Sam; for half what A-B paid for it <i>to InBev</i>. I remember Quaker Oats took a whupping like that on Snapple, and now Snapple is kicking ass. Some companies just can't run a brand.<br /><br />I doubt Bass is on the chopping block...but remember, it's not really <i>their</i> brand, just another one they bought. No emotional attachment (not that the Brazilians have many of those). Still...Bass isn't bad, there's just not a compelling reason to order it. Too many similar or better choices. Hard to play on tradition and heritage when it's just something you bought on a fire sale.<br /><br />TNA/Roger, the strategy only works to a degree; it costs money to keep a brand alive. Of course, ABIB did 'extend' the best-by dates on a number of smaller brands a few months ago. I've just never been a big believer in the "clog the shelves" theory. It's of questionable value, and you do yourself real damage in terms of prestige by having brands that don't sell.Lew Brysonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04084380741402026573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315262155858800734.post-66139911909841065922009-08-04T20:35:02.878-04:002009-08-04T20:35:02.878-04:00Funny that someone mentioned Bass. I was at the A-...Funny that someone mentioned Bass. I was at the A-B Sales & Marketing meeting last fall when they announced a incentive to maintain Bass draught distribution. For those unfamiliar with beer distribution no brewery offers incentives for maintaining distribution unless a brand is getting absolutely clobbered.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315262155858800734.post-50286616145577322812009-08-04T18:34:46.723-04:002009-08-04T18:34:46.723-04:00I genuinely don't know the answer to this, but...I genuinely don't know the answer to this, but do the sales figures tell the whole story? After all, A-B uses these brands to clog store shelves and crowd other beers out. Is this strategy effective even if the bottles draw nothing but dust and get pulled after the date expires?The New Albanianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10757531658514051905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315262155858800734.post-73917279029037515522009-08-04T17:10:30.567-04:002009-08-04T17:10:30.567-04:00Not too surprised, since AB used to come up with a...Not too surprised, since AB used to come up with a brand just to compete with a regional brew, like Ziegenbock competes against Shiner Bock in Texas. I wonder, though, if Bass is really on the chopping block?hiikeebahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04546094181276790786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315262155858800734.post-13469646098286938122009-08-04T17:07:05.305-04:002009-08-04T17:07:05.305-04:00Another six months or a year, and Rolling Rock sho...Another six months or a year, and Rolling Rock should be available for half what A-B paid for it a while back...affordable enough to return home, perhaps?sam knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315262155858800734.post-81948795357678087922009-08-04T16:50:29.613-04:002009-08-04T16:50:29.613-04:00...and me still having never tried Bud Select... s......and me still having never tried Bud Select... still, 20 million cases is how many barrels? 1.4 barrels, roughly? I'm guessing it sells more than all but two or three craft bottlings? Boston Lager, SNPA, maybe Sam Adams Light? Talk about scale...Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03634642987617262810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315262155858800734.post-81229369359103236632009-08-04T16:44:38.842-04:002009-08-04T16:44:38.842-04:00How are Bud Porter, Bud Stout, Bud Stock ale and B...How are Bud Porter, Bud Stout, Bud Stock ale and Bud cream ale doing?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315262155858800734.post-8534532979184295042009-08-04T16:12:11.147-04:002009-08-04T16:12:11.147-04:00Sure, Bill, although the volume on Michelob might ...Sure, Bill, although the volume on Michelob might surprise you. Bud Select is quite a bit less than Bud Light Lime; last number I saw had it at 20 million cases last year (and dropping fast), a blip on the AB-scope.Lew Brysonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04084380741402026573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315262155858800734.post-40851426068516398182009-08-04T16:07:12.283-04:002009-08-04T16:07:12.283-04:00To be clear, some of the brands you mentioned aren...To be clear, some of the brands you mentioned aren't among the 70 that combined together make up <1% of ABIB's volume, right? Unless, I guess, they're talking worldwide? It looks like the trade pub tracked sales for ALL the products, not just the lame ones on the bottom. I'd be surprised if regular Michelob or Bud Select were each far less than 1% of total US Sales for ABIB.Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03634642987617262810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315262155858800734.post-32397654902654740262009-08-04T15:12:22.563-04:002009-08-04T15:12:22.563-04:00I hope *ickmann gets a good whiff of those rolling...I hope *ickmann gets a good whiff of those rolling rock numbers.If he thinks he is going to increase sales by pulling IC and IC light out of Larryvillejpnoreply@blogger.com