Overall U.S. beer industry “hanging in there,” says trade publication
With all the talk about economic woe and want over the past few months, it was a little hard to predict whether beer sales would hold up. We know, we know: People drink when they’re happy, and they drink when they’re sad…but the economy could still have an effect on what people drink, and how much.
Now comes Beer Business Daily with news that the overall U.S. beer industry is “hanging in there.” Sales volume - liquid sold - was essentially flat in the four weeks leading up to April 19. “Not bad,” the trade publication concluded. For the first three and a half months of the year, sales volumes were “still in positive territory, barely.”
Of the top 20 beer brands sold in the U.S., ten are up and ten are down. And here’s where American drinkers’ economic jitters are coming into play: Of the ten brands that are growing, seven are “sub-premium.” On the bright side for brewers, only two brands of the top twenty (Bud Ice and Corona) have dropped their prices compared to last year.
According to Beer Business Daily, Bud Light is showing some small signs of weakness. Its sales volumes are slightly down. Coors Light is on a serious roll, as it has been for months. At this point, it’s “like a government backed annuity,” BBD says: up 3.5 percent for the month, quarter, and year. Miller Lite and Budweiser are not so lucky: both are down around 7 percent.
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Jeremiah McWilliams is a native Virginian who came to the Post-Dispatch in early 2007 to cover beer and other consumer products. He previously covered manufacturing for the Virginian-Pilot newspaper in Norfolk, Va. He is a graduate of Washington and Lee University. 
There are many consumer studies that support the theory that during difficult economic times, consumers hold on to affordable rewards for sacrificing and working hard. Beer has always been one of these. Many think “I will give up a lot of things but not the simple pleasure of drinking a Budweiser after work”. Starbucks, nail salons, dark chocolate are a few other things that consumers hold on to. The beer buiness might not fair so well when major sport attendance, travel, and social gatherings start to fall away. We all seem to consume more when the occasion is more fun…drinking at Busch Stadium with friends during a game is much more fun than drinking alone watching the game at home. Beer volume occasions will steadily decline over time and especially during the summer. Wait until TGI Friday’s, Appleby’s and other FSR’s start to post their earnings and sales. DWI’s should decline also so there is an upside.
“Of the ten brands that are growing, seven are “sub-premium.”
The American beer industry can blame Brito for this, he has told us all to look out for numeral uno. People figure the extra money is just as good in their pocket as the beer makers. Beside after three beers one light beer taste like another and so on. So why not buy cheap.
InBred states that it’s employees should “Think Big and Takes on Big Challenges. Acts as an owner.” Why should we? We don’t own any part of it and you go to work everyday not knowing if it’s your last. I guess the motivation is that if you don’t meet our expectations…your gone. They’re real people focus!
I thought the only US beer company (with significant volumn) left was Sam Adams????
for a guy that is under 5′ tall , what does he think Big is. 5′3″. what I mean by this is what he thinks is big is not what we here in St.louis would think of as big. Heck they now check the security cars. If they are not driven 30 miles a day then they think that they are not used. ( good thing hwy55 is right there.)
People are watched as if they were in prison. First people called us inbev, then inept , then indebt, now its inbut….. all I can say to all the sad souls is “RUN FORREST RUN.”
Carlos, the people that use to think big and take ownership are the worker bees that you have let go. The ones that the mid management (that you keep,) who would take credit for these peoples ideas and work. You don’t have anyone left that is capable of thinking big on there own.If you think I am wrong about the mid managment you are saddly a bigger idiot than people in N.Y , your what is left of the good upper managment and here say you are. There is no loyalty to you any where in this country.
So A-B inwhatever employee’s I have one thing to say “Run Forrest Run.” I love that after they announced the ping pong stuff. And the real men of genius about carlos must have been thought up by some of those talented people that have been let go.
Oh and Carlos said that they are up in all sales…. another lie.
Quote from above”And Budweiser down by 7%,” maybe it should be “Run Carlos Run.”