Pease testifies on Mega-Beer merger

“In fifteen states, large brewers such as Anheuser-Busch InBev are allowed to own wholesalers. At present, ABI is the largest beer supplier and one of the largest beer wholesalers in nine states…If ABI is permitted to maintain ownership of wholesalers, ABI can continue to systematically sell parts of its wholesaler network to other favored wholesalers that ABI effectively controls. Simultaneously, ABI will continue to purchase additional independent wholesalers and discontinue sales of competing brands that the independent wholesalers currently sell. Craft brands will then be forced into the MillerCoors network or to small specialty distributors that lack the ability to fully serve a territory…States have granted exceptions to allow limited self-distribution by craft brewers…but they are inadequate to address the imbalance that currently exists.” – Bob Pease, Brewers Association.

https://www.brewersassociation.org/current-issues/ba-ceo-bob-pease-testifies-on-abisab-miller-merger/?utm_source=hootsuite