Saw this over at Brookston Beer Bulletin. Jay says it better than I could.
The Wall Street Journal is today reporting that Anheuser-Busch has entered into talks with Grupo Modelo about some sort of merger or acquisition in an effort to keep InBev’s takeover bid from becoming a reality. This is at least one of the strategies that had been floated in recent weeks and months for strengthening A-B. If you’re unfamiliar with Grupo Modelo, they are the largest brewer in Mexico, with nearly a two-thirds share of the Mexican market, and I’m sure you know at least one of their dozen brands: Corona. A-B already has a 50% stake in the Mexican beer company, but it’s non-voting stock and thus they have no control over the business. Today’s AP story regarding the InBev deal mentioned that InBev’s weak performance last quarter makes getting enough equity to complete the takeover possibly problematic, meaning that an A-B that also included control of Corona would be more expensive, which might be enough to kill the deal. Strap in folks, this is getting interesting.
You’re right Jay. It’s like a frickin’ soap opera.
A shout out to our friends across the pond: How is this playing out in Europe?
It’s not much by way of an emotive issue here. I think Melissa Cole said it best: “a bit like when a wasp lands on a nettle – someone’s going to get stung and you don’t really mind who”
Well, I’ve no love for either megacorporation either. Ultimately, it’ll be consumers who lose out with less choice and higher prices.
With these two companies not going after each other anymore, who are they going to go after?
Heineken, Carlsberg, SABMiller, MolsonCoors, Diageo… Plenty of consolidation still to be done.
I’m not going to cry if I’m no longer allowed choose between Bud and Stella.
Nor I, but I will be angry if my only choices are Bud or Stella.
With the sheer number of breweries operating in your country? Not to mention a massive import market? I’m not seeing how big breweries buying each other is going to affect choice for the drinker of decent beer.
Who cares if Anheuser Busch sales out or not? Maybe then the employees will be treated with the respect and treatment they deserve! As a former and loyal employee for almost 5 years I was laid off becuase they thought I wasn’t “Full Time” material, which is complete BS becuase when they asked me to do something I wouldn’t hesitate to do it. Starting from the bottom as a night builder in Riverside CA I saw how bad they treated employees and would take advantage of there part time help. They’re suppost to be part of the Teamster’s Union who doesn’t do anything for you unless you’re at “Full Time” status. You’re pretty much forced to work long 8-12 hour days with little or no breaks at all in between.
I know for a fact I was a great asset to the company, I was one of only less than a handful that was forklift certified, knew how to build loads, load and unload trucks and could deliver beer to accounts with a commercial license. There were plenty of times were I would work all night past 8 hours and 10 minutes before my clock out time I would be asked to take out and deliver a route by myslef, I would never refuse and that’s why they would ask me. The one time I did they told me with that attitude I would never get to be a “Full Time” employee there, so what did I do? I took the load out thinking it would make me stand out above the rest. In reality I was there longer than half of the other part time employees and I was passed up for the “Full Time” positions numerous times.
The frustrating thing of it all is after all the time and effort I spent there they ended up terminating me. It’s hard to believe how a multi-billion dollar company can be so stupid on so many levels. It sickens me to see a company fall apart so quick in the short time I was there. It’s not due to to the employees, but the horrible management itself. You have a bunch of idiots who think they know it all but don’t know the difference between a 9 tie and 7 tie.
It’s only going to get worse because the moral of the employees “Full Time” and part time is fading and fading quick. Between the 800-1000 case loads going out full of beer and MONSTER that has rat droppings all over it due to in-proper storage, I don’t know how much longer they can last before they permanetly injure themselves. It’s sad because they (employees)all talk about how bad it is, but when they have the chance to say something they all shut there mouths real quick because they don’t want to get “boned” the next day as we would say on a rough day.
So I say go ahead and sale out Anheuser Busch, you already did in my opinion by using poor judgement to hire idiots for important management positions. You’ll be doing all your current employees a favor, maybe InBev will do a better job of providing for them.
I know people are speaking out saying they don’t want Anheuser Busch to sale out, but before they say anything, maybe they should all talk to the employees and get there opinions, but then again everyone is afraid to come out and say anything because they’re afraid to be out of a job.