E-Malt.com News article: USA: Anheuser-Busch is capable of crafting any style or type of beer

Anheuser-Busch Cos. said September 06 it is well-positioned to take advantage of the rising popularity of craft and import beers, EasyBourse released September 06.

As the largest U.S. brewer, it is "capable of crafting any style or type of beer," August Busch IV, president of Anheuser-Busch Inc., said at an investor conference in Boston that was Webcast.
Anheuser-Busch produces several specialty, craft and seasonal beers, including Michelob Marzen, Wild Hop Lager and Stone Mill Pale Ale, and it bought the Rolling Rock brand earlier this year.

"With 12 modern breweries across the country, we can utilize one or two locations to produce these unique, smaller-volume craft beers without disrupting the production of our larger brands," Busch said. The brewer's mammoth distribution system also helps, he said.
Although craft beers represent only a small part of overall U.S. beer sales, they have seen increasing market share. In addition, their generally higher prices make them attractive.

In the import category, Anheuser-Busch owns about 50% of Grupo Modelo SA, which brews Corona, and it has begun U.S. distribution of the Grolsch and Tiger imports and its own Harbin Chinese brand.

"We will continue to explore new opportunities to add viable import brands," Busch said.

Anheuser-Busch also said it expects revenue per barrel to be up 2% in the third quarter. Sales to retailers are up 1.3% year to date, and up 0.5% in the third quarter, aided by its addition of Rolling Rock.

In the most recent results, for the second-quarter ended June 30, Anheuser-Busch, St. Louis, reported net income rose 7.4% to $637.8 million, or 82 cents a share, from $593.6 million, or 76 cents a share, a year earlier. Net sales rose 5.9% to $4.26 billion from $4.02 billion.

Shares of Anheuser-Busch were trading recently at $48.54, down 76 cents, or 1.5%, on volume of 3.2 million shares; its average daily turnover is 2.8 million.


08 September, 2006