Your point about ABI treading water for the past half-decade in North America is spot on, as are Kate’s insights, but miss what I and many others see as the root of the problem: Carlos Brito -- for those who might not be familiar, the ex-ceo of AB InBev. As has been noted by many more industry analysts than just myself, Brito’s great strength was in cutting costs and trimming fat, even when some or much of the ‘fat’ was actually connective tissue, while he couldn’t be arsed to, or didn’t have the savvy to, build brands. This is what is at the core of the Bud family’s remarkable collapse, and with nothing new to replace its lost value, the company has repeatedly raised prices to staunch the bleeding, knowing full well all the time that such a strategy comes with a very firm expiration date.
I remember noting when Coors Light topped Bud in the hierarchy of US beer brands that the Busch family would never have stood for such a thing to pass, whereas Brito and co barely seemed to notice it.
Your point about ABI treading water for the past half-decade in North America is spot on, as are Kate’s insights, but miss what I and many others see as the root of the problem: Carlos Brito -- for those who might not be familiar, the ex-ceo of AB InBev. As has been noted by many more industry analysts than just myself, Brito’s great strength was in cutting costs and trimming fat, even when some or much of the ‘fat’ was actually connective tissue, while he couldn’t be arsed to, or didn’t have the savvy to, build brands. This is what is at the core of the Bud family’s remarkable collapse, and with nothing new to replace its lost value, the company has repeatedly raised prices to staunch the bleeding, knowing full well all the time that such a strategy comes with a very firm expiration date.
I remember noting when Coors Light topped Bud in the hierarchy of US beer brands that the Busch family would never have stood for such a thing to pass, whereas Brito and co barely seemed to notice it.
I was waiting for this one!!!!!!!!!!