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By the mid 70’s, due to the continued success of the brand, Coors Brewing Company’s expansion into the southern half of Texas focused on two key must haves.  One must have, was naming wholesalers who were either sports idols, political icons or other famous people within the brewery’s major markets.  The other must have, was […]

Do products or breweries have a life cycle, or does a brand manager have the life cycle?  Perhaps it is not the brand manager, but it is the CEO or Board of Directors that has a life cycle?  Ask the many regional brands from 50 years ago, or ask Schlitz or Coors about life cycle.  […]

The ongoing talent drain at AB, as discussed in last week’s post, has additional ramifications for other beer companies.  In a recent visit with a senior leader of a large MC distributor, this leader commented that when asked by his vendors to do a ride-with, he typically refused, under the assumption that he would not […]

One by-product of the recent growth of crafts has been the noticeable increase in job openings across the country.  Industry pubs and websites list employment openings in the craft industry ranging from production to logistics.  The majority of jobs listed are, however, in the areas of sales and marketing, specifically district, regional or area sales.  […]

At last month’s annual NBWA convention, the topic of conversation was what ails the beer industry.  The issue was addressed by wholesaler and multiple panel discussions, in addition to on-stage discussions led by the leaders of ABI and Heineken.  For the most part, both leaders listed virtually the same reasons for the industry woes: “share […]

In December of 1917, almost 100 years ago, the US Senate proposed the infamous eighteenth amendment, an amendment, as we all know, that banned the sale of all alcoholic beverages with an ABV greater than 1.28%.  This attempt by the government to legislate morality on the citizens of the US is considered to have been […]

Before the 1970s, it was rare for a wholesaler to roll out new beer products.  It was not until light beers, Miller Lite, Coors Light and Bud Light, became popular that line extensions came on the scene.  Of course times have changed, and now not only rolling new products, but, introducing new vendors, has become […]

While building the beer portfolio at Glazer’s, I initially focused on acquiring either the number one or number two best-selling imported beer from each country.  In each case, these brands were from long established breweries and were committed to continuing to build the growth of their respective products through their investment in new countries. Although […]

Last week’s NBWA convention was once again held at Caesar’s Palace in Vegas and hosted approximately 4,000 attendees, including 250 vendors who took up three massive halls in Caesar’s convention center.  AB, MC, Diageo, and Pabst had their large hospitality display booths open, as did a number of other suppliers.  The craft brewers had their […]

Beginning this week, and until the middle of next week, the beer industry has two of its three largest and most important industry conventions:  the Great American Beer Festival, in Denver and the National Beer Wholesalers Convention, in Las Vegas.  Both conventions are extensive and important to each other. For decades, the GABF has recognized […]