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This week in 1999, INSIGHTS noted how well AB's investment in Modelo would pay off. AB was going to make double Coors Brewing net income on its Corona investment alone. AB "estimates that equity income will be around $160 million" on Modelo in '99, wrote George Thompson of Pru Bache. That was net. Coors made $67 mil net the prior yr. So AB's $1.6 bil investment was earning pretty good after-tax return and value had tripled+. This week in 2000, a big Coors/Miller deal was struck in SC. Coors distrib Chris Yahnis Corp (~2 mil cases at time) bought out Miller distrib Schafer Dist Co (over 2.5 mil cases). Yahnis family already did biz in Florence and Myrtle Beach, so it added Miller, Heineken and Seagram brands in those mkts. Yahnis also bought rights to those brands in Columbia and other smaller SC markets but it didn't carry Coors there. In 2002, Yahnis sold its unconsolidated Columbia Miller operation (~1.2 mil cases) to J&L Ventures, the beer JV of big wine/spirits distrib Georgia Crown and beer distrib Lee Jackson.This week in 2004, while numbers in Gallup polls on alcohol preferences shift year to year, beer continued to lose ground to spirits. Latest Gallup poll showed under 40% of drinkers said beer was alc bev they consumed "most often." Down to 39% from 42% in 2003 and 47% in 1994. So beer suffered an 8-point drop in 10 yrs. Meanwhile, 24% of drinkers named liquor the most oft-consumed alc bev in recent poll, up from 22% in 2003 and 18% in 1994. Wine's popularity held even at 1/3 of drinkers last 2 yrs. Up from 29% in 1994, but still lower than 10-yr peak of 34% in 1999.This week in 2005, Bear Stearns&#39; Carlos Laboy gave AB kudos for recent marketing appointments that included a veep of high-end/imports, which Carlos hoped was "a signal the company has finally embraced the possibility of imports for its US portfolio." This new post caused Carlos to reiterate speculation that "AB would best benefit from acquiring the InBev USA brands." The InBev brands (Beck's, Bass, Labatt and Labatt Blue Light) would most help AB in "the Northeast and Upper Midwest, where the company remains a weaker player against a more highly evolved import category," noted Carlos. Many states in those regions were strong spots for Miller and Coors as well. AB "needs high-image, super-premium brands to drive volume and mix now and in the future. This week's announcement gets them a little closer to realizing that strategy," he concluded. Separately, AB announced newly created positions for veeps of Hispanic mktg and African American mktg.This week in 2006, distribs saw a big summer lift coming from imports and craft. "The import and specialty category continues to go on a tear," Art Friedman, prexy of big Fla distrib Gold Coast, told Wall St Jnl. Tho Art expected 3% volume increase in '06, Gold Coast was runnin' up 10% YTD. "We have not seen the beer business as healthy in a long time." That same week, noting Boston Beer's 17% depletions gain and overall health of craft biz, chairman Jim Koch summed up on conference call: "It's a fun time to be an American craft brewer."This week in 2011, at Beer Inst meeting, new genl counsel Mary Jane Saunders ran panel of retailers, two of whom sold an overwhelming percentage of their alc bevs as beer. Marc Bruno, prexy sports & entertainment at ARAMARK, said beer was 96% of alc bev sales at his 170 facilities which hosted 70 mil fans annually and served 60 mil beers. Beer share at Buffalo Wild Wings nearly as high: 90%, said prexy/ceo Sally Smith. Then too, 85% of BWW beer is draft and chain of 769 stores was "country's biggest retail draft beer seller," said Sally. Most BWWs have 24-30 taps and "I'd like to see 30-36," Sally said. While beer share of alc bev biz consistent over last decade at BWW, it was dropping at ARAMARK, said Marc. Both noted consumers seeking more choice. Changing demos at stadiums - more women, more families, higher income patrons - driving demand for more choice there, said Marc. And both noted women as increasingly key consumers.This week in 2014, INSIGHTS flagged an extensive profile of BDT Capital and ceo Byron Trott (majority owner of Lakeshore Beverage, AB distrib in Chi formerly known as City Bev) in Bloomberg Markets mag. Byron was a big-time player. BDT managed $6.3 bil of client assets as of end of 2013 and was raising $5.2 bil more, noted Bloomberg, citing regulatory filings. "For at least a dozen years, Trott has been at the center of some of [Warren] Buffett's leading deals." Way back in 2003, Buffett wrote to shareholders about Byron in his own inimitable fashion: "He understands Berkshire far better than any investment banker with whom we have talked and&mdash;it hurts me to say this&mdash;earns his fees." Mag reported that Byron "has played a role in deals involving at least 10 of the 30 wealthiest people in the world," including the Koch brothers, Mars and Walmart heirs. He came from a small town near St Lou, had earned a $103 mil bonus as a Goldman Sachs partner way back in early 90s and went on from there. His majority stake in Lakeshore, one of the top 15 or so beer distribs, was only a small part of his empire. Lakeshore is now owned by Hand Family Cos thruout all metro Chicago and co made waves again this yr acquiring Stone & Classic Dist in SoCal.This week in 2016, Bud Light took a stand for gender equality. After touting support for equal pay for women earlier that summer, The Bud Light Party campaign moved on to its next issue, reminding consumers not to label others, in this case the transgender community. In spot, comedians/actors Seth Rogen and Amy Schumer declared that the Bud Light party "is for everyone," including men, women and "people of all genders." "From the start of our campaign at Super Bowl, The Bud Light Party has rallied around bringing people together," noted brand veep Alex Lambrecht. "In our newest spot, Seth and Amy remind Americans that labels belong on beer, not people - a message Bud Light proudly supports," added Alex."When a brand like Bud Light shows support for the transgender community, it makes a difference," said Nick Adams, GLAAD's Dir of Transgender Medical. "Not only does it help bring more visibility to the trans community, it also inspires other companies to do more and show their support." "Alcohol brands have long lent support to the gay community, which is a key constituency for liquor and beer marketers," Ad Age noted.

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