AOL Money & Finance

MillerLite posts

Feed

As economy flounders, people still drink beer

I see it most on Friday afternoons, no matter what the weather: people dressed in uniforms from blue-collar jobs, or dirty overalls, trudging down the street towards their homes, carrying a case of beer, in cans. Sometimes there will be another item in a plastic bag from the corner convenience store: a bag of potato chips, maybe. But the beer never changes.

Even more of it than last year, says MillerCoors, the U.S. combination of Molson Coors Brewing Company (NYSE: TAP) and SABMiller Plc (OTC: SBMRY). According to MillerCoors Chief Commercial Officer Tom Long, growth is slowing but, despite a recession, is slowing less than wine or spirits growth; down to 0.6% for 2009-2012 compared to 0.9% between 2004-2008. Among Miller and Coors brands showing market share growth are Miller Lite, Coors Light, Miller Genuine Draft 64, Blue Moon Beer (a craft beer), Miller High Life and Keystone Light. First quarter sales for the company were up 3.8% for profit of $68.5 million.

Continue reading As economy flounders, people still drink beer

The beer wars ramp up as Miller defames Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales

In the competitive brewing business, sometimes it's just hard to play nice. Over the weekend, Miller Brewing Co. -- a subsidiary of SAB Miller -- launched what appears to be a potential salvo in a ramped-up version of the "beer wars" of yesteryear.

A new commercial for Miller Lite, which debuted during football games and NASCAR events, uses the iconic Dalmatian-and-Clydesdale image -- used for decades by Anheuser-Busch (NYSE: BUD) -- to pay tribute to its own number-two product. The Clydesdale-drawn wagon features a sign advertising "Miller Lite. Half the carbs of Bud Light." At the end of the commercial, the dog exits the wagon for a Miller truck, which speeds away.

BUD advertising officials were quick to respond, taking out a full-page-ad in yesterday's USA Today, imploring Miller to "keep up the bad work." Launching back, Miller representatives revealed plans to continue hammering home the facts that Miller Lite has "fewer carbs and more taste."

Continue reading The beer wars ramp up as Miller defames Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales

Symbol Lookup
IndexesChangePrice
DJIA+73.0010,270.47
NASDAQ+18.862,167.88
S&P 500+6.241,093.48

Last updated: November 14, 2009: 03:02 PM

BloggingStocks Exclusives

Hot Stocks

DailyFinance Headlines

Latest from BloggingBuyouts

WalletPop Headlines

AOL Business News

BioHealth Investor Headlines

Sponsored Links

My Portfolios

Track your stocks here!

Find out why more people track their portfolios on AOL Money & Finance then anywhere else.

BloggingStocks Partners

More from AOL Money & Finance