On a side note, If InBev really wants to prove its commitment to St. Louis here is a good suggestion: redevelop the Lemp site into a modern brewery for some of your European beers to avoid the need to import them.
- 923
I just remember AB having commercials against Miller saying Miller couldn't run for president cause it's not American (after they got bought out by SAB). Now AB isn't even American anymore. Pretty hypocritcal.
I can't say how disappointed I am after this. Really, it's a kick in the gut. Like if Coca-Cola was bought by some germany company or pepsi by the japanese. Really, it's a piece of Americana that really is no longer "American". Yeah, the brewery will still exist (we can only hope), and the beers will remain, but the culture, the history, the familiarity is gone forever.
It just won't "feel" american anymore, and that's the sad thing - and I for one, sadly, now can't even buy Budweiser when I want an American beer here. Only Rolling Rock. Snobs can have all the microbrews they want - a major part of our history and culture is gone forever.
The price of captialism I suppose.
I can't say how disappointed I am after this. Really, it's a kick in the gut. Like if Coca-Cola was bought by some germany company or pepsi by the japanese. Really, it's a piece of Americana that really is no longer "American". Yeah, the brewery will still exist (we can only hope), and the beers will remain, but the culture, the history, the familiarity is gone forever.
It just won't "feel" american anymore, and that's the sad thing - and I for one, sadly, now can't even buy Budweiser when I want an American beer here. Only Rolling Rock. Snobs can have all the microbrews they want - a major part of our history and culture is gone forever.
The price of captialism I suppose.
- 10K
migueltejada wrote:Only Rolling Rock.
They'll be owned by InBev now too.
^ Um... you know that Rolling Rock was bought by AB a year or two ago. The Latrobe brewery was closed and AB makes it in Newark.
- 6,775
migueltejada wrote:I just remember AB having commercials against Miller saying Miller couldn't run for president cause it's not American (after they got bought out by SAB). Now AB isn't even American anymore. Pretty hypocritcal.
How is that hypocritical? Do you even know what the word means?
migueltejada wrote:It just won't "feel" american anymore, and that's the sad thing - and I for one, sadly, now can't even buy Budweiser when I want an American beer here. Only Rolling Rock. Snobs can have all the microbrews they want - a major part of our history and culture is gone forever.
Ummm...Excuse me? If you're going to comment on this topic, it would help to know what you are talking about.
- 278
I though that AB didn't buy the Latrobe brewery; that some Wisconsin company owns and operates it now.
It's actually quite funny how the Rolling Rock saga ended up. The bottom line is that InBev sold Rolling Rock to A-B in May of 2006. Now Rolling Rock is with A-B-I again:captainjackass wrote:I though that AB didn't buy the Latrobe brewery; that some Wisconsin company owns and operates it now.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latrobe_Brewing_Company
Latrobe Brewing Company, founded in 1893, was one of the largest breweries in the United States and the maker of Rolling Rock beer. It was purchased by Labatt Brewing Company in 1987, which in turn was purchased in 1995 by the Belgian brewing conglomerate AmBev, which merged into InBev in 2004.
In May 2006, InBev announced that it was selling the Rolling Rock brands to Anheuser-Busch, the largest brewer in the United States. This sale, however, excluded the Brewery,[1] leaving an uncertain future for the Latrobe brewery, which only continued producing the Rolling Rock Brands through July 31st, when production was moved to an Anheuser-Busch facility in Newark, New Jersey.[2]
On June 21, 2006, InBev signed a letter of intent with City Brewing Company from LaCrosse, Wisconsin, "giving it exclusive rights for an undetermined time to negotiate a purchase of the plant." City Brewing currently operates the historic G. Heileman Brewery in LaCrosse.[3] However, with the sale of the plant still in limbo, the Latrobe Brewing Company plant officially shut down on July 31, 2006, and the plant sat idle.
In September of 2006, City Brewing Company from LaCrosse, Wisconsin agreed to purchase the brewery[1].
In March of 2007, the brewery reopened its doors and now produces Samuel Adams (beer). The Boston Beer Company signed a deal with the plants current owners, City Brewing Company in April of 2007 to produce beer in the plant. The Boston Beer Company has pledged $3 to 7 million dollars to upgrade the plant. It is estimated that 200,000 to 250,000 barrels of beer will be produced in the plant during the remainder of 2007.[4]
You are mistaken. Rolling Rock is a part of A-B-I. And what's it like to be American, Miguel? I'd like to know. Doesn't America pride itself in being a melting pot of various world-wide cultures? Fittingly, A-B is now a large part of the biggest and truly global beer company, A-B-I.migueltejada wrote:I can't say how disappointed I am after this. Really, it's a kick in the gut. Like if Coca-Cola was bought by some germany company or pepsi by the japanese. Really, it's a piece of Americana that really is no longer "American". Yeah, the brewery will still exist (we can only hope), and the beers will remain, but the culture, the history, the familiarity is gone forever.
It just won't "feel" american anymore, and that's the sad thing - and I for one, sadly, now can't even buy Budweiser when I want an American beer here. Only Rolling Rock. Snobs can have all the microbrews they want - a major part of our history and culture is gone forever.
There's no such thing anymore as an all-American company. Shares are bought and sold daily on the world-wide markets. This is a global economy. There's no room for protectionism unless an M&A activity adversely affects national security or induces a monopoly in a given market.
Attitudes like those of Miguel and others indicate that the pace will be quickened to our newly subjugated place in the world economy. The dollar is weak and becoming weaker. First it was Bear Sterns, then Countrywide and IndyMac. Now Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac. Bailouts of the latter are likely, and so is ensuing inflation. Basically, recession is likely and a depression is even possible if this continues.
George Soros knows what's he's talking about. "This incident (with Fannie and Freddie) is not the last one," Soros told Reuters in a phone interview, adding the year-long global financial market turmoil represented "the most serious financial crisis of our lifetime." Ref: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/7651530
- 6,775
captainjackass wrote:I though that AB didn't buy the Latrobe brewery; that some Wisconsin company owns and operates it now.
That is correct. At least the first part. AB bought the brand, not the brewery. As far as who owns the brewery now, I have no idea. I'll assume you are correct.
- 10K
A-B's packaging division is located in St. Louis, right? If so, at least a sale/spin-off would result in a new business for St. Louis. Just looking for any kind of silver lining here.
- 6,775
DeBaliviere wrote:A-B's packaging division is located in St. Louis, right? If so, at least a sale/spin-off would result in a new business for St. Louis. Just looking for any kind of silver lining here.
Yes. Although, I'm not sure why a sale would result in new business for St. Louis.
- 10K
The Central Scrutinizer wrote:Yes. Although, I'm not sure why a sale would result in new business for St. Louis.
I'm just thinking that right now, it's just a division of A-B. If sold off, it becomes XYZ Packaging Corp (or whatever). Instead of serving A-B as its only client, it would have to compete with other packaging companies to build a base of clients and survive. Maybe it expands and becomes much more than what it would have otherwise been under the direction of A-B.
innov8ion wrote:You are mistaken. Rolling Rock is a part of A-B-I. And what's it like to be American, Miguel? I'd like to know. Doesn't America pride itself in being a melting pot of various world-wide cultures? Fittingly, A-B is now a large part of the biggest and truly global beer company, A-B-I.migueltejada wrote:I can't say how disappointed I am after this. Really, it's a kick in the gut. Like if Coca-Cola was bought by some germany company or pepsi by the japanese. Really, it's a piece of Americana that really is no longer "American". Yeah, the brewery will still exist (we can only hope), and the beers will remain, but the culture, the history, the familiarity is gone forever.
It just won't "feel" american anymore, and that's the sad thing - and I for one, sadly, now can't even buy Budweiser when I want an American beer here. Only Rolling Rock. Snobs can have all the microbrews they want - a major part of our history and culture is gone forever.
There's no such thing anymore as an all-American company. Shares are bought and sold daily on the world-wide markets. This is a global economy. There's no room for protectionism unless an M&A activity adversely affects national security or induces a monopoly in a given market.
Attitudes like those of Miguel and others indicate that the pace will be quickened to our newly subjugated place in the world economy. The dollar is weak and becoming weaker. First it was Bear Sterns, then Countrywide and IndyMac. Now Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac. Bailouts of the latter are likely, and so is ensuing inflation. Basically, recession is likely and a depression is even possible if this continues.
George Soros knows what's he's talking about. "This incident (with Fannie and Freddie) is not the last one," Soros told Reuters in a phone interview, adding the year-long global financial market turmoil represented "the most serious financial crisis of our lifetime." Ref: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/7651530
I was talking with my dad the other day and we rarely agree on anything. However we both agreed this current downturn has every indication of being as bad as the "stagflation" days of 1979 and 1980.
- 1,646
The Anheuser-Busch site would make supercool lofts.
- 6,775
DeBaliviere wrote:The Central Scrutinizer wrote:Yes. Although, I'm not sure why a sale would result in new business for St. Louis.
I'm just thinking that right now, it's just a division of A-B. If sold off, it becomes XYZ Packaging Corp (or whatever). Instead of serving A-B as its only client, it would have to compete with other packaging companies to build a base of clients and survive. Maybe it expands and becomes much more than what it would have otherwise been under the direction of A-B.
Oh, I see. But that's how it is now. AB is not their only client.
I wonder what the reaction in Australia would be if SABMiller or InBev bought Foster's? 
^ They would prob not give a damn. Foster's is not looked upon favorably in Australia. Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foster%27s ... _Australia
- 10K
The Central Scrutinizer wrote:Oh, I see. But that's how it is now. AB is not their only client.
Ah, gotcha - thanks.
The Central Scrutinizer wrote:DeBaliviere wrote:The Central Scrutinizer wrote:Yes. Although, I'm not sure why a sale would result in new business for St. Louis.
I'm just thinking that right now, it's just a division of A-B. If sold off, it becomes XYZ Packaging Corp (or whatever). Instead of serving A-B as its only client, it would have to compete with other packaging companies to build a base of clients and survive. Maybe it expands and becomes much more than what it would have otherwise been under the direction of A-B.
Oh, I see. But that's how it is now. AB is not their only client.
True, but a question that could be applied to many a business in the periphery of heritage A-B. For instance, I think a great deal of marketing firms in St. Louis now are faced with the possibility of having to find another teat to suckle from in the wake of A-B-I.
Personally, I can't wait to see what happens to the wholesale distributing market (as I use the term loosely). From several of the articles in the June 20-26 StL Biz Journal, it looks as though nepotism was the name of the game for many heritage A-B distributors in several states, as well as the A-B brass. It makes you wonder if those businesses built their empires through fair competition or through familial connections. Had it been the latter, one could argue that such large scale nepotism helped to well position heritage A-B for a buyout - this is also the main reason why I never considered a career at A-B as I've always had great disdain for the "old boy network" way of business.
- 6,775
ttricamo wrote:The Central Scrutinizer wrote:DeBaliviere wrote:
I'm just thinking that right now, it's just a division of A-B. If sold off, it becomes XYZ Packaging Corp (or whatever). Instead of serving A-B as its only client, it would have to compete with other packaging companies to build a base of clients and survive. Maybe it expands and becomes much more than what it would have otherwise been under the direction of A-B.
Oh, I see. But that's how it is now. AB is not their only client.
True, but a question that could be applied to many a business in the periphery of heritage A-B. For instance, I think a great deal of marketing firms in St. Louis now are faced with the possibility of having to find another teat to suckle from in the wake of A-B-I.
Personally, I can't wait to see what happens to the wholesale distributing market (as I use the term loosely). From several of the articles in the June 20-26 StL Biz Journal, it looks as though nepotism was the name of the game for many heritage A-B distributors in several states, as well as the A-B brass. It makes you wonder if those businesses built their empires through fair competition or through familial connections. Had it been the latter, one could argue that such large scale nepotism helped to well position heritage A-B for a buyout - this is also the main reason why I never considered a career at A-B as I've always had great disdain for the "old boy network" way of business.
I'm not sure I follow your point. At point X in time, person X was awarded an AB wholesalership. And after that, it was passed down to children and grandchildren, etc. Are you suggesting that these wholsalers aren't working as hard as they could be and thus have not sold as much beer as they could have? Perhaps, but I would doubt it.
dweebe wrote:I was talking with my dad the other day and we rarely agree on anything. However we both agreed this current downturn has every indication of being as bad as the "stagflation" days of 1979 and 1980.
Are you serious? We are a looooong way from the 70s. At the low point of the 1970s, around 56% of the Civilian noninstitutional population was employed. In 1999, the peak employment rate, it was 64%. The most recent unadjusted employment estimates for 2008 are between 62.4 and 62.9%.
In the late 70s, inflation was over 13%. The CPI figures for the first half of 2008 are averaging around 4% over the same period last year.
The most recent Real GDP Growth Rate for last quarter was 2.2%. It is forecasted to decrease to about 1.8% this quarter, and then increase again. Between the 1st quarter of 1976 and the 1st quarter of 1980, the Real GDP Growth Rate exceeded 2.0% only once. During the entire 70s decade, 40 quarters of data, the growth rate exceeded 2.0% only 5 times.
You have got to start questioning what you see and hear in the media. Phil Gramm was 100% correct.
What's on tap now for Budweiser? CNBC takes you inside America's 130-year love affair with the King of Beers. Now that InBev has agreed to purchase the iconic American brand, CNBC's "American Originals: Budweiser" offers a first look at the new reality for Bud. Watch CNBC on Thursday, July 17 at 9p/12a ET to see the side of Budweiser you've never seen before... the past the present and the future. Click here for web highlights.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/25348737/?__sour ... 08|&par=bg
Hope you enjoy, let me know if you would like more info!
http://www.cnbc.com/id/25348737/?__sour ... 08|&par=bg
Hope you enjoy, let me know if you would like more info!
That's not what he said. He didn't say we are experiencing stagflation or recession right now. He seems to suggest it may be likely in the future. I agree. Here's some background on the subject: http://www.reuters.com/article/reutersE ... 14?sp=truejlblues wrote:dweebe wrote:I was talking with my dad the other day and we rarely agree on anything. However we both agreed this current downturn has every indication of being as bad as the "stagflation" days of 1979 and 1980.
At the low point of the 1970s, around 56% of the Civilian noninstitutional population was employed. In 1999, the peak employment rate, it was 64%. The most recent unadjusted employment estimates for 2008 are between 62.4 and 62.9%.
In the late 70s, inflation was over 13%. The CPI figures for the first half of 2008 are averaging around 4% over the same period last year.
The most recent Real GDP Growth Rate for last quarter was 2.2%. It is forecasted to decrease to about 1.8% this quarter, and then increase again. Between the 1st quarter of 1976 and the 1st quarter of 1980, the Real GDP Growth Rate exceeded 2.0% only once. During the entire 70s decade, 40 quarters of data, the growth rate exceeded 2.0% only 5 times.
- 923
jlblues wrote:I wonder what the reaction in Australia would be if SABMiller or InBev bought Foster's?
Carlton-United Breweries/Fosters would never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever -- let me repeat that - EVER be sold to a foreign company. It would get blocked before it ever had the chance. Australia is too nationalistic for that to happen - not to mention protective of what little culture they already have. No one drinks fosters here, but CUB makes VB and Carlton, the two most drank beers in Australia. If it did get soldWTF? by sme bizzare reason to a foreign company, Tooheys or Coopers would be the best selling beer in Australia the next day.
I'm not kidding.
And as far as Rolling Rock goes - What? Is anything American anymore? Yeah, every company has foreign investers, whatever, I don't care about that - it's the principle ownership that matters to me (and any union worker if you ask them about what car they buy)
Looks like I'll be importing Fat Tire for the rest of my days - or have they been bought out too? Maybe France will buy the rights to apple pie, and Egpyt will own yellow cake. What's next? I'm still proud to be an American, but it's getting really f*cking tough.
^^
There is no indication that we will experience stagflation, or that this "downturn" will be even remotely comparable to the "days of 1979 and 1980".dweebe wrote:we both agreed this current downturn has every indication of being as bad as the "stagflation" days of 1979 and 1980.