Megabrands Stabilizing This Summer; 4 of 6 Flat/Up for 12 Weeks in Nielsen

This could be silver lining as beer biz slogs thru summer of 2010: improved trends for megabrands. Each of Coors Light and Corona volume up solidly for 12 weeks thru Aug 14 in Nielsen food/liquor/drug/convenience. Coors Light volume up 2.3% and Corona up 3.5% for 12 weeks. Each gained 0.1 share of volume. But most striking improvements are for 2 megalight brands Bud Light and Miller Lite, each flattish. Miller Lite actually up 0.4% and held share for 12 weeks in Nielsen data. And Bud Light down 0.3% and down 0.2 share, also a significant improvement from its yr-to-date trend. Note: Nielsen data shows food/drug/liquor/convenience beer biz up slightly (0.5%) for 12 weeks, so trends for megabrands better than in similar IRI data base. But they’re improving in each.

NAB Invests $3.5 Mil in Genny 24-Oz Can Line; Adds People; Genny Up 20%+

North American Breweries keeps ramping up investment in Genesee Brewery, adding jobs and now growing sales. With $3.5 mil investment in 24-oz can production line that can produce 30,000 cases per day, Genny brewery will add 12 more jobs to “work the line” and has added 65 people in the last year for a total of 430. Genny brand already up 20%+ yr-to-date in both shipments and depletions, NAB ceo Rich Lozyniak told INSIGHTS, but heretofore it hasn’t even sold hot 24 oz can package. This will “pour gasoline on the fire,” Rich added. Single serves are more than 50% of beer unit sales in c-stores, NAB said. Genny partnered with Rexam on this line and package will be available Oct 1. New 24-oz line will also “further develop our relationships with contract brewing partners.” Apples-to-apples, NAB contract production up 20-25% too.

Click here for the debate on the CARE bill at the 2010 NCSLA meeting.

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