Another great look at IRI data in supers from veep Dan Wandel showed total light beer up 1.4% yr-to-date thru Apr 20.  Both AB and Miller losing share of light beer.  AB’s total light portfolio up 0.4%, Miller’s down 0.6%.  Big gainers: Coors’ light brands up 7.3% and import lights up 5.3%. 

Drilling down further, Bud Light remains healthy.  Up 1.7% YTD, growing slightly faster than all light beers.  But Miller Lite down 1.2% (more in most recent periods).  And Coors Light up 5.8%.  So trends of big 3 light beers diverge pretty sharply at this point.  Those 3 brands are 61% of light beer volume in supers so far in 08.  Coors   results further bolstered by strong performance of #7 light brand, Keystone Light, up 13.7% yr-to-date.  AB also getting solid growth from #5 Busch Light, up 4.7% and #6 Mich Ultra up 2.2%. But #4 Natty Light down 1% in supers (up in c-stores) and #9 Bud Select still down 17%.  Miller’s 2d biggest light brand is fading Mil Best Light (#8), down 7.2%.  Rounding out top 10, Corona Light up 2% yr-to-date.