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This month in 1999, the beer biz was in early stages of globalization compared to other industries, and it was predicted it would create extraordinary economic value as brewers consolidate, wrote McKinsey Report, in-house magazine of biggest mgt consulting firm. McKinsey predicted $10 bil rise in global beer biz EBITDA over next decade, from $18 bil to $28 bil. Much of profit growth would come from developing countries. McKinsey pointed out that top 4 soft drink cos controlled 80% of world mkt, top 4 tobacco cos 60%, but top 4 beer cos just 20%. Who was in good shape to gain as globalization moved ahead? McKinsey said Heineken, AB, Interbrew, South African Breweries, Carlsberg. Both Miller and Coors were placed in group more likely to sell or joint venture. That McKinsey report very influential since some of its clients were leading global consolidators. Late great SABMiller ceo Graham Mackay was one of them and many yrs later, he told INSIGHTS that the rise was greater than $10 bil. This week in 2001, Florida Governor Jeb Bush signed into law a measure to lift restrictions on package sizes in 3d biggest US mkt. For decades, only 8, 12, 16 and 32 oz packages were allowed in FL. But new law allowed any size container up to 32 oz. There had been a lot of back and forth on this for several yrs. Importers were especially active in seeking to get it repealed. One source said this was the most significant "anti-import" law existing in US.This week in 2003, INSIGHTS noted how concentrated the import biz was getting, almost as much as domestic beers. In 2002, Heineken, Gambrinus, Barton and Labatt USA shipped 17.5 mil bbls of imports and held 75.4 share of segment. That was up 3 share since '02, with each of top 3 gaining share. Only 5 yrs before, the top 4 had 62 share of imports. In '03, top importers were likely to gain share again, especially once LUSA took over Bass brand in Jul. Bass was ~2% of imports. Nearly a quarter century later, imports became even more concentrated and a whole lot bigger as Constellation (Gambrinus + Barton) makes up nearly 3/4 of import volume on its own.This week in 2004, INSIGHTS pointed out there weren't all that many AB-Guinness distribs in US (AB considered Diageo an archrival), so it was notable when a sizable AB distrib that had Diageo-Guinness USA portfolio made deal to sell it off. Try-It (owned by Vukelic family), was over 6-mil-case distrib at time, struck agreement to sell approximately 200K cases to Wright-Wisner Dist, based in Rochester. Wright-Wisner was already in Buffalo with Snapple and other Cadbury Schweppes products. Its incursion into beer away from home base was interesting because Buffalo still had separate Miller and Coors distribs, even while Try-It was over 55 share. Meanwhile, Try-It was reportedly looking to get bigger in AB network. Wright-Wisner sold ~6 mil cases of beer, including Miller, Coors, imports and Genny (in separate operation).This week in 2005, INSIGHTS reported Diageo was getting good results pitching its combined spirits, wine and beer biz to national chain accounts in effort led up by Harry Bigelow (who was former Guinness sales veep, with extensive Gallo and spirits credentials too). This biz represented ~25% of Diageo's total in North America (near $1 bil) and was growing at a double-digit pace, Harry told INSIGHTS. Diageo was telling chains that if they looked at all alc bevs together that is the #1 category in their stores. That placed Diageo in an advantaged position. "What's next, total alc bev category mgt?" wondered INSIGHTS.This week in 2010, INSIGHTS shared example of power/effectiveness of 3-tier system. North American Breweries ceo Rich Lozyniak reached out about a Labatt Blue Light glass 6-pack recall, which broke over Memorial Day weekend. Imagine: NAB notified of "glass inclusion" at 4:20 on Friday of Memorial Day weekend in small % of up to 12,000 cases produced. Of that, 7300 cases got shipped to 14 distribs in 5 states. Within 3 hours, NAB was able to quarantine 94.5% of those cases. Within 24 hours, over 99%. By Memorial Day, product pulled, media outreach happened, retailers notified and only about 74 cases were unaccounted for. "No complaints whatsoever," so far, said Rich. "What could have been big mess, seemingly handled adroitly with speed. So hats off to NAB and its distribs," wrote INSIGHTS.This week in 2012, Heidelberg closed deal to buy 1.2-mil-case Hill Dist in Columbus, OH, which came with several significant outcomes. Most important for Heidelberg, deal got done and Crown was staying put (about 40% of volume) as well as many other smaller suppliers. With this purchase, Heidelberg had nearly 1.5 mil cases of beer in local mkt as well as 800K or so cases of wine. Then too, Heidelberg bought InBev import brands that were ~12% of volume but was looking to resolve footprint issues with local AB distrib Columbus Dist, which of course was interested in buying the ABI brands. "Our primary goal," said Heidelberg prexy Vail Miller Jr, was "winning for our supplier partners so that we can win for our retail partners." Heidelberg was also AB distrib in several other parts of OH. The other interesting twist was Diageo, which bought back its own brands, about 20% of biz in deal.

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