Anheuser-Busch and Budejovicky Budvar Form US Alliance
08 Enero 2007 - 8:23AM
UK Regulatory
Anheuser-Busch and Czech Brewer Budejovicky Budvar Form Historic
Alliance in U.S. Market
Czechvar Beer to Gain Access to Anheuser-Busch's Marketing, Sales
Resources and Wholesaler Network
ST. LOUIS and CESKE BUDEJOVICE, Czech Republic, Jan. 8 -- After nearly a
century of disagreements in certain parts of the world over rights to the
Budweiser name for their beers, Anheuser-Busch (NYSE: BUD) and Czech brewer
Budejovicky Budvar (BBNP) have formed a historic alliance in which Anheuser-
Busch will become the U.S. importer of Czechvar Premium Czech Lager, the two
brewers jointly announced today.
The agreement gives Czechvar, currently sold in 30 states, access to
Anheuser-Busch's marketing and sales expertise and wide-reaching U.S.
distribution network. It gives Anheuser-Busch another European import as part
of an aggressive push into high-end beer categories that has led to alliances
with Grolsch, Tiger, Kirin and most recently InBev, which added Stella Artois,
Beck's, Bass Pale Ale and other beers to its import portfolio.
The agreement does not impact existing litigation or trademark disputes
between the two brewers in other countries, and they have agreed the
partnership cannot be used to support either side in any trademark cases.
"After years of differences, this is a meaningful step for two great
brewers to form a relationship that is good for both of our businesses," said
August A. Busch IV, president and chief executive officer of Anheuser-Busch
Companies, Inc. "For Anheuser-Busch, it also represents an opportunity to
enhance our import portfolio with a super-premium Czech import. Working with
our family of wholesalers, we look forward to introducing Czechvar to a new
audience of beer lovers."
The imported Czechvar beer will continue to be brewed at the BBNP brewery
in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
"Our business agreement will particularly please all connoisseurs of
imported beers in the USA. Experience of many brewers' generations, who have
brewed beer in our town for more than 700 years, lies behind our premium
lager," said BBNP's CEO, Jiri Bocek.
"At the same time, the agreement represents a historical turning point
between our companies. We have managed to move away from discussions between
lawyers and towards a practical dialogue, which is going to be beneficial to
both sides. Our corporation has therefore gained the best importer in the
USA," added Bocek.
Czechvar is a super-premium light lager. A 90-day maturing period and use
of only top-quality ingredients, including Saaz hops, assorted Moravian malt
barley and pure spring water gives this beer its characteristics. Czechvar
features a thick head, distinctly golden color and full aroma.
The brand is available in individual 330 milliliter bottles, in six- and
12-packs of 330 milliliter bottles, in a 500 milliliter bottle and on draught.
The agreement will broaden Czechvar's U.S. distribution by giving the
Czech brewer access to the Anheuser-Busch network of nearly 600 independent
wholesalers. The European import is an important addition for Anheuser-Busch
wholesalers as imported beer is one of the fastest-growing segments of the
U.S. beer industry. The U.S. import segment grew 7 percent in 2005 and
10 percent through the third quarter in 2006.
The agreement was effective Jan. 5. Terms were not disclosed.
BBNP brewery, based in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, has long been one
of the most successful Czech companies in the food and drink industry. Thanks
to its gradual and goal-oriented expansion into foreign markets and the
strengthening of sales on the domestic market, BBNP managed to achieve a
significant position in the beer market both in the Czech Republic and abroad.
Based on the volume of exported beer, the original Czech premium lager brewed
by BBNP is one of the best-selling Czech beers abroad. This beer has earned
numerous medals and diplomas from domestic and foreign quality competitions.
Today BBNP exports nearly half of its output to more than 50 countries on five
continents. For more information, visit http://www.czechvar.com .
Based in St. Louis, Anheuser-Busch is the leading American brewer, holding
a 48.8 percent share of U.S. beer sales. The company brews the world's
largest-selling beers, Budweiser and Bud Light. Anheuser-Busch also owns a
50 percent share in Grupo Modelo, Mexico's leading brewer, and a 27 percent
share in China brewer Tsingtao. Anheuser-Busch ranked No. 1 among beverage
companies in FORTUNE Magazine's Most Admired U.S. and Global Companies lists
in 2006. Anheuser-Busch is one of the largest theme park operators in the
United States, is a major manufacturer of aluminum cans and one of the world's
largest recyclers of aluminum cans. For more information, visit
http://www.anheuser-busch.com .
SOURCE Anheuser-Busch
-0- 01/08/2007
/CONTACT: Kelli Powers of Anheuser-Busch, +1-314-577-9618,
kelli.powers@anheuser-busch.com , or Petr Samec of Budejovicky Budvar,
++420 606 757 997, petr.samec@budvar.cz /
/Web site: http://www.anheuser-busch.com
http://www.czechvar.com /
(BUD)
END
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