AB InBev CEO Carlos Brito has defended his company’s takeover of rival brewer SABMiller to a doubtful US Senate committee as he faced questions over its impact on the US beer market. AB Inbev CEO Carlos Brito was one of several witnesses called in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senators expressed their worries about the merger, saying that it could threaten the country’s burgeoning craft beer sector. Distribution was a particular focus of the hearing on Tuesday, as Senators aired fears that smaller beer brands will find it more difficult to find a way into stores following the takeover. They also questioned Brito over the possibility of the megabrewer dominating demand for supplies such as hops, barley and aluminium. The three-tier distribution setup in the US insists that brewers must sell their products to distributors before they can be sold on to retailers and on-trade venues. AB InBev owns 21 distributors across America, allowing its beer brands greater access to consumers. (December 2015)
