A spokesman for more than 50 small-scale or “craft” breweries in Iowa is warning the proposed merger of the world’s two largest beer companies could endanger the craft beer industry.  “As the craft brewing industry continues to represent true job and sales growth in an otherwise flat sector, craft breweries may encounter problems if this acquisition proceeds.” J. Wilson of Prescott, was hired last year to be the coordinator for the Iowa Brewers Guild. He’s in Washington, D.C. today (Tuesday), testifying at a U.S. Senate hearing examining the merger between Anheuser-Busch InBev — the maker of Budweiser — and S-A-B-Miller.

“If this deal is allowed to proceed, growing craft breweries in Iowa and elsewhere fear difficulty with access to both market and raw materials,” Wilson says. Craft beer now accounts for 11 percent of total beer sales, but Wilson warns Anheuser-Busch has great influence in the distribution chain and could try to squeeze out that competition.

“With deep pockets already allowing ABI to hold sway over many wholesalers on marketing incentives, the amount of influence a combined company of this magnitude would have over market access is startling,” Wilson says. Anheuser-Busch has purchased 12 independent distributors in nine states since 2012. Wilson says Busch family members own five other distributorships.

“While market access is an on-going battle that small craft brewers have infiltrated by offering a wide range of locally-produced, flavor-forward products, the ability to produce or package them could soon be hindered if the merger is allowed,” Wilson says. “This mega-brewery would have an even greater impact on brewing inputs such as malted barley and hops and packaging materials like bottles and cans. The hops supply is already tenuous and while malt production can easily be increased, expansion of hops acreage is costly and hop plants take three years to reach maturity.”

Wilson is urging federal officials to force Anheuser-Busch to sell off the wholesale distributorships and examine how the merger would impact the supply of raw materials.  “I favor healthy competition, but a merger of this magnitude could impact supply access and threaten the wholesale tier of the system,” Wilson says “I urge you to protect competition and consumer choice.” If the two beer companies are allowed to merge, the new company would control a third of the world’s beer suppply, including brands like Corona, Stella Artois, Grolsch as well as Budweiser.

Anheuser-Busch is already the leading beer company in the U.S., Mexico and Brazil. By acquiring S-A-B Miller, it will grow in Latin America and Africa at a time when the tastes of U.S. consumers are shifting to craft beers and cocktails.

(Radio Iowa)