Ab Inbev

craft beer is stronger than ever in the states.

if someone wants to be bought, they will be bought. this is common in many industries.

>>1452740
"Stronger than ever". abinbev has monopoly power in the global brewing market. They have 1/3 of the entire beer production in the world and they just bought the second. I just don't get why antitrust regulations haven't stopped them

>>1452740
>>1452746
And Abinbev controls 90% of some beer markets throughout the world.

>>1452746

it is stronger than ever.

their sales are way down

>>1452746
I imagine they haven't been the subject of regulations because the startup costs of a small brewery aren't really that high and the product isn't technologically difficult to produce, so there will always be a reasonable threat of new competition.

>>1452751
Yeah, but craft doing well doesn't change the reality of the market. A firm operating with monopoly power shouldn't be happening and shouldn't be allowed to continually make big plays in the global market.

Abinbev plays by US trade regulations when they are operating there, but everywhere else that doesn't have those regulations is being fucked.

>>1452755
It's not the startup cost. The scale that they are able to produce at is unimaginable. The distribution network that is in their back pocket spans the whole world

>>1452762
Scale makes no difference.

Pretty hard to monopolize a luxury that people can make in their kitchens with little effort. Or they can simply open a brewery like so many people have in the last few years.

If you want to get upset about something look at the incentives they give distributors if they only carry their beer, no craft allowed. It reeks of desperation as they have been bleeding market share to little guys for years now.

>>1452839
You can call it a luxury, but it's one that every class consumes, even homeless in the entire world. #1 alcoholic beverage in the world

The returns to scale that allow them to package and sell 30 packs for the same price as some 6 packs. They pay way more for the packaging than they do the beer, that's pretty much all they pay for.

Being able to bottle/can for a brewery is big on its own. It takes money, space and distributors.