Anheuser-Busch to raise US beer $, and patent area codes

[mr x]

http://www.cspnet.com/ME2/Audiences/dir ... 182A48D9D7" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A-B Dials Up U.S. Beer Prices
Higher commodity costs prompt increase across portfolio; brewer trademarks area codes

ST. LOUIS -- Anheuser-Busch said on Tuesday that it plans to raise prices by 3% to 5% across its beer portfolio in October, reported Reuters. A-B seeks to offset higher commodity costs, it said.

The maker of Budweiser and Bud Light said the increases--which will vary by brand, package and market--will go through on October 3.

In a statement provided to CSP Daily News, a company spokesperson said, "Anheuser-Busch confirms it is continuing its U.S. pricing strategy with an increase on October 3 in most markets, and it varies by brand and package. Increases will be between 3% and 5% and will vary by market. The company’s objective is to continue its strategy of working to close the gap between our premiums and sub-premiums to a reasonable level and help offset recent cost increases driven by commodity fluctuations and other macro-economic factors."

In other company news, A-B recently filed applications to trademark the signature area codes of 15 U.S. cities. Chicago-based Goose Island parent Fulton Street Brewery LLC, acquired by A-B as part of a $38.8 million deal earlier this year, holds registered trademarks on "312 Urban Wheat" and "312 Urban Wheat Ale Goose Island Chicago." When the acquisition was announced, Anheuser-Busch pledged to pump $1.3 million into boosting Goose Island's brewing capacity.

A search by The Chicago Tribune of the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office's online database shows that on May 20, A-B filed applications to trademark: "704" (Charlotte, N.C.), "216" (Cleveland), "214" (Dallas), "303" (Denver), "713" (Houston), "702" (Las Vegas), "305" (Miami), "615" (Nashville, Tenn.), "215" (Philadelphia), "602" (Phoenix), "412" (Pittsburgh), "619" (San Diego), "415" (San Francisco), "314" (St. Louis) and "202" (Washington).

Scott Slavick, who specializes in trademark law at Chicago-based intellectual property firm Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, said the intent of AB appears clear. "My guess is they want to come out with sort of local-sounding beer products," he told the newspaper. "People enjoy thinking that they're getting beer from a particular area."

A-B confirmed the applications, said the report, but it would not say what it intended to do with the names.

Based in St. Louis, Anheuser-Busch, the U.S. subsidiary of Belgium-based Anheuser-Busch InBev, brews the world's largest-selling beers, Budweiser and Bud Light. It also owns a 50% share in Grupo Modelo, Mexico's leading brewer.

[LiverDance]

NASH, get on the 902 Brew!!

[KMcK]

A trademark is not a patent.

[derek]

A trademark is not a patent.

No it isn't, but patents are actually less restrictive: you patent something, you license its use; you get a trademark, you deny anybody else the right to use it - and you're legally required to do so, or you'll lose your trademark. Trademark law has long held that you can't trademark a word - Miller got a trademark on 'lite' because it was ruled _not_ to be a real word! (as any English teacher will agree). So, how do you trademark a number? Goose Island's trademarks are not for "312", they're for the area code followed by a specific phrase. otoh, despite actual practice, patent law says you can't get a patent for something for which there is "prior art", whereas trademark law may actually allow you to trademark something that has been used by, say, telephone companies for decades.

[KMcK]

Yeah, I know that.

[Jimmy]

NASH, get on the 902 Brew!!

Too late, AB is doing it.

[Jimmy]

NASH, get on the 902 Brew!!

Too late, AB is doing it.

A little follow up on this. InBev actually has a 902 brew ready to hit the shelves..I'm not sure of the date, but as far as I know, it's coming soon or is already out there.

[BobbyOK]

NASH, get on the 902 Brew!!

Too late, AB is doing it.

A little follow up on this. InBev actually has a 902 brew ready to hit the shelves..I'm not sure of the date, but as far as I know, it's coming soon or is already out there.

Re-branding AK?

[benwedge]

NASH, get on the 902 Brew!!

Too late, AB is doing it.

A little follow up on this. InBev actually has a 902 brew ready to hit the shelves..I'm not sure of the date, but as far as I know, it's coming soon or is already out there.

InBev = AB.

[Jimmy]

InBev = AB.

Yeah, I know.. I just didn't look at how I referenced them in my original post.

[mr x]

We have a new code in Nova Scotia. Somebody grab it quick.

[erslar00]

I just watched Beerwars and I must admit AB is worse than I expected. They don't even try and hide it, they're proud of their rutlhless behavior. Sam Caligone summed it up well, they're putting a product into a bottle to please shareholders and nothing more.

[mr x]

I liken their use of beer to the same way the cigarette companies used cigarettes. One was a nicotine delivery system, this one is alcohol.

Sent from my Nexus S

[Dirt Chicken]

NASH, get on the 902 Brew!!

Too late, AB is doing it.

A little follow up on this. InBev actually has a 902 brew ready to hit the shelves..I'm not sure of the date, but as far as I know, it's coming soon or is already out there.

I remember reading a brewnoser blog, Darkside brewing( http://darksidebrewing.blogspot.ca/sear ... date=false) posted a while back about the hidden " Labatt Beer Institute" in the Keith's Brewery. They had the Labat 902 on tap there January this year.

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