As beer drinkers scoop up brews this week for Memorial Day barbecues, brewing companies are preparing for what they hope will be another hot summer of sales. The first two weeks of May were warmer than average across the continental United States, giving the key beverage season an early start. But it's still early.
Weather is an important factor in the business.
Analysts said Anheuser-Busch Cos Inc. is poised to maintain its lead going into the summer, which many people see starting with the Memorial Day holiday. Memorial Day is May 28. Anheuser-Busch said sales to retailers jumped 2.7 percent in the first six weeks of the second quarter, a much stronger increase then the 0.3 percent increase registered for the whole of the first quarter. And, according to UBS Warburg's Caroline Levy, Miller distributors have said that volumes have substantially improved in the last few weeks, moving from negative to positive in some of the largest markets. Miller Brewing Co., the No. 2 player and a unit of Philip Morris Cos Inc. , saw its volume drop in recent quarters, but has said it is addressing its challenges.