Dive Summary:
- Anheuser-Busch InBev's Grupo Modelo and a Heineken brewer will know this week whether they can retain exclusivity agreements with convenience stores and restaurants when Mexico's Federal Competition Commission makes a June ruling public.
- The antitrust complaint over the agreements was brought by SABMiller and several small Mexican beer companies, including Mexico City's Cerveceria Primus.
- The Mexican beer market is dominated by Modelo, which holds 58% of the market share, while Heineken's Cervceria Cuauhtemoc Moctezuma holds 41%, so an end to the exclusivity agreements would put the two in increased competition with craft brewers.
From the article:
... About half of Mexico's beer sales come through small convenience stores, many of which sell only one of the two brewer's brands, the Journal reports. About 15 percent of beer sales in Mexico come at restaurants and bars. ...
