Busch page 1

Busch page 1 by ric gustafson


On May 13 2008, several hundred Anheuser Busch distributors eagerly awaited the man of the hour. That man was August Busch IV, the President and CEO of Anheuser Busch Inc. He was called ' The Fourth' and this was an important event for the company. This event coincided with the seventy fifth anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition.
Busch had a lot to talk about that night. Beer sales were on the decline. Milwaukee's Miller Brewing had merged with a London based firm to become SABMiller. Canada's Molson had merged with Colorado's Adolf Coors to form Molson Coors. And Interbrew SA had merged with Brazil's AmBev to create InBev.
Anheuser Busch was still the most profitable maker in the US with about fifty percent of all beer sales. But the company was now number two in volume and it's stock price had gone flat. Busch the Fourth knew that InBev was interested in a takeover. Busch said not on his watch.
Busch the Fourth was the sixth Busch to head the St Louis based brewery. Busch's great great grandfather Adolphus Busch founded the company right after the Civil War. Over five generations the family had taken a small bankrupt brewery to a giant that pumped out more than 100 million barrels a year. Budweiser was now the most popular beer on the planet.
Everyone waited patiently for August Anheuser Busch IV to arrive.


research help: ' Bitter Brew' by William Knoedelseder


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric