Brazil: Beverage Association request antitrust investigation into AmBev’s bottling policy

Brazilian brewers have requested that antitrust regulators investigate the bottling policy of Companhia de Bebidas das Americas, or AmBev, Dow Jones reported on August, 21.

The Brazilian Beverage Association, or Abrabe, complained that Ambev has broken convention by engraving the company name on its reusable one-litre bottles.

By engraving the name, AmBev unfairly increases loyalty among resellers, Abrabe claims.

"You can't forget that AmBev has a dominant position in the market. As a result, small moves [by the company] can cause big losses for the competition," said Paula Forgioni, Abrabe's lawyer.

AmBev, the local unit of the Belgium-based AB InBev NV, commanded 69% of the Brazilian beer market in June.

26 August, 2009