USA: St. Pauli Girl beer to be distributed by Anheuser-Busch as from June, 1

Crown Imports is losing its import duties for St. Pauli Girl beer, ChicagoBusiness.com reported on April, 11.

The German beer brand will go back to Anheuser-Busch InBev's U.S. subsidiary in St. Louis on June 1, according to a report in Beer Business Daily. It cited a memo Anheuser sent to distributors.

Anheuser brews the beer, known for its label that features a buxom woman in traditional German garb, in Europe. St. Pauli Girl had an import contract through the end of the year with Crown, the Chicago-based joint venture of Mexico's Grupo Modelo and Victor, N.Y.-based Constellation Brands Inc.

St. Pauli Girl sales were down 21.4 percent in 2011, Crown told wholesalers at its National Distributor Meeting, said Harry Schuhmacher, editor and publisher of the beer newsletter.

Crown Imports spokesman Bill Ligas said the company has imported St. Pauli Girl for more than 20 years.

It's a small brand compared to Crown's other beers under the Modelo and Tsingtao breweries. Mr. Ligas confirmed that Crown recently signed a new deal with Tsingtao.

In a memo, Crown Imports President Bill Hackett told wholesalers that its importation, sales and marketing arrangements with Anheuser were due to “sunset” end at the end of 2012.

In light of Anheuser not renewing the Crown agreement and Anheuser's “future plans for St. Pauli Girl,” Crown agreed to “transition the business in advance of the expiration of the agreement,” he wrote. The transition goes into effect June 1.

Mr. Hackett went on to say that the company plans to continue building its business through partners at the Grupo Modelo and Tsingtao breweries.

13 April, 2012