A-B Dodges Bullet

A-B Dodges A BulletAnheuser-Busch's strategy over the last two years of widening their portfolio has proven to pay off for the brewer as their core brands continue to lose share, with declines accelerating in the fourth quarter against a tough comparison.A-B increased U.S. shipments to wholesalers to 104.4 million barrels in 2007 -- up 2.1 million barrels or 2% over 2006. Chief August Busch IV said the company's newly added InBev European brands as part of "the success of our