Pricing and Distribution Drive Import Growth

Despite a price-related slowdown toward the end of the year, imported beer experienced one of the best years on record. Imported beer case volume in ACNielsen supermarket scans was up 6.3% for 2006, which far outpaced the total category performance, which was down 1.4%. Imported beer dollar sales were even stronger for the year, up 9%. Import revenues in c-stores were up 22% and it gained a share and a half in that important channel, where like the craft beers