CANADA: Molson Coors speaks out over Miller sales performance

By | 28 February 2013

Coors has come out fighting after SABMiller said it wants to end its contract in Canada

Coors has come out fighting after SABMiller said it wants to end its contract in Canada

Molson Coors has defended its record over selling Miller brands in Canada and said it will “strongly defend” its rights to keep distributing them in the country. 

SABMiller-owned Miller Brewing Company confirmed yesterday (27 February) that it is cancelling its licensing agreement with Molson Coors, as it believes it can grow its brands better under its own steam. The contract is due to end on 22 July, after Miller gave six month's notice. 

However, Molson Coors has lodged a lawsuit in Ontario against the move. 

In response to SABMiller’s comment’s, the North American brewer issued a statement yesterday saying that it will be “strongly defending our rights to market and sell Miller brands in Canada” as part of the legal action.

Peter Nowlan, Molson Coors Canada’s COO, added that the company is “proud of the success Miller brands have achieved in Canada under our stewardship for the past twenty years”. 

Miller has alleged that Molson Coors had “failed to meet certain volume sales targets”, according to a filing from the North American brewer.

Molson Coors will also argue that Miller has breached the licensing agreement by trying to terminate it, according to the filing.  

For the past five years, Coors and SABMiller have operated a JV in the US, MillerCoors. 

Expert analysis

Beer in Canada

Beer in Canada industry profile provides top-line qualitative and quantitative summary information including: market share, market size (value and volume 2006-10, and forecast to 2015). The profile also contains descriptions of the leading players including key financial metrics and analysis of competitive pressures within the market. Essential resource for top-line data and analysis covering the Canada beer market. Includes market size and segmentation data, textual and graphical analysis of market growth trends, leading companies and macroeconomic information.

Sectors: Beer & cider

Companies: Coors, SABMiller, Miller Brewing

View next/previous articles

Currently reading -

CANADA: Molson Coors speaks out over Miller sales performance

There are currently no comments on this article

Be the first to comment on this article

Related research

Molson Coors Brewing Company: Consumer Packaged Goods Company Profile, SWOT & Financial Report

Canadean's "Molson Coors Brewing Company : Consumer Packaged Goods - Company Profile, SWOT & Financial Report" contains in depth information and data about the company and its operations. The profile contains a company overview, key facts,major produ...

Molson Coors Brewing Company - SWOT, Strategy and Corporate Finance Report

Molson Coors Brewing Company - SWOT, Strategy and Corporate Finance Report, is a source of comprehensive company data and information. The report covers the company’s structure, operation, SWOT analysis, product and service offerings, detailed financ...

Molson Coors Brewing Company (TAP) - Financial and Strategic SWOT Analysis Review

Molson Coors Brewing Company (MCBC) is an alcohol beverage company. It manufactures and markets beers and other beverage products through its subsidiaries across the world. The company commercializes its products under a line of owned and partner bra...

Related articles

just For Subscribers - The week in drinks

Here are the ten most viewed, subscriber-only items on just-drinks this week:

Analysis - Molson Coors, Carlsberg ready for craft "threat"

Molson Coors and Carlsberg are the best-placed multi-national brewers to "weather the storm" of craft beer and neutralise its "threat" to larger players, an analyst has said.

just For Subscribers - The week in drinks

Here are the ten most viewed, subscriber-only items on just-drinks this week:

just-drinks tagline

Not a member? Join here

Decrease font sizeDecrease font sizeDecrease font size Increase font sizeIncrease font sizeIncrease font size Comment on this article Email this to a friend Print this page