Canada: Canadian Brewers are cutting beer prices

Brewers like Molson Coors Brewing Co. and Brick Brewing Co. have had to cut prices on compete in the discount-beer segment, Bloomberg commented on May 20.

Consumers “would rather spend less on beer,'' Jim Brickman, Brick's founder, said in a May 16 telephone interview. “We will make sure nobody undercuts us.''

Prices of alcoholic beverages rose 0.9 percent over the past year.

“Our biggest competitive issue in Canada is low-price brand dynamics in Ontario and Alberta,'' said Molson Coors' Chief Executive Leo Kiely at the company's annual meeting on May 11. “We're following where those prices are going.''