Miller Time got a brand new 'Mile High Taste' as Miller and Coors brewing companies announced their merger of U.S. operations Tuesday, possibly affecting the entire state of Wisconsin.
SABMiller and Molson Coors will combine to total about $6.6 billion in annual revenue while saving $500 million in cost cutting measures, according to a statement from Miller.
Molson Coors Vice Chairman Pete Coors said in a statement that consumers' broadening tastes towards wine, spirits, global beer and specialty brewers have taken a larger share of volume and profit growth.
Creating a stronger U.S. brewer will help us meet these challenges, compete more effectively and provide U.S. consumers with more choice, greater product availability and increased innovation,"" Coors said.
Chris Orth and Karl Galka of Riley's Wines of the World on 402 W. Gorman St. agreed that buying trends in liquor sales and specialty beers have increased while beer barrel sales have decreased.
Orth and Galka said despite what happens with the merger, the main factor that influences students' buying habits is cost.
In the Miller press release yesterday, Graham Mackay, chief executive of SABMiller, said his company is excited for the prospects for growth.
""We expect [the merger] will create significant value for shareholders while benefiting distributors, consumers, retailers and the market overall,"" Mackay said.
Carla Vigue, spokesperson for Gov. Jim Doyle, said the governor has discussed the merger with people from Miller, which is partially based in Wisconsin.
""[The governor] is obviously interested in ensuring that the merger does not impact the number of employees here in the state and we don't think that is going to happen,"" Vigue said.
Phil Walzak, spokesperson for Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett's office, said the merger should be good for the city of Milwaukee, where the company's main brewery and headquarters are located.
""Mayor Barrett feels very strongly that Miller has been a very important part of the fabric of Milwaukee for more than 120 years; it has been a great corporate citizen,"" Walzak said.
Walzak said Barrett has been assured the 900 brewery employee jobs will remain in the city and that the 800 corporate jobs are undetermined.
Walzak also said the Mayor realizes the importance of keeping the corporate jobs in Milwaukee, and will try to convince Miller of such.
SABMiller could not be reached for comment as of press time.
