Report: U.S. investigating Anheuser-Busch over alleged plot to strangle craft breweries

Craft brewers are accusing multinational beer giant Anheuser-Busch InBev of trying to crush them by buying up distributors then cutting off their access to store shelves, and the U.S. Justice Department is looking into those claims, Reuters reports, citing "three people familiar with the matter." In many states, breweries can't sell to the public without going through distributors.

AB InBev has purchased five distributors in three states over the past few months, and the fast-growing craft brewing industry says that once the world's largest beer company is in charge, the smaller breweries start losing access to stores and their sales stagnate. The antitrust investigation, still in its early stages, is also examining claims that AB InBev pressures independent distributors to end their deals with craft brewers. Two of the company's recent purchases were in California, and California regulators are also looking into the allegations, Reuters said.

AB InBev confirmed to Reuters that it is talking to regulators: "Anheuser-Busch has been in communication with the Department of Justice and California attorney general's office about the transactions. We are working cooperatively to address any questions they have."

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