The recession-proof beverage

Wednesday, March 12, 2008 | 2:39 p.m. | By Terry Lefton | Comments | Print

Tony Ponturo

Like nearly every national brand we talk to, Anheuser-Busch is wary of the recent string of bad economic news, but says it hasn't been hurt — at least not yet. Before joining the opening panel this morning, Anheuser-Busch media and sports marketing chief Tony Ponturo said that Bud and Bud Light's pricing versus craft and import brews may be an advantage. "We're watching the economy closely, but it seems like our pricing is holding,'' he said. "Domestically, we come up pretty affordable next to some of the competition. It is an affordable product at a time more consumers may be looking for an alternative.''