Anheuser-Busch, Constellation Brands Execs Discuss Craft Beer Category at Brewbound Live 2018

Jan. 2, 2019 at 4:56 PM

Craft and specialty executives from Anheuser-Busch and Constellation Brands discussed their companies’ evolving portfolio strategies on Day One of the 2018 Brewbound Live business conference, held in Santa Monica, California, on November 27, 2018.

Felipe Szpigel is the former president of Anheuser-Busch’s craft division, The High End. A 17-year veteran of Anheuser-Busch InBev, Szpigel led the high-end and craft business unit between October 2014 and December 2018. He was instrumental in shaping A-B’s craft acquisition strategy, which included the purchases of Goose Island, Blue Point Brewing, 10 Barrel Brewing, Elysian Brewing, Golden Road, Breckenridge, Four Peaks, Devils Backbone, Karbach, and Wicked Weed. During his time as president of The High End, Szpigel also oversaw the creation of a Latin American-inspired craft brand in Miami, called Veza Sur, as well as the purchases of Virtue Cider in Michigan and Spiked Seltzer.

Ben Dollard is the president of Constellation Brands’ craft & specialty beer division and a member of the beer leadership team. He first joined Constellation in 2001 as the senior vice president marketing of Pacific Wine Partners (PWP). Constellation’s craft beer acquisitions include the $1 billion purchase of Ballast Point, as well as Funky Buddha Brewing in Florida and Four Corners Brewing in Texas.