Bud Buys Rolling Rock; Latrobe Lives Lost ©

More often than not, life is personal. Journalist, authors, and bloggers write of politics, economics, education, and the law; however, their interest is individual. They, as people personally respond to a particular policy, position, or practice. Writers also respond to people. In this writing, I am. Days ago I received an email from a friend; she wrote in desperation. This woman sent out a mass mailing apologizing for the practice and stressing the situation is dire.

Mary [not her real name] wrote,

I know this is a mass email, but at this point, I will try anything to help save the jobs of not only my husband but also the other 249 families. Please help and thanks for your support.

Mary enclosed a link to the petition Keep Rolling Rock in Latrobe

I clicked on the link and began to read a well-composed and pleading letter.

To: August A. Busch IV

Mr. August A. Busch IV, 

We, the people of Latrobe and surrounding communities, as well as Rolling Rock drinkers everywhere ask that Rolling Rock be kept in Latrobe Pennsylvania. Your company and name have always been associated with strong family tradition. You are quoted as saying, “We have an ideal opportunity to grow this historic brand. This beer is not like others and its consumer following is equally distinctive.” We ask you not ruin this beers rich history by moving it out of its birthplace.

You [Mr. Busch] would be stripping the city of everything it has known for over a century. The brewery and everything it represents coincide with Latrobe; Latrobe is Rolling Rock, Rolling Rock is Latrobe. We the people are not upset or bothered by the purchase; we hope you can help grow this great brand. We do, however, ask that you keep Rolling Rock in its hometown. If expansion is necessary, so be it. But please, for the sake of a city and all Rolling Rock fans, we ask that you keep Rolling Rocks base in its mother city, and keep our family alive.

Sincerely, The Undersigned

At the time of this writing, there are a total of 11866 Signatures.

I am penning this quickly and asking you to reach out. This for me illustrates how a big business, in this case a brewery, can purchase a smaller company, for all the right reasons, profitability, name recognition, reputation, a loyal following, because they are a force to be reckon with; yet, they forget all that made this company strong, the people.

Mary, my acquaintance wrote to me of her situation. Her husband, John, has worked for the company for over twenty-six years. John is a hard worker; he cares and has for all these years. He took so much pride in what was “his place” of work and the product. According to Mary and to an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review all of this was done in the dark of night. No one had any idea of what was happening. Lives were overturned with little care.

Please read the article and the sad stories residents of Latrobe and employees of Rolling Rock share. They are painful; yet important.
Bud buys Rolling Rock; Latrobe Brewing's future uncertain

The city is as Mary and John are, shocked and distraught. Anheuser-Busch, leader in the U.S. beer industry, bought the Rolling Rock brand, the recipe, and the right to brew the beverage. However, they had no interest in the facilities or the people that these breweries employed.

Those that know me well might wonder why I would write a communiqué on Rolling Rock beer and its production facilities. In my entire life, I have never had a drink of alcohol. Until two months ago, I never heard of Rolling Rock beer, though I recall the moment I did. I was at a party, and when a young man saw that Rolling Rock was available, he decided he could stay all night. A month later, I had a similar experience.

You might wonder, dear reader how I could have not known of John’s employer. I know Mary. I knew that she lived in Latrobe; we spoke of her husband, their long and happy marriage, their five children and more. Yet, we never spoke of Rolling Rock or the specifics of John’s job. I was certain that he enjoyed his work and workplace; nothing more needed to be said, until now.

Now, I ask as Latrobe families do. Please help; and sign the petition. You may also wish to speak with your bartender and friends to join you in a boycott non-Latrobe Rolling Rock. Extend your hand, hold your beer high, and hope that those that have infused the formula into these bottles for the last sixty-seven years brewed this blend.

References For Your Review . . .
• Anheuser picks up Rolling Rock USA Today May 21, 2006
• Bud pays $82M tab for Rolling Rock CNN Money. May 19, 2006
• Bud buys Rolling Rock; Latrobe Brewing's future uncertain By Richard Gazarik. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Saturday, May 20, 2006

Comments

[Gus Johansson]

I don't care if it still will say Rolling Rock on the outside. It will merely be Bud in a green bottle if it is brewed in New Jersey.

[Betsy L. Angert]

Dear Gus Johansson . . .

I, and those in Latrobe appreciate your stance; we agree.

I spoke with my friend in Latrobe recently. So much is going on and none of it good. Negotiations with other companies are not going well. Apparently, the Busch agreement blocks much that might benefit the community.

I posted this piece at Daily Kos and there was great response.

My father shared it with a restaurant owner that supplies the brew. He presented it to his beverage representative and stated that he would not carry the product. Knowing that a community would be negatively impacted by the brewing powers that be did not feel good to him.

Sigh, whatever happened? There was a time when businesses cared for the community and the people they employed. Now, it seems the almighty buck is a bigger concern.

[Lempereur Louis ( from Belgium )]

I have been working with Kennametal from 1968 to 1984 and learned to enjoy Rolling Rock beer, as part of the Latrobe environment. Although I quit Kenna 22 years ago, I kept several friends there. Last week, I was in Latrobe and visited the brewery shop for the first time ! Sad to learn it would soon be closed. Made by another company, RR will not taste the same : no more spring water in the beer, but tears instead. This would hurt Anheuser too. You can't built your success on the ashes of your acquisitions. This is even more true for RR because of its customers loyalty. RR is not a beer like any other, it has the taste of Latrobe in it. I only hope that the brewery will find another beer to brew. So all this ends for the best of both parties. What about a management buy-out ?

[Jeff]

Once again corporate america does what it does best!! Buy up a smaller company and crap all over the lives of the working stiffs trying to put food on the table!! Congratulations to AB on another stellar corporate performance! I will NEVER drink a product made by AB again!!!!

[Betsy L. Angert]

Dear Lempereur Louis. . .

I wish to thank you for this. I will pass it on to my friends in Latrobe.

Well said, “No more spring water in the beer, but tears instead.”

Since you were just in Latrobe, I trust that you know the end is quite near. According to my information, July 31, 2006 is the last day of production.

The rumors that I heard question the quality and likelihood of future brewing contracts. Anheuser may have placed restrictions on possibilities. I know not with certainty. I only know that families loyal to Latrobe and Rolling Rock will be severely affected.

[Betsy L. Angert]

Dear Jeff . . .

For me, all that you say is accurate. I agree, absolutely. Our only difference is I have never had a drink and that will not change. Still, my disdain for companies that destroy families and communities looms large.

Busch cared nothing for the people or the product. I cannot support that!