This company profile of Grupo Modelo reveals the unethical practices of the world’s largest beer producer in Mexico. It provides examples of harmful methods across the categories of political interference, promotion, sabotage, manipulation, and deception – the Dubious 5 strategies.

Introduction

Grupo Modelo is a Mexican brewery founded in 1925 in Mexico City. It’s best known for producing a variety of beer brands, including Corona Extra, Modelo Especial, Pacifico, and Negra Modelo, among others. 
Grupo Modelo has a significant presence in the Mexican and international beer markets, with its products being exported to numerous countries worldwide. In 2013, Anheuser-Busch InBev acquired full ownership of Grupo Modelo.

The CEO of Grupo Modelo is Daniel Cocenzo.

Brands:

  • Extra Crown
  • Corona Light
  • Crown Zero
  • Little barrel
  • Star
  • Lion
  • Special model
  • Amber Model
  • Montejo
  • Peaceful
  • Pacific Light
  • Tropical Light
  • Black Model
  • Mexicali
  • Victory
  • Ideal Beer: Azabache and Ace of Pentacles
  • Cucapa
  • Black mouth
  • Tijuana
  • Grupo Modelo is also the exclusive importer in Mexico of the brans produced by Anheuser-Busch InBev.
    •  Budweiser
    •  Bud Light
    • Michelob ULTRA
    •  O’Doul’s
    •  Stella Artois

Involvement in Front Groups:

  • Cerveceros de México
  • Cámara Nacional de la Industria de Restaurantes y Alimentos Condimentados (CANIRAC) / National Chamber of Restaurants and Seasoned Foods Industry (CANIRAC)
  • Fundación de Investigaciones Sociales (FISAC) / Social Research Foundation (FISAC)

UNETHICAL PRACTICES by Grupo Modelo

Sabotage

Beer Over People – How AB InBev Drains Mexico’s Water

Mexico’s water crisis isn’t just about climate change – it’s about corporate greed. While communities face severe droughts and ...

Manipulation

Big Alcohol’s Diversion Tactic: Grupo Modelo Pushes “Responsibility”

Grupo Modelo, a subsidiary of AB InBev, wants you to believe that alcohol use is all about personal responsibility. A recent post on their ...

BROWSE MORE UNETHICAL PRACTICES by Grupo Modelo

BIG ALCOHOL IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Whisky brands are very reliant on a small number of heavy, and increasingly ageing, consumers, to provide the majority of volume [...] in the longer term we had to attract more younger drinkers—the heavy- using loyalists of tomorrow [to avoid] the potentially disastrous implications of losing heavy drinkers”.

Source: Research article

“If Miller Lite was to be a large profitable brand we had to attract these young heavy drinkers”.

Source: Research article

To the extent [that laws or regulations or actions against us to substantially curtail the consumption of alcohol, including beer] gain traction, they could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial results. For example, the European Union published its Europe Beating Cancer Plan. As part of the plan, by the end of 2023, the European Union has indicated it will issue a proposal for mandatory health warnings on alcohol beverage product labels."

Source: Molson Coors Annual Report 2022

Back to top