Good Week: Anheuser-Busch – The world’s largest brewer – based in Belgium and maker of Budweiser, Beck’s and Stella Artois among other brands – announced it will invest $2B in the U.S. over the next four years to acquire additional craft breweries. Win-win news for the hops-inclined.
Bad Week: Uber – In search of additional self-inflicted brand damage, the ride-hailing leader admitted that it underpaid drivers in New York City by tens of millions over a three-year period. Anyone who’s ever driven in NYC knows these folks should be getting hazardous duty pay… and anger management classes.
Worse Week: Fiat Chrysler – From the “What Didn’t You Learn?” Department, the automotive manufacturer takes a page from the Volkswagen playbook as the U.S. Justice Department files a complaint alleging that the company installed software designed to cheat emissions controls in more than 100,000 Jeep Grand Cherokees and Ram 1500 EcoDiesel pickups. That’s right: “Eco”Diesel. If successful, the complaint could result in $4.6B in fines and extensive recalls.
