It’s a question that’s been on a lot of beer industry members’ minds for a while now. Why has Jim Koch – the founder and chairman of Boston Beer Co. – been selling shares of his company’s stock?
According to a recent Barron’s article, during a three week period in November, Boston Beer founder and chairman Jim Koch sold approximately 96,000 Class A shares of the company for nearly $11 million.
And although recent Nielsen numbers which peg sales for the country’s largest craft brewer up 15 percent through the four weeks ending November 24, at least one market analyst believes Koch’s actions indicate there might be some trouble brewing for the maker of Samuel Adams.
Jonathan Moreland, the founder of InsiderInsights — a weekly, subscription based newsletter publication that provides analysis on the stock market — said he thinks that market saturation, significant competition and even the growing popularity in home brew kits could test the consumer desire for Samuel Adams.
A representative of Boston Beer Co. could not immediately be reached for comment. Brewbound.com will continue to follow this story as it develops. In the meantime, read more from Barron’s.