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Sample letter to Governor Blagojevich regarding the Illinois Beer Industry Fair Dealing Act
Let your state government officials know! We're sick of the effects of the corrupt Illinois Beer Industry Fair Dealing Act on Chicago's economy, consumer choice, and draught beer culture. See our example letter to Governor Blagojevich below...
October 18, 2006
Honorable Governor Rod Blagojevich
Office of the Governor
207 State House
Springfield, IL 62706
Dear Governor Blagojevich:
Choice for consumers of craft beer in Illinois is under attack. Larry Bell of Kalamazoo Brewing was recently forced to stop shipping his product to Illinois because one distributor threatened to sell the rights to his brand to another, a transaction in which he had no input or control. Goose Island Brewing of Chicago had to sell a partial interest in their Fulton Street brewery to Budweiser, and affiliate themselves with Budweiser's distributor in order to get better market penetration in their home state. Earlier, New Glarus Brewing pulled out of the Illinois market.
Certainly a distributor who has worked hard to build up a brand deserves some compensation for their previous efforts if a manufacturer decides to make a change, but a system which allows a distributor to sell the rights to a brand, and gives the manufacturer absolutely no control in the process is seriously out of whack. The current franchise laws in Illinois may serve well for the usually cozy relationship between national brewers and their distributors, but it ill serves the interests of smaller micro and regional brewers, small businessmen who are treated as chattel, and find they have no control over the marketing of their own product.
The state has devoted considerable resources to aiding and promoting Illinois vintners. The craft beer industry hasn't sought any such subsidies, but it desperately needs fair access to the marketplace.
Please support consumer choice in Illinois. I urge you firstly to investigate the circumstances surrounding the withdrawal of Kalamazoo Brewing from the Illinois market, and to facilitate the return of Mr. Bell's award-winning products, and secondly to reform the Illinois Beer Fair Dealing Act act to protect the interests of craft brewers.
Sincerely,
Your Name
1234 Your Street
Chicago, IL 60xxx
773-xxx-xxxx
Honorable Governor Rod Blagojevich
Office of the Governor
207 State House
Springfield, IL 62706
Dear Governor Blagojevich:
Choice for consumers of craft beer in Illinois is under attack. Larry Bell of Kalamazoo Brewing was recently forced to stop shipping his product to Illinois because one distributor threatened to sell the rights to his brand to another, a transaction in which he had no input or control. Goose Island Brewing of Chicago had to sell a partial interest in their Fulton Street brewery to Budweiser, and affiliate themselves with Budweiser's distributor in order to get better market penetration in their home state. Earlier, New Glarus Brewing pulled out of the Illinois market.
Certainly a distributor who has worked hard to build up a brand deserves some compensation for their previous efforts if a manufacturer decides to make a change, but a system which allows a distributor to sell the rights to a brand, and gives the manufacturer absolutely no control in the process is seriously out of whack. The current franchise laws in Illinois may serve well for the usually cozy relationship between national brewers and their distributors, but it ill serves the interests of smaller micro and regional brewers, small businessmen who are treated as chattel, and find they have no control over the marketing of their own product.
The state has devoted considerable resources to aiding and promoting Illinois vintners. The craft beer industry hasn't sought any such subsidies, but it desperately needs fair access to the marketplace.
Please support consumer choice in Illinois. I urge you firstly to investigate the circumstances surrounding the withdrawal of Kalamazoo Brewing from the Illinois market, and to facilitate the return of Mr. Bell's award-winning products, and secondly to reform the Illinois Beer Fair Dealing Act act to protect the interests of craft brewers.
Sincerely,
Your Name
1234 Your Street
Chicago, IL 60xxx
773-xxx-xxxx