Sec. 401.
(1) A manufacturer and outstate seller of beer and malt beverages shall grant to each of its wholesalers an exclusive sales territory, as agreed upon between the wholesaler and manufacturer or outstate seller of beer, within which the wholesaler shall be the exclusive distributor of the specified brand or brands of the manufacturer or outstate seller of beer.
(2) If the manufacturer or outstate seller manufactures or supplies more than 1 brand of beer or malt beverage, the manufacturer or outstate seller may grant exclusive sales territories to different wholesalers for the sale of the different brand or brands.
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2), a brand extension is not considered a new or different brand. A manufacturer or outstate seller of beer or malt beverages shall assign a brand extension to the wholesaler that was granted the exclusive sales territory to the brand from which the brand extension resulted.
(4) Subsection (3) does not apply where, before January 1, 1994, a manufacturer or outstate seller of beer or malt beverages had assigned a brand extension to a wholesaler that was not the appointed wholesaler for the brand from which the brand extension was made.
(5) Until July 1, 1995, a manufacturer or outstate seller of beer or malt beverages who acquired or otherwise obtained the right to assign brands of another manufacturer or outstate seller of beer or malt beverages between January 1, 1994 and July 1, 1995 shall assign a brand extension to the wholesaler that was granted the exclusive sales territory to the brand from which the brand extension resulted. Beginning July 1, 1995, a manufacturer or outstate seller of beer or malt beverages who acquires or otherwise obtains the right to assign brands of another manufacturer or outstate seller of beer or malt beverages is not required to assign a new brand extension to the wholesaler that is granted the exclusive sales territory to the brand from which the new brand extension results. Any brand extension assigned between January 1, 1994 and July 1, 1995 shall remain assigned to the assigned wholesaler.
(6) The sales territory shall be the territory agreed upon between the wholesaler and manufacturer or outstate seller.
History: 1998, Act 58, Imd. Eff. Apr. 14, 1998
Last modified: October 10, 2016