The National Beer Wholesalers Association’s (NBWA) monthly Beer Purchasers’ Index found that wholesalers are reporting smaller inventories of beer at risk of going out of code. Nationwide on-premise sales velocity increased 72% over last year and 26% over 2019 for the week ending July 24, market research firm CGA reported. U.S. brewers shipped an estimated 16.1 million barrels of beer in June 2021 — the largest month of shipments yet in 2021 — but it fell just 116,000 barrels short of June 2020’s shipment volume (16.216 million barrels), according to the Beer Institute (BI), which cited unofficial estimates of domestic tax paid shipments from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).
On-demand e-commerce retailer GoPuff has closed on a $1 billion Series H funding round, bringing the valuation of the Philadelphia-headquartered company to $15 billion; India’s United Breweries is now a part of Heineken N.V. following the Dutch brewing giant’s acquisition of a controlling interest in the maker of Kingfisher; and more news.
Wholesalers ranked Boston Beer Company and Anheuser-Busch InBev first and second in most categories in Tamarron Consulting’s annual survey of distributors’ perception of key beer industry suppliers.
Newly appointed Anheuser-Busch InBev CEO Michel Doukeris hosted his first earnings conference call today since taking the reins earlier this month from predecessor Carlos Brito. “Throughout my 25 years at the company, I’ve had the privilege to lead our business across different regions of the world, working alongside the industry’s most talented and passionate colleagues every step of the way,” Doukeris said. “Stepping into this role, I look forward to working together with the team to collectively drive our business into this next chapter.”
Craft breweries will have to do more than brew and sell a batch and donate proceeds from it to join the newest cause-driven global collaboration beer project. The organizers behind Brave Noise, a collaborative project “advocating for safe spaces and inclusive environments” in the beer industry, are asking participants to create and publish a code of conduct for employees and patrons, as well as donate the majority of the beer’s sales to an organization that supports the project’s mission.
Two Floridians are seeking class certification of a lawsuit filed last year against Anheuser-Busch InBev-owned Veza Sur Brewing that alleges that the world’s largest beer manufacturer is deceiving customers by positioning the Miami-based offshoot as a craft brewery.
San Franciscans will have to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test result to sit indoors at bars following new guidance from the San Francisco Bar Owner Alliance. “The San Francisco Bar Owner Alliance is extremely concerned by a recent uptick in cases of COIVD-19 among our staff members, especially those who are fully vaccinated,” the organization wrote in a statement.
Two people have died and a third was injured in a shooting at the home of George Taylor III, the chief operating officer of TRU Colors, in Wilmington, North Carolina. TRU Colors, which Molson Coors acquired an equity stake in April, was founded by Taylor’s father, George Taylor — a tech entrepreneur and former Untappd chairman — and leaders of the Bloods, Crips and GD (Gangster Disciples) gangs. The company employs active members of rival gangs “to bridge divides and create economic opportunity, all while teaching life skills with professional training,” according to TRU Colors’ website.
Oskar Blues founder Dale Katechis made waves this month when he announced he was joining Veritas Fine Cannabis as an equity stakeholder and team member. The craft beer pioneer told Brewbound the cannabis industry piqued his interest several years ago, but it wasn’t until a friend from childhood who is now an investment banker introduced him to the Veritas team that he was ready to jump.
The beer category didn’t see fireworks in off-premise retail sales this July 4, market research firm NielsenIQ reported. “For the biggest beer holiday of the year, the category had lackluster performance in the off-premise channels this year, with dollar sales down -5.1% compared to last year, and up +7% compared to 2019, which was driven in great part by beyond beer segments,” NielsenIQ vice president of beverage alcohol practice Danelle Kosmal wrote.
Boston Beer Company adjusted its full-year forecast for shipments and depletions growth after a significant slowdown in the hard seltzer segment in the second quarter. The company previously projected full-year growth of 40-50% in shipments (sales to wholesalers) and depletions (sales to retailers), but has trimmed that projection to 25-40%. Its depletions increased 24% during Q2, decelerating by half from Q1’s growth of 48%, according to remarks from founder and chairman Jim Koch in the quarterly earnings release. “To be totally honest, we’re surprised at the sharpness and the suddenness of the change in trajectory,” Koch said during a conference call with investors and analysts.
Anheuser-Busch plans to sell its wholly owned distribution business in Hawaii to multi-state wholesaler The Odom Corporation, the world’s largest beer manufacturer announced today.
Non-alcoholic craft brand Athletic Brewing has signed a lease for a new facility in Milford, Connecticut, that could triple its capacity. “Once complete, we’ll have over 150,000 barrels capacity on each coast, with the potential to triple in the new facility over time,” CEO and co-founder Bill Shufelt told Brewbound.
The Reyes Beer Division has struck a deal to acquire Greenco Beverage in Greenville, South Carolina. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The deal is expected to close on September 24.
