Following a proprietary review of the craft beer segment, and its own positioning within it, Constellation Brands has re-launched a number of its Ballast Point offerings with a new look in an attempt to “tell its story more effectively” to consumers. In an interview with Brewbound, Constellation CMO Jim Sabia and Marty Birkel, the president of the organization’s craft and specialty division, said an initiative to better understand consumer-purchasing behavior provided the company with some key takeaways that helped shape its overall craft strategy moving forward.

In our latest edition of People Moves: Caitlin Braam, the president of Seattle Cider Company and Two Beers Brewing, will depart the organization at the end of the month. Constellation Brands also confirmed that Dave Mills, chief sales officer of the company’s Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits brand, will depart the organization at the end of August.

Constellation Brands has acquired fast-growing Florida-based craft beer producer Funky Buddha and, in the process, formed a new “High End Craft and Specialty” business group specifically tasked with overseeing the company’s present and future craft brewery purchases. Financial terms of the deal, which closed yesterday, were not disclosed. The structure is similar to Constellation’s 2015 purchase of San Diego’s Ballast Point Brewing, which was worth $1 billion, Brewbound understands. A sale price was not disclosed, but the all-cash deal is for 100 percent of the company, according to KC Sentz, who co-founded the brewery with his brother Ryan Sentz.

An already competitive craft beer scene in Chicago is about to get even more crowded. Constellation Brands – a beer, wine and spirits producer that makes popular import beer labels such as Corona, Pacifico and Modelo — yesterday announced plans to open a Ballast Point outpost in Chicago early next year.

Executives from the largest beer companies in the U.S. gathered in San Diego this week for the annual Beer Institute (BI) meeting, and a theme of unity emerged as industry leaders attempt to stem continued share losses to wine and spirits.

Constellation Brands today reported its first quarter fiscal 2018 earnings results, which were highlighted by 8 percent net beer sales growth.

Constellation Brand’s continued effort to move Ballast Point Brewing into its so-called “Gold Network” of U.S. beer distributors took a significant leap forward this month when the San Diego-based brewery’s distribution rights were sold in its second largest market — Massachusetts.

Constellation, a cross-category alcoholic beverage company best known for selling Mexican import offerings Corona and Modelo, has confirmed to Brewbound that Ballast Point beers are no longer being sold in Massachusetts by Atlantic Beverage Distributors and the Sheehan Family Companies-owned Craft Beer Guild LLC.

Ambient Water, a leading provider of atmospheric water generation systems for extracting water from humidity in the air, today announced that Ballast Point Brewing Co. has completed its first two batches of beer made with water produced from Ambient’s atmospheric water generation systems.

In today’s edition of Press Clips: The New Jersey attorney general calls the Hunterdon fine the ‘largest ever imposed’ in the state; Ballast Point opens its Virginia tasting room; Kevin Durant cracks open a few Bud Lights; and more.

The Brewers Association this week announced that it would no longer allow large brewing companies and brewery groups to purchase featured sponsorships at the Great American Beer Fest, held annually in Denver, Colorado.

Beer continues to be the big growth driver for Constellation Brands. On Thursday, the wine, spirits and beer maker reported its annual earnings, which were boosted by $4.2 billion in net beer revenues for the fiscal year ending February 28, a 17 percent increase over the prior year.

Constellation Brands laid a plank in its succession plan on Wednesday with the appointment of Bill Newlands to the newly created position of chief operating officer, effective January 30.

The board of directors for Constellation Brands — the high-end maker of Ballast Point and import brands Modelo and Corona — has approved a share buyback program of up to $1 billion of the company’s common stock.

Constellation Brands has negotiated its “most comprehensive arena sponsorship” for popular Corona, Modelo and Ballast Point beer brands, yesterday announcing the signing of a lucrative “marketing alliance” with Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Nets.