Brewbound Podcast Bonus Episode: North Coast Brewing’s Jennifer Owen; Plus, Tom McCormick and HopXL’s Eric Duchin
In the last round of interviews from the Brewbound Podcast On Location at the California Craft Beer Summit, North Coast Brewing CEO Jennifer Owen discusses taking Acme California Lager statewide, what it means for the Fort Bragg, California-based brewery to be a certified B Corporation and the company’s charitable work.
Boston Beer Q1 Earnings: New CEO on Seeking Sustainable Volume Growth, Sharpening Innovation Focus
New Boston Beer CEO Michael Spillane said the company’s “highest priority” moving forward “is to return to delivering sustainable volume growth.”
Boston Beer: Q1 2024 Shipments +0.9%, Depletions Flat
Boston Beer Company’s Q1 volume woes eased in 2024, after Q1 shipments and depletions declines in both 2022 and 2023.
Report: Assets of Faubourg Brewing’s $30 Million New Orleans Plant Go to Auction
The assets of New Orleans’ Faubourg Brewing Company will be sold during an early June auction that is expected to net around $2 million, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
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Brewbound Podcast: Bump Williams Consulting on Q1 Beer Trends, What to Watch This Summer
Bump Williams Consulting’s Dave Williams and Brian “BK” Krueger explore Q1 beer category trends, the stickiness of 2023’s shifts caused by the Bud Light fiasco, the creep up of pricing, regional cider growth and the dampening of Dry January but continued growth of non-alc beer.
Bart Watson: Differentiation Vital for Craft to Return to Growth
For craft breweries to return to growth, they have to do more than just make great beer, Brewers Association (BA) chief economist and VP of strategy Bart Watson said during his state of the industry address Tuesday on Day 2 of the Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) in Las Vegas.
Surfside Rides Hard Tea Wave With National Distribution, New Flavors
Surfside, a fast-growing line of canned iced tea and vodka cocktails, is getting the summer par-tea started with five new SKUs and a distribution expansion putting the brand in over 40 states, the company announced today.
FTC Bans Employee Non-Compete Clauses
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a final rule banning non-compete clauses nationwide. In a 3-2 ruling, the FTC said the move would “promote competition” and protect ”the fundamental freedom of workers to change jobs, increasing innovation, and fostering new business formation.”
Brewbound Live Returns December 11-12; Speakers From Russian River, Deschutes, NBWA, Draftline
The Brewbound Live business conference returns December 11 and 12 in Marina del Rey, California. Brewbound Live will feature beverage-alcohol industry leaders taking part in business-focused conversations, data presentations, networking and much more across two days at the Marina del Rey Marriott.
CBC Keynote: Uncle Nearest’s Fawn Weaver On Why Staying Small Wasn’t an Option
Uncle Nearest Distillery founder and CEO Fawn Weaver disregarded the advice of the spirits industry’s old heads on the way to building a billion-dollar brand, she shared during her fireside chat with Crowns and Hops Brewing co-founder and CEO Beny Ashburn on the opening day of the 2024 Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) in Las Vegas.
Kroger/Albertsons: 166 Stores and Support Assets Added to Divestiture Plan with C&S
Two months after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) completed a review of Kroger and Albertsons’ proposed supermarket mega-merger and filed a lawsuit to block the deal, the grocery chains have added more store locations and assets to an updated version of their definitive divestiture agreement with C&S Wholesalers.
Pernod Ricard’s Ace Beverage Group Acquires Canadian RTD Nude
Pernod Ricard-owned Corby Spirit and Wine, Canada’s second largest marketer and distributor of spirits and wines, has agreed to purchase RTD brand Nude for $8 million ($11 million CAD).
A Round With … Brewers Association CEO Bob Pease on CBC, Craft Slowdown, Trade Group’s Transition
Ahead of the 2024 Craft Brewers Conference (CBC), which officially kicks off today (Monday, April 22), Brewers Association (BA) president and CEO Bob Pease shared his thoughts on the largest gathering of craft brewers, the turbulent times the trade group’s members are facing, the organization’s own changes and conversations he and Dr. J Jackson-Beckham have taken part in regards to the 2023 event.
🍞 INSIDER’S Week in Beer: Beer Buns Have Risen
Well MILLER LITE, you had ample opportunity … but the IRON CITY BEER folks have stolen your thunder (and apparently read this newsletter). Yes, ladies & gentlemen … I give you IRON CITY BEER BUNS! Yes, the PITTSBURGH Brewing Company has partnered with MANCINI’s Bakery and contributed their spent grain to create these beer-y delicious baked goods, apparently just in time for yinzers to enjoy on uh, National Picnic Day. 🤷