Constellation Brands

The rumored interest in a deal between Constellation Brands and energy drinks maker Monster has led to Wall Street analysts hypothesizing scenarios in which the two companies could potentially come together. The latest analyst to run through the hypothetical tie-up scenarios comes from RBC Capital Markets’ Nik Modi.

The lines between alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages continue to blur. Bloomberg broke the news Sunday evening that Constellation Brands and energy drink maker Monster Beverage Corp. are considering a deal.

Retail sales of Boston Beer Company’s Truly Hard Seltzer continued to increase in Q3, to an estimated +51% year-over-year, according to a recent “Beverage Bytes” retailer survey by Goldman Sachs analyst Bonnie Herzog.

Canadian cannabis operator Canopy Growth Corporation has entered a definitive agreement to acquire cannabis edibles maker Wana Wellness for $297.5 million, which will go into effect upon federal legalization of THC in the U.S.

Constellation Brands’ beer business increased both shipments (+11.7%) and depletions (+7.3%) during the second quarter of its 2022 fiscal year, the company reported Wednesday.

Nootropic-infused sparkling water brand HOP WTR announced last week it has achieved 500% growth in its first full year on the market, with its retail footprint now reaching 17 U.S. states.

Anheuser-Busch InBev (A-B) announced its solution to the “better-for-you” trend Thursday: Bud Light Next, a zero-carb beer slated for release in early 2022, according to CNN Business.

Anheuser-Busch InBev has filed a pair of lawsuits this week, including one accusing the company’s Texas-based energy supplier of price gouging during Winter Storm Uri in February. Symmetry Energy Solutions, which supplies natural gas to A-B’s brewery and glass manufacturing plant in Houston, billed the world’s largest beer manufacturer $4.85 million for its energy use in February 2021, due to Texas’ spot energy market.

Shipyard Brewing has appointed David Phillips as chief operating officer; Joe Heaton will depart the Beer Institute after serving as senior director of federal affairs for the national trade organization; and Constellation Brands has appointed Liz Lopez as VP of public affairs to lead on issues related to cannabis policy in the U.S.

Spirits and Mexican import beer giant Constellation Brands put its official stamp of interest on the trend by investing in HOP WTR, an emerging brand of zero-calorie sparkling water infused with the fruity bittering agents as well as some on-trend functional or adaptogenic ingredients like L-Theanine (potentially providing relaxation and focus) and Ashwagandha (a purported stress reliever).

Constellation Brands — maker of popular import brands Corona, Modelo and Pacifico — called out a $12.5 million increase in logistics costs in the 10-Q form the company filed last week with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of its 2022 first-quarter earnings report.

Constellation Brands executives tackled a number of issues, from supply “tightness” to Modelo Especial’s growth, and their hard seltzer ambitions during a first quarter 2022 call with investors and analysts today.

Sierra Nevada has filed a counter lawsuit against Matagrano, Inc., the Chico-headquartered craft brewery’s former South San Francisco-based wholesaler, in the Superior Court of the state of California, County of San Mateo. The trademark lawsuit between Constellation Brands and Anheuser-Busch InBev’s Grupo Modelo over the former’s ability to produce and sell Corona Hard Seltzer will continue, despite Constellation’s motion to dismiss, a federal judge ruled this week.