U.S. beer volume sales were down 0.8 percent through the first 134 days of the year, according to data from market research firm IRI Worldwide. The company, which tracks category-wide sales trends at off-premise retail outlets, said total beer dollar sales were up 0.7 percent year-to-date through May 14, however, in its multi-outlet and convenience (MULC) store universe (which includes grocery, drug, Wal-Mart, club, dollar, mass-merchandiser and military stores).
In this week’s edition of Last Call: North Carolina brewers claim Anheuser-Busch receives favoritism from the state’s wholesalers; Fiddlehead opens a new production facility; the Brewers Association announces committee assignments; and more.
The U.S. beer industry is responsible for creating more than 2.23 million jobs that paid a combined $103.3 billion in wages and benefits, according to the findings of a joint study commissioned by the Beer Institute and the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA).
In a clear win for beer distributors, the Texas Senate yesterday voted 19-10 in favor of a bill that, if signed by Governor Greg Abbott, would require breweries making more than 225,000 barrels annually to repurchase their own product from wholesalers in order to continue selling beer for on-premise consumption at their taprooms.
Production at 25 of the top 50 Brewers Association-defined craft breweries didn’t grow last year, according new data released today by the trade organization.
Popular southern California craft brewery The Bruery, which specializes in creating experimental sour and barrel-aged beer offerings, has sold a majority stake to Boston-area private equity firm Castanea Partners, Brewbound has learned. Specific financial terms were not disclosed; the deal is expected to close this month.
After 21 years at the controls of New Belgium’s brewing program, legendary brewmaster Peter Bouckaert will depart the country’s fourth-largest craft brewery for a much smaller project. New Belgium, which is headquartered in Fort Collins, Colo. and has a brewing facility in Asheville, North Carolina, today announced that Bouckaert would leave the company for Purpose Brewing and Cellars, which was described in a press release as “an aspiring farm brewery” that would produce both coffee and beer.
Owl’s Brew, makers of tea-based cocktail mixers and a tea-and-beer Radler line, announced Thursday it has closed a $4 million series A funding round. The round included large investments from Anheuser-Busch InBev’s “disruptive growth organization,” ZX Ventures, and investment firm Cambridge Companies SPG. As part of ZX’s investment, a representative of the group will join Owl’s Brew’s board of directors.
More than 80 members of the Beer Distributors of Massachusetts lobbied state lawmakers on Beacon Hill yesterday, rallying behind House Bill 2823, which would allow beer companies making less than 30,000 barrels annually to terminate relationships with wholesalers for no cause.
In a move that broadens its U.S. distribution footprint to 36 states and Washington, D.C., Dogfish Head Craft Brewery said Monday it would begin selling beer in West Virginia and Kansas later this month.
As expected, two North Carolina breweries have filed a constitutional challenge to a state law that requires breweries producing more than 25,000 barrels annually to contract with a wholesaler.
Michigan-based hospitality business holding company Farm + Ferment announced last week that it had acquired one of the state’s oldest craft brands, Arbor Brewing Company.
In a move aimed at upgrading its U.S. operations and “strengthening” its core brands, Anheuser-Busch InBev today said it would spend $2 billion on numerous brewing, packaging, supply chain and sustainability projects over the next four years. In 2017 alone, A-B said it plans to invest $500 million into various brewery, distribution, packaging and innovation initiatives.
