Oskar Blues Brewery released a year-end review of its growth in 2015 this week, one that boasted of double-digit increases in sales and production for the company. Oskar Blues, the nation’s 24th largest beer maker, saw a 30 percent increase in sales last year, producing some 192,000 barrels of beer by the end of 2015.
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Malteurop, a global provider of malt to brewers and distillers, has filed a lawsuit against three former employees and their company, Proximity Malt, a craft beer industry-focused startup that was founded in February 2015. In the suit, filed Dec. 17, 2015 in the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Malteurop North America claimed that Proximity Malt and a member of its team stole confidential information that was used to help launch the new company.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken a step to clear the way for the $6.7 billion tie-up of Ball Corporation and Rexam PLC, according to a report prepared by The Capitol Forum, a subscription-based regulatory analysis service covering antitrust and global mergers and acquisitions.
After changing wholesalers in Wisconsin and Maryland late last year, San Diego’s Ballast Point Brewing has moved the brand in at least one other key market: New York City. The company is also considering moves throughout the rest of the state, a source familiar with transaction told Brewbound. The company — which was recently purchased by Corona-maker Constellation Brands for $1 billion — is in the process of terminating its contract with Sheehan Family Companies, a beer distributor that operates four wholesale outfits throughout the state, the source said.
Craft beer is back on the 2016 legislative agenda in Georgia. A forthcoming bill, drafted by Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah), could be introduced as early as next week and include favorable changes to the way small beer and spirits producers operate. Though unfinished, the bill is expected to address brewery tours, retail allowances and food service permits, according to Stephens, who was reached by Brewbound.
Craft Brew Alliance has expanded distribution of the Kona Brewing brand to Brazil, the world’s third-largest beer market, tapping Anheuser-Busch InBev subsidiary Ambev as its importer and distributor. Ambev began distributing Kona’s Longboard Lager and Big Wave Golden Ale throughout Brazil, the world’s third largest beer market, last December, CBA said in a release.
Boston Beer Company has hired former Campbell’s Soup executive Quincy Troupe as its new vice president of supply chain, the beer maker announced last Friday. In a filing, Boston Beer said Troupe will report to CEO Martin Roper and have primary responsibility for overseeing the company’s supply chain — including brewery management, engineering, safety, production quality, and scheduling.
Golden Eagle Distributors, an Anheuser-Busch InBev wholesaler based in Tucson, Ariz. has announced the sale of its 9 million case beer and non-alcoholic beverage operation to its larger competitor, Phoenix-based Hensley Beverage. Hensley, also an A-B InBev wholesaler, sells approximately 20 million cases of beer and non-alcoholic beverages throughout Arizona. The combination of the two companies means nearly all A-B InBev products — about 30 million cases — sold in state will be controlled by a single distributor.
Two beer companies quickly becoming known for their growing interest in partnerships today announced a tie-up of their own, one that will support the “strategic growth objectives for both companies.” In a joint statement, Craft Brew Alliance and Pabst Brewing, Rainier Brewing Company’s parent, today announced a brewing arrangement that will bring production of a new Rainier product back to the Pacific Northwest for the first time in 13 years. The arrangement is slated to commence in the second quarter of this year.
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture yesterday released the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The guidelines, issued every five years, are “designed to help Americans eat a healthier diet,” and could help shape future federal nutrition policies.
Only eight days into 2016 and already there’s an onslaught of brewery expansions to report. On the heels of a year in which craft volume sales grew more than 18 percent, according to research firm IRI Worldwide, at least eight notable U.S. breweries have announced plans to scale their operations, in some cases making large multi-million dollar bets on the rising consumer demand for craft beer.
Another year of double-digit craft beer growth is in the books. According market research firm IRI Worldwide, craft volume sales in key U.S. retail channels grew 18.8 percent in 2015 while dollar sales grew 23.4 percent, to more than $2.9 billion. Total category-wide beer sales, meanwhile, were up just 2 percent in 2015 while total MULC dollar sales eclipsed $33 billion, according to the firm.
