Several pieces of legislation working their ways through Congress would bring much needed relief to the hospitality industry — including breweries, brewpubs and taprooms — as they continue to struggle during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Boston Beer Company announced a truly sweet round of bonuses for its top executives last week, as well as their 2021 salaries. The SEC filing also revealed that Boston Beer hired consulting firm Frederic W. Cook & Co. last year to review the total compensation being paid to CEO Dave Burwick.
Grupo Modelo, the Mexican business division of Anheuser-Busch InBev, has filed a lawsuit against Constellation Brands, alleging that the company is “misusing and misappropriating” the Corona trademark with Corona Hard Seltzer.
After 15 years, Port Brewing LLC (Port Brewing and The Lost Abbey) notified Stone Distributing last week that it was giving 60 days’ notice and terminating its distribution contract without cause.
Morganton, North Carolina-based Catawba Brewing Company acquired Skytown Beer Company, a brewpub in Wilmington, North Carolina, in a deal that closed February 10. Fifteen months after retrenching to focus on its brewpub, Boulder Beer’s portfolio will return to distribution in 28 states through a partnership with Stem Ciders and contract brewer Sleeping Giant in Denver.
Stone Brewing Company chief commercial officer Dan Lamb will exit the company next month. The San Diego craft brewery is reorganizing its sales and marketing departments and the chief commercial officer will no longer exist in the new structure.
The CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective is making an aggressive bet on its portfolio of hard seltzers in 2021, with a goal of producing 150,000 barrels this year, chief commercial officer Chris Russell told Brewbound.
Pointing to on-premise closures and capacity restraints due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Molson Coors Beverage Company posted net sales declines for both the full year and the fourth quarter of 2020.
Did this year’s crop of Super Bowl beer commercials score or fumble? This week’s Brewbound Podcast dives into beer ads during Super Bowl LV with Ad Age assistant managing editor E.J. Schultz. Rabobank analyst Bourcard Nesin also stops by to discuss Uber’s $1.1 billion deal to acquire Drizly.
Several beverage alcohol trade groups are speaking out against a bill that would grant the U.S. Postal Service the ability to ship beer, wine and spirits.
Brooklyn Brewery sold its international brand rights in Europe and parts of Asia to long-time collaborator Carlsberg for around $130 million last year. The Danish multinational beer manufacturer reported the June acquisition of Brooklyn’s brand rights within its 2020 annual report.
In reporting full-year 2020 earnings today, Heineken NV announced plans to cut its global workforce by 8,000 full-time employees as part of a reorganization plan first announced in October. Heineken, the world’s second largest beer manufacturer, also recorded several impairment charges totaling more than $1.1 billion (€963 million) to “tangible and intangible assets in operating profit.”
A new version of the Restaurants Act, which would provide $120 billion in grants to bars and restaurants, was introduced in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on February 4. The bill now includes “brewpubs, tasting rooms, taprooms, and licensed facilities or premises of a beverage alcohol producer where the public may taste, sample, or purchase products,” the Brewers Association said.
Stella Artois lager will no longer be imported from Europe into the U.S. by the end of the year, Anheuser-Busch InBev announced today. The world’s largest beer manufacturer will move production of its biggest import brand to its U.S. facilities as part of a $1 billion investment the company is making in its U.S. operations over the next two years.
