Donovan Bailey, the founder of Everett, Massachusetts-based Down the Road Beer Company, died on July 31, at the age of 46. According to Bailey’s obituary, he died “unexpectedly” at his home in Malden.
Anheuser-Busch InBev announced today the acquisition of fast-growing Ohio craft brewery Platform Beer Co. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. In a press release, A-B noted that Platform was “the fastest growing regional brewery in the United States in 2017.” According to data from the Brewers Association, the Cleveland craft brewery increased production from 6,500 barrels to 20,000 barrels that year.
Anheuser-Busch InBev’s innovation and growth division, ZX Ventures, has sold Minnesota-based homebrew supply retailer Northern Brewer to Blackstreet Capital Holdings LLC.
Halfway through 2019, volume growth for small and independent U.S. craft brewers has remained steady at 4 percent, according to data released today by national trade group the Brewers Association (BA). BA chief economist Bart Watson, in a press release, characterized craft brewers’ low- to mid-single-digit craft brewer volume growth as “a similar pattern” to recent years.
Oregon’s Rogue Ales & Spirits launched a line of ready-to-drink (RTD) canned cocktails in key markets, including the Pacific Northwest, last week. Speaking to Brewbound, Rouge’s president, Dharma Tamm, said adding canned mixed drinks to the Newport, Oregon-headquartered craft brewery’s portfolio was a “natural” extension of its business.
All presentations from Cannabis Forum Summer 2019 are now available to stream on the BevNET YouTube channel. Held in June in New York City, the industry conference brought together hundreds of cannabis curious food and beverage founders and executives to discuss and explore the present and future of the emerging market.
In this week’s edition of Last Call: Pyramid owner FIFCO USA settles a lawsuit with its Alehouse staff; Manhattan Beer Distributors and its delivery drivers battle over alleged ‘wage theft;’ Left Hand enters the CBD-infused, non-alcoholic drink market; New Delhi bans A-B InBev for three years; and more news bites.
Average annual raises in the beer industry rank among the highest in the consumer product goods industry, according to recruiting firm ForceBrands’ latest “Beer Talent Market Report.” The New York-based firm’s survey of 111 beer industry professionals — including C-level executives, directors and presidents– found that the beer industry’s average annual raise of 12 percent outpaces the CPG industry average by 2 percent.
Tickets for the 2019 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) are still available a day after going on sale to the public, despite the event’s history of quick sell outs. The slowdown in ticket sales for the Brewers Association’s (BA) largest consumer-facing event of the year, which takes place October 3-5 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, comes as craft beer volume growth has slowed to single digits over the last four years.
Molson Coors released its second-quarter financial results today, but following news of a shakeup at the top of the company, the focus of the multinational beer manufacturer’s call with investors and analysts was on the future direction of the company.
Molson Coors today announced that CEO Mark Hunter will retire effective September 27, according to a press release issued prior to its second quarter earnings call. Gavin Hattersley, the long-time CEO of Molson Coors’ U.S. business unit, MillerCoors, will supplant Hunter as president and CEO effective September 28.
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court last week overturned a lower court ruling that would have allowed retailers to offer discounts on alcoholic beverages purchased in bulk. The order comes two years after Maryland’s Total Wine & More (doing business as Massachusetts Fine Wines & Spirits LLC) successfully challenged the law.
Year-to-date beer category dollar sales are up 3.5 percent, to nearly $19.5 billion, in off-premise retailers tracked by market research firm IRI. According to the Chicago-based firm, three segments — imports (+5.9), flavored malt beverages (+27.7 percent) and domestic super premiums (+12.6 percent) — have achieved nine-figure sales growth through July 14 in its multi-outlet and convenience store universe. In fact, dollar sales of FMBs, including popular hard seltzers, have topped $1.9 billion so far this year.
In this week’s Last Call: Angry Orchard’s security is accused of racial profiling; June U.S. beer shipments decline; Peter Coors calls for government to intervene on aluminum pricing in op-ed; Facebook imposes new alcohol restrictions; and more news.
