Craft beer is making progress in reaching female consumers, but there’s more work to be done, according to Mike Kallenberger, president of Tropos Brand Consulting. Kallenberger presented on a variety of demographics as part of a talk given during yesterday’s Power Hour webinar, hosted by the Brewers Association. Kallenberger, who worked for several years at… Read more »
Anheuser-Busch InBev today announced that Andy Goeler, the current vice president of marketing for the company’s craft and import focused “High End” division, would take over as the new vice president of Bud Light, the largest beer brand in the U.S. He replaces current Bud Light VP Alex Lambrecht. In an interview with Brewbound, Marcel Marcondes, A-B InBev’s VP of marketing in the U.S., said Lambrecht would help oversee Goeler’s transition into the role of Bud Light VP and remain with the company in a yet-to-be-named position.
The Startup Brewery Challenge, Brewbound’s one-of-a-kind business pitch competition for craft brewery entrepreneurs, will return for an 8th installment at the Brewbound Session business conference, taking place on June 15 in New York City. New craft brewery entrepreneurs will have an opportunity to participate in the Startup Brewery Challenge, presented by Craft Brew Alliance, and compete for a chance to win $5,000 and take an all-expenses paid trip to Portland, Oregon.
Distribution Roundup: Cigar City Enters North Carolina; Devils Backbone Hits Ohio; Boulevard Adds Wisconsin to Footprint; Rhinegeist Adds Pittsburgh Distribution.
A new Silicon Valley-based alcohol distribution company is hoping to disrupt the three-tier system by offering small-batch beer, wine and spirits producers a more cost-effective route to market and contracts void of strict franchise provisions. Calling itself a “web-based distribution platform,” Liberation Distribution helps alcohol beverage makers secure placements at on- and off-premise retail locations, promises to accept lower margins, and guarantees that it will not enforce franchise laws that would ordinarily lock producers into nearly unbreakable lifetime contracts.
Founders Brewing is on its way to becoming the next nationally distributed craft beer brand. The Michigan-based craft brewery yesterday announced plans to enter Mississippi, its 45th state, via five beer wholesalers: Capitol City Beverages, Clark Beverage Group, F.E.B. Distributing, Magnolia Beverage and Stokes Distributing.
After announcing plans to indefinitely cease brewing, packaging and taproom operations on March 10, San Francisco’s Speakeasy Ales & Lagers has once again resumed production, according to an update posted to the company’s website and social media accounts. A court-ordered receiver — identified by a source familiar with Speakeasy’s financial situation as Jigsaw Advisors — was appointed to run the failing brewery on March 13 after the company neglected to make payments to Union Bank, its primary creditor, and other vendors.
The warhorses of the craft beer industry are getting tired. Although craft is still charging forward, its surge has slowed due to declines by some of the biggest beer makers. Last year, craft’s decade of double-digit growth finally ended. Chicago-based market research firm IRI Worldwide reported that craft beer sales in U.S. supermarkets and convenience stores grew 6.9 percent to more than $2.28 billion. Still, that was well below the increases that the category had experienced since 2005.
BevNET, the leading source of information and events for growing beverage, food, and craft beer companies today announced that Mike Schneider has been appointed chief marketing officer (CMO). Schneider is reporting directly to BevNET CEO John Craven.
One day after reporting portfolio-wide shipment declines of 6 percent for 2016, Craft Brew Alliance executives held a call with investors and analysts to explain the company’s performance and provide their outlook on an industry in the midst of “revolutionary change.” “I won’t mince words,” Craft Brew Alliance CEO Andy Thomas said at the beginning of the call. “It’s messy out there.”
Last Call: Amazon Prime Delivers Beer in Cincinnati and Columbus; A-B Sued over Spuds Mackenzie Ad; North Carolina Lawmakers Want Eden Brewery Reopened; Saint Arnold Brewery Looks to Expand; and more.
It took six months, but the name of Mitch Steele’s new Georgia brewery project has finally been revealed. Steele, the former brewmaster for San Diego’s Stone Brewing, together with partners Carey Falcone and Bob Powers, today announced that their new project would be entitled New Realm Brewing.
After delaying its official 2016 earnings release by nearly three weeks, Craft Brew Alliance today issued fourth-quarter and full-year 2016 results, reporting a portfolio-wide shipment decline of 6 percent despite continued growth for the company’s Kona Brewing brand. Kona shipments increased 13 percent in 2016 while depletions grew 17 percent, but significant declines across the Widmer and Redhook brands resulted in overall “flat” depletion trends in 2016.
Heavy Seas Beer today announced that industry veteran Dan Kopman, who co-founded the Saint Louis Brewery, makers of Schlafly Beer, will takeover as the Baltimore brewery’s new CEO on May 1.
