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.
Night Shift Brewing’s recently launched wholesale operation, Night Shift Distributing, has signed its first four craft brewery partners. Announced Wednesday, the wholesaler wing of the Everett, Massachusetts-headquartered craft brewery will begin selling products from Pipeworks Brewing Company (Chicago, Illinois), Magnify Brewing (Fairfield, New Jersey), Mast Landing Brewing Company (Westbrook, Maine) and the Reinheits Boten Group (New York importer of German beer) in early April.
The Brewers Association today released its annual rankings of the top 50 U.S. beer companies based on 2016 sales volumes. Official production data, as tabulated by the BA, won’t be released until April, but here’s how the country’s largest beer companies stacked up in 2016
America’s oldest brewery is evolving to a more modern look. D.G. Yuengling & Son today announced that, after three decades, it is updating the packaging for its Traditional Lager as well as Light Lager and Black & Tan porter brands.
Massachusetts contract brewery Clown Shoes spread itself thin last year. On its way to producing about 12,500 barrels of beer in 2016, Clown Shoes maxed out its allotted capacity with longtime partner brewery Ipswich Ale Brewery.
