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Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits’ ambitions for Anheuser-Busch InBev’s portfolio aren’t limited to New York. The wine and spirits juggernaut has struck another deal for a red network distributor, this time for the assets of Eagle Rock Distributing Co. in Colorado.
Molson Coors has struck a deal to acquire spirits-based, ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail pioneer Atomic Brands, whose Monaco Cocktails entered the then-nascent space in 2012. The deal should come as no surprise, as it aligns with Molson Coors’ goals to expand its beyond beer portfolio, part of the Horizon 2030 plan CEO Rahul Goyal outlined earlier this year.
A pair of big red network distribution deals were announced in the last 24 hours. Anheuser-Busch InBev has agreed to purchase the distribution rights of its brands, as well as “certain craft/NA brands,” from Advance Beverage Company in Bakersfield, California. Meanwhile, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits inked a deal for independent A-B distributor Clare Rose on Long Island.
Molson Coors U.S. president of sales and distributor operations Kevin Doyle will retire on December 31 after nearly 40 years with the company. Chief customer officer Brian Feiro will backfill Doyle’s position after training with him for the next several months, Molson Coors announced today.
Beer Kulture, Brave Noise, and Women of Bevolution have launched a grant program aimed at helping underserved groups launch businesses in the craft beverage industry.
Anheuser-Busch InBev (A-B) has combined the U.S. field sales teams from its craft brewery and “high end” divisions to create a new high end field sales team.
Diageo North America (DNA) has tapped Rodney Williams as president of Diageo Beer Company (DBC) and Canada. Williams succeeds Nuno Teles, who occupied the role before moving to the United Kingdom to serve as Diageo’s managing director for Great Britain, a promotion that was announced in April.
Cincinnati’s Rhinegeist Brewery will begin “a two-stage expansion” into Houston, Texas, starting in mid-August via Silver Eagle Distributors.
One year after its launch, the joint venture between Boston Beer Company and Beam Suntory revealed a third product: Twisted Tea Sweet Tea Whiskey. Hard MTN Dew – a collaboration between Boston Beer and PepsiCo – rolled out to Las Vegas retailers this week after a regulatory standoff with the Nevada Department of Taxation.
Monster Beverage Company confirmed its long-rumored entrance into beverage alcohol during its Q2 2022 earnings call on Thursday, announcing that Monster Beast Unleashed, a four-SKU line of flavored malt beverages (6% ABV) will launch in late Q4 2022 with the goal of being nationally distributed by the end of 2023.
For the 52 weeks ending July 16, the combined malt- and spirits-based hard seltzer segment reached $4.263 billion, according to Jefferies equity research managing director Kevin Grundy. In the last four weeks, spirits-based seltzer’s share of the business has reached 9.1%. Malt- and sugar-based hard seltzers account for 90.9% of the segment – and their sales are declining.
CELSIUS’ leadership believes the company’s new distribution partnership with PepsiCo will help increase its distribution footprint by around 40% over the next 12 months as the Florida-based energy drink brand eyes new channels and global growth.
Molson Coors’ second quarter earnings report featured varied results, including volume declines, an increase in net sales per hectoliter (+7.1%) and the company’s first increase in U.S. dollar share in more than a decade.
Anheuser-Busch InBev reported +11.3% revenue growth and +3.4% volume growth globally for the second quarter of 2022. “Our business delivered sustained profitable growth,” CEO Michel Doukeris said in a press release. “Our volume increased by 3.4%, our top-line by 11.3% and EBITDA by 7.2%. The relentless execution of our strategy, the strength of our brands and accelerated digital transformation enabled us to meet the moment in an ongoing dynamic operating environment.”
A federal judge has denied Molson Coors’ attempt to toss a $56 million jury award to Stone Brewing in the San Diego craft brewery’s trademark infringement lawsuit over the 2017 refresh of Keystone Light packaging, according to an order filed Tuesday.
After a successful trial, Constellation Brands will expand its Modelo line extension Oro nationwide in March 2023, the company announced. Modelo Oro – a lower-calorie, lower-carbohydrate light beer intended to appeal to drinkers looking for better-for-them options – was one of several innovation productions Constellation introduced this spring for simultaneous test launches in various markets.
Anheuser-Busch InBev (A-B) will lay off 142 employees from its AB ONE operations, following the sale of the Oakland, California-based wholly owned distributor, the San Francisco Business Times reported.
