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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 Beverage Company CEO Gavin Hattersley stressed that the “outcomes” of the company’s 2-year-old revitalization plan are beginning to materialize. Those outcomes became frequent talking points during the company’s second quarter 2021 earnings report.
Spirits and Mexican import beer giant Constellation Brands put its official stamp of interest on the trend by investing in HOP WTR, an emerging brand of zero-calorie sparkling water infused with the fruity bittering agents as well as some on-trend functional or adaptogenic ingredients like L-Theanine (potentially providing relaxation and focus) and Ashwagandha (a purported stress reliever).
Boston Beer Company adjusted its full-year forecast for shipments and depletions growth after a significant slowdown in the hard seltzer segment in the second quarter. The company previously projected full-year growth of 40-50% in shipments (sales to wholesalers) and depletions (sales to retailers), but has trimmed that projection to 25-40%. Its depletions increased 24% during Q2, decelerating by half from Q1’s growth of 48%, according to remarks from founder and chairman Jim Koch in the quarterly earnings release. “To be totally honest, we’re surprised at the sharpness and the suddenness of the change in trajectory,” Koch said during a conference call with investors and analysts.
Boston Beer Company “overestimated the growth of the hard seltzer category in the second quarter” and the demand for the company’s Truly Hard Seltzer, CEO Dave Burwick said in a press release announcing the company’s Q2 earnings results.
Topo Chico Hard Seltzer, which Coke launched this year in partnership with Molson Coors Beverage Company, is now available in 17 markets worldwide with plans to be in 28 markets by the end of the year.
Anheuser-Busch plans to sell its wholly owned distribution business in Hawaii to multi-state wholesaler The Odom Corporation, the world’s largest beer manufacturer announced today.
Boston Beer Company and Beam Suntory today announced a joint venture to extend two of the companies’ most popular brands — Truly Hard Seltzer and Sauza tequila — across categories.
Veryvell, the line of CBD beverages and drops from Truss CBD USA, the joint venture backed by Molson Coors and Canadian cannabis company HEXO, will roll out to on- and off-premise retailers throughout Colorado. “Expanding territory and expanding the portfolio is signaling success and we’re really excited about it,” Truss CBD USA general manager Jane Armstrong Hockman told Brewbound.
The river has run its course for Coors Seltzer, Molson Coors Beverage Company told wholesalers today. In a message to the company’s wholesalers this afternoon, Molson Coors chief marketing officer Michelle St. Jacques and U.S. sales president Kevin Doyle announced the company will cease production of Coors Seltzer, asking wholesalers to sell through remaining inventory.
More than two years after making a splashy acquisition of Houston-based Silver Eagle Distributors, Redwood Capital Investments will acquire another independent Anheuser-Busch wholesaler. This time, the private investment firm is set to acquire Pepin Distributing in Tampa, Florida, Brewbound has confirmed with multiple sources.
Anheuser-Busch InBev CEO Carlos Brito officially passed the torch Thursday to Michel Doukeris after 15 years with the world’s largest beer manufacturer.
Constellation Brands executives tackled a number of issues, from supply “tightness” to Modelo Especial’s growth, and their hard seltzer ambitions during a first quarter 2022 call with investors and analysts today.
Anheuser-Busch InBev has pulled from within its ranks for its next North American Zone and U.S. CEO, naming Brendan Whitworth to the post today.
Boosted by an earlier-than-expected seasonal transition and the return of the on-premise channel, sales of Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy have increased 13% year-to-date, according to the Molson Coors Beverage Company blog. “As we continued to excel with distribution and sales and the off-premise, we were able to quickly transition into Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy,” Dick Leinenkugel, president and chief beer merchant of Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, told Brewbound.
