Constellation Brands

Both sales velocity and check value at bars and restaurants nationwide increased by nearly double-digits in early February, according to CGA, the on-premise arm of market research firm NielsenIQ. Leading up to the Super Bowl, which took place on February 12, on-premise velocity in the host city and state of Phoenix, Arizona, increased +35% compared to the previous week.

Constellation Brands credited its fall price increases for its beer business’ slowed depletion growth, during the company’s Q3 2023 earnings call with investors Thursday.

Constellation Brands’ beer division reported slowed shipment and depletion growth in Q3 2023 compared to recent quarters, with shipments up +2.7% and depletions up +5.7%.

A judge has denied Anheuser-Busch InBev subsidiary Grupo Modelo’s bid for partial summary judgment in its trademark infringement lawsuit against Constellation Brands for the company’s use of the Corona trademark for hard seltzer.

A judge has granted Pullayup, Washington-headquartered Olympic Eagle Distributing a preliminary injunction against Constellation Brands’ termination in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

Executives from Anheuser-Busch InBev (A-B), Molson Coors Beverage Company and Constellation Brands all championed core beer during Beer Marketer’s Insights’ Beer Insights Seminar Monday in New York City.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for beer away from home increased +7% in October 2022 compared to October 2021, the largest price increase ever recorded for the category, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Constellation Brands is simplifying its approach to the cannabis industry as the company announced plans today to convert its common shares of Ontario-based Canopy Growth Corporation into new non-voting exchangeable shares.

Many new beverage-alcohol products on display at the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) trade show earlier this month in Las Vegas “[f]ocused on premiumization, convenience, betterment and enhanced flavor profiles,” according to Goldman Sachs senior equity research analyst Bonnie Herzog.

Constellation Brands’ beer business reported double-digit shipment and net sales growth along with nearly 9% depletions growth in the second quarter of its 2023 fiscal year.

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.

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.

Pricing was the clear theme of the question-and-answer portion of Constellation Brands’ first quarter FY2023 earnings call on Thursday. More specifically, analysts were wondering why the company is hesitant to increase price in an inflationary environment. CEO Bill Newlands reiterated that Constellation’s “long-term algorithm on pricing is +1%-2%,” although last year it increased beer prices +3.5%.

Constellation’s beer depletions increased +8.7%, while shipments grew +17.3%, to 99.5 million case equivalents during the first quarter of its 2023 fiscal year, the company reported today. Net sales increased +21%, to more than $1.898 billion, with gross profit of more than $1 billion (+14%). The beer business’ operating income also increased +13%, to $762.8 million.