Distribution

Wholesaler purchasing expanded for the first time in 2024 , with a March Beer Purchasers’ Index (BPI) reading of 51, the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) reported.

In this latest round of distribution news, we check in with new coconut vodka water, Mother’s Milk and another fruit-infused vodka cocktail named after the same parent, Mom Water, as well as craft distillers Heritage Distilling and Frey Ranch, plus news from rum Coconut Cartel.

As it looks to scale up to meet fast-rising demand for new innovations, Liquid Death announced this morning it has closed a $67 million funding round at a valuation of $1.4 billion.

Two New England craft-centric distributors are expected to merge operations. Craft Collective and Homegrown Distribution, which both have statewide coverage in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, “have reached a tentative agreement to combine operations, subject to regulatory approval,” leaders from both wrote in a letter to suppliers dated today obtained by Brewbound. “The purpose of our… Read more »

Constellation Brands leaders laid out a vision for “dialing up” growth for its portfolio of Mexican import offerings over the next five years during Monday’s opening session of its Gold Network Summit at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.

Hard MTN Dew is transitioning to Boston Beer Company’s beer distributor network and will expand to all 50 states, outgoing Boston Beer CEO Dave Burwick said today during the company’s full-year and Q4 earnings report.

As speculated last week, the next challenge for the proposed $24.6 billion merger between Kroger and Albertsons is coming from the federal government. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) today announced it has filed a lawsuit to block the merger in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, alongside a bipartisan group of nine attorneys generals from Arizona, California, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Wyoming.

Eight Elite Light Lager is expanding to Oklahoma this week, its first distribution move outside of Texas since launching in 2022. Entering its third year, the super premium lager brand backed by Monday Night Football broadcaster and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman is now on shelves in the Sooner State via the Molson Coors network.

With inflationary pressures still impacting inventory cycles, brands will need to focus on core offerings and distinguish themselves by sharing more about their values in 2024, according to predictions from executives from MHW, a beverage alcohol importer and service provider, shared during a webinar.

Breakthru Beverage Nevada beer division VP Deacon Nauslar joins this week’s Brewbound Podcast to share how the distributor is preparing for Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. Nauslar dishes on when preparations began, how much of a bump the distributor is expecting, how the event will compare to the Formula 1 race earlier this year, and how the biggest football game of the year measures up to a normal week servicing Sin City.

The founders of the Craft Beer Cellar retail franchise and its flagship retail store and restaurant have filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation for both business entities (Craft Beer Cellar Group and Craft Beer Initiative LLC), according to filings in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts.

The three-year legal battle between Sheehan family members appears to be coming to a resolution as a deal to “consolidate ownership” of the multi-state distributor under four of Gerald “Jerry” Sheehan’s sons has been reached.

Boston Beer Company continues to slowly expand distribution of Slingers Signature Cocktails, its high-ABV, malt-based, ready-to-drink canned cocktails (RTDs).

Hensley Beverage Company president and CCO Andy McCain has been promoted to CEO of the beverage distributor, effective immediately. McCain has worked for Hensley — a 69-year-old independent Anheuser-Busch InBev wholesaler that covers Arizona and New Mexico — for more than 27 years, serving in several leadership roles over that time, including CFO. He was… Read more »