StateWays is the only magazine exclusively covering the control state system within the beverage alcohol industry, with annual updates from liquor control commissions and alcohol control boards and yearly fiscal reporting from control jurisdictions
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/379534
D A T E L I N E Business Briefs Major Personnel Changes at Bacardi Robert Furniss-Roe, Regional President of North America for the company, is leaving Bacardi and will be replaced by Peter J. Carr. Carr was most recently Executive Vice President at Glazer's Distributors. Bacardi also announced that Derek Hopkins, who is SVP, National Sales Director for Bacardi USA, is stepping down. Rich Andrews will take over as VP Commercial for North America. Constellation Brands Acquires Casa Noble Tequila Constellation Brands announced that it will acquire the Casa Noble tequila brand. The transaction includes the Casa Noble trademark and related assets. It is expected to close in September 2014; terms of the purchase were not disclosed. Casa Noble tequila is made from organic blue agave grown in the hills of Jalisco, Mexico — a region known for its unique soil. The award-winning Casa Noble family of tequilas includes Casa Noble Crystal, Reposado and Añejo as well as limited production of several other higher-end Casa Noble tequilas. Former Industry Executives Launch New International Wine Company Two wine industry veterans on different continents announced they are joining forces with noted import/export experts to form the Aspira Corporation. As part of a long-term plan to introduce a broad portfolio of wines into Asia, Aspira will launch Sunterra as its fi rst brand to be sold in China. John Kochis, CEO, has long seen the opportunity in Asia but needed the right team and the right brand. The wines in the Aspira portfolio are sourced from regions throughout California with offerings from the Central Coast to Napa. Up-and-coming winemaker Ryan Roark was brought in to lead the winemaking efforts. Having made wine in France and New Zealand, Ryan settled on California's Central Coast to build his future. Operating offi ces in Santa Barbara, CA and Hong Kong, Aspira Corporation's mission is to build global brands for the emerging wine consumer. Pernod Increases Stake in Avion Pernod Ricard USA has completed the acquisition of a signifi cant majority stake in Avión Spirits LLC, owner of the ultra-premium tequila brand Avión, from its joint-venture partner Tequila Avión. This transaction refl ects Pernod Ricard's confi dence in Avión's brand equity and growth potential, and the brand's important role in Pernod Ricard's growth ambitions in the United States, the largest market of the group. It also illustrates the capacity of Pernod Ricard to seize targeted external growth opportunities in the super-premium+ segment in the United States as a complement to the group's innovation strategy. With this move, Pernod Ricard is displaying signifi cant confi dence in Avión and the role it will play in bolstering their position in the United States and beyond. Who's Responsible for Straight Whiskey's Growth? From 2012 to 2013, the straight whiskey category increased 6.7 percent, according to research from The Beverage Information Group, StateWays' parent company. Which brands are contributing most to that growth? Jim Beam leads the way, with 30.8 percent share of growth year over year. Evan Williams and Wild Turkey also feature high on the list. For more on straight whiskey and other spirit, wine and beer category data, visit www.albevresearch. com for the latest information and research. StateWays Q www.stateways.com Q September/October 2014 8 Leading Brands Primarily Responsible* for Straight Whiskey Growth (Thousands 9-Liter Cases) '12/'13 Brand Supplier 2012 2013 % Change Jim Beam Beam Inc. 3,153 3,492 10.8% Evan Williams Heaven Hill Distilleries 1,431 1,650 15.3% Wild Turkey Campari America USA 536 590 10.1% Bulleit Bourbon Diageo 260 450 73.1% Jim Beam Small Batch Beam Inc. 254 311 22.4% Woodford Reserve SBL Brown-Forman Beverages 181 221 22.1% George Dickel Diageo 150 170 13.3% Jim Beam Devil's Cut Beam Inc. 77 116 50.9% Total Leading Brands 6,042 7,000 15.9% Others 10,488 10,630 1.4% Total Straight Whiskey 16,530 17,630 6.7% (*) Double-Digit Growth Rate. Brands over 100,000 9-liter cases. Source: Beverage Information Group