Beverage Dynamics is the largest national business magazine devoted exclusively to the needs of off-premise beverage alcohol retailers, from single liquor stores to big box chains, through coverage of the latest trends in wine, beer and spirits.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/282869
www.beveragedynamics.com March/April 2014 • Beverage Dynamics 13 FYI NEWS, NOTES & TRENDS Beam Inc. has been acquired by Japanese spirits company Suntory Holdings for $13.6 billion in cash this January. [When Beam's outstanding debt is included, the deal is valued at $16 billion.] The privately- held Suntory was founded in 1899 and is well-known for its outstanding whiskies. Suntory's spirits portfolio – including Yamazaki and Hakushu whiskies, Bowmore Scotch whisky and Mi- dori liqueur, among others – will be combined with Beam's iconic spirits brands (Jim Beam, Maker's Mark and Knob Creek bourbons, Canadian Club whiskey, Courvoisier cognac, Pinnacle vodka, etc.), resulting in estimated annual net sales of more than $4.3 billion. Matt Shattock, the current Beam president and CEO, will continue to head the business after the deal is completed ….Diageo is partnering with Sean "Diddy" Combs in a new joint venture that purchased the ultra-premium tequila brand DeLeón. The joint venture, a 50/50 global partnership between Diageo and Combs Wine & Spirits, follows the successful alliance formed by Diageo and Combs Enterprises, begun in 2007, to develop and grow the Cîroc ultra-premium vodka brand. DeLeón is a 100% blue weber agave boutique tequila that has fi ve expressions with current sug- gested retail prices that range from $120 to more than $1,000 per bottle. Diageo also recently purchased Peligroso tequila. Peli- groso comes in four expressions, including Cinnamon, Silver, Reposado and Anejo, with suggested retail prices ranging from $30 to $55 per 750ml bottle (currently available in 12 U.S. states)….E. & J. Gallo Winery was awarded exclusive rights to distribute Italy's Allegrini wines in the U.S. beginning April 1, 2014. The Allegrini portfolio includes the luxury Allegrini and Poggio al Tesoro brands, from the Valpolicella region and Tuscany, respectively…. Dalla Terra Win- ery Direct has added Garofoli, the oldest family-owned winery in the Marche region of Italy, to its portfolio of Italian produc- ers….Vin Divino, Ltd. is now overseeing sales and distribution of the entire González Byass Family of Wines portfolio including Bodegas Tio Pepe, Bodegas Beronia, Finca Constancia, Viñas del Vero and Cavas Villarnau. In addition to managing the wine and sherry portfolio, Vin Divino will also manage the U.S. launch of London No. 1 Gin in limited markets in 2014…. Terlato Wines has signed a long-term agreement to take over the marketing rights to Riazul 100% Blue Agave Tequi- las. Terlato will import and market Riazul Anejo, Re- posado and Plata Tequilas, as the newest additions to its Artisan Spirits portfolio. The brand is launching in select markets now. Suggested retail prices will be approximately $65 for Riazul Anejo, $55 for Riazul Reposado and $45 for Riazul Plata….Heineken USA named Nuno Teles its new chief marketing offi cer. Teles had been in charge of market- ing for Heineken Brazil. He replaces Lesya Lysyj, who become president of Weight Watchers North America…Michael Clarke was named ceo at Treasury Wine Estates… Brian Fowler was named the new national sales manager and director of marketing for B.R. Cohn Winery, located in Glen Ellen, CA…. Winemakers Paul Hobbs of Sebastopol, CA , and Johannes Selbach of Zeltin- gen, Germany, have purchased a 65-acre property on the east side of Seneca Lake in New York's Finger Lakes AVA. Site preparation has already begun at the vineyard, which will be planted predominantly to Ries- ling starting in 2015…. Opici Wines, an importer and pro- ducer of wines from around the world, has established a new spirits division: Market Street Spirits, which will include a selection of handcrafted, premium spirits from around the world, the company says. It had already launched Rebellion Bourbon in 2013; beginning in March, it is importing Brinley Gold Shipwreck Rum, from St. Kitts…. William Grant & Sons has inked an agreement with Rum Trading Inter- national Corp. to distribute the Flor de Caña family of single-estate rums in the U.S. Campari America has been handling Flor de Caña in the U.S. and will help transition the brand until its contract expires at the end of June 2014….Marking its 25th anniversary, Booker's Bourbon is releasing a limited edition bottling of the famous small batch bourbon. Batch No. 2014-1 pays homage to its namesake, 6th Generation Beam Master Distiller, Booker Noe…. Gruppo Campari has agreed to purchase Ontario, Canada-based Forty Creek Distillery for $185 million. Forty Creek Barrel Select Ca- nadian Whisky has been in the U.S. market for several years, and while its sales volume is relatively modest, the superpremium brand has been growing at a fast pace. John Hall, founder of Forty Creek, is remaining as chairman and whisky maker at the com- pany, according to the agreement. The deal includes Forty Creek's stocks, distillery fa- cilities and the hospitality centre in Grimsby, Ontario. Besides Forty Creek Canadian Whisky, the company also produces vodka, brandy, rum and other liqueurs…. MillerCoors just debuted a new hard cider, called Smith & Forge. Made from apples, the new brand is 6% alcohol by volume, and features a crisp fi nish following a taste not as sweet as many of the hard ciders now on the market, the company says. The packaging highlights a blacksmith's ham- mer icon, meant to suggest an earlier time. The brand is being supported with a national mul- timedia marketing campaign beginning this month. DeLeón tequila. BUSINESS BRIEFS Smith & Forge Hard Cider.