Dear Client: We cracked open the latest Craft Segment Review from Bump Williams Consulting this week, and found the expansive report give way to a trove of first quarter data points well beyond craft and fitting for the pages of BBD. For instance, did you know that through Q1 of this year imports are the … Continue reading "Off-Premise Q1 Segment Shakeups and Supplier Standings"

Dear Client: This week BBD is on the ground in Washington D.C., where the BREW Leadership Forum kicked off on Monday, ahead of NBWA’s Legislative Conference.  One newsworthy panel from the show saw Peter Heimark, president and CEO of Heimark Distributing, moderating a discussion digging in with some female distributor leaders. The panel was an … Continue reading "Distribution Vets Share Pivotal Moments at NBWA Leadership Forum"

Dear Client: An international craft beer exporter of a suite of Anheuser-Busch-owned (and formerly owned) brands including Kona, Redhook, Widmer Brothers, Omission and Square Mile Cider claims in a lawsuit that A-B has interfered in its distribution relationships, threatening the “total destruction” of its business. CraftCanTravel (CCT) sued Anheuser-Busch, Tilray Brands and A-B owned-Craft Brew … Continue reading "Craft Exporter Accuses A-B of “Choking Off Critical Supply” of Kona and Other Brands"

Dear Client: "The start of April (and data trailing through March) brings with it the ability to take a VERY EARLY and STILL IN PROGRESS look at Shelf Resets," say Bump Williams and Co. in the monthly BWC newsletter.   Before we get to the apparent brand winners and laggards at this point, one big takeaway: … Continue reading "BWC Takes Stock of Winners and Laggards at Shelf"

Dear Client: It may have been a sleepy St. Patty’s Day for draft beer in the on-premise [see BBD 03-20-2024], but the category looks to have been rocking in the off-premise leading up to the holiday.  Latest Circana data for the week ending March 17 reveals that beer raked in around $844.5 million in sales … Continue reading "Beer Delivers Best Week of Scans Thus Far in ’24"

Dear Client: Molson Coors is bringing back its “Great Taste, Less filling” ad this week (actually today, during March Madness), ahead of the all-important summer selling season.  It’s not only the ad that basically put Miller Lite, then a completely new proposition, on the map when the campaign debuted in 1975. It’s also among the … Continue reading "Miller Lite Reboots Iconic “Great Taste, Less Filling” Campaign"

Dear Client: Yesterday, New Belgium announced Rebecca Dye Yonushonis as its new CMO. Rebecca replaces the vacancy that Shaun Belongie left when he assumed the title of CEO last fall.  Rebecca's senior marketing resume includes a "Who's Who" of top CPG brands, including Land O’ Lakes Inc., Dollar Shave Club, Starbucks, Molson Coors, and the … Continue reading "New Belgium Brass on Fresh Blood and Fast Starts for New Voodoo Plays"

Dear Client: The latest batch of Circana scans are in and we’ve got a handful of things to highlight for you. Starting from the top, beer isn’t setting the world on fire in Circana scans, but it’s off to a much better start there than NIQ is tracking so far this year [see BBD 03-07-2024]. … Continue reading "A Few Surprises From Latest Circana Scans"

Dear Client: It’s a dispute only attorneys could argue over. Even a judge on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in NYC pointed out as much during an appellate hearing Tuesday in the ongoing “beer definition” saga between Anheuser-Busch InBev-owned Cervecería Modelo de México and Constellation. “You two have been driving me and my clerks … Continue reading "“Beer” Goes to the Second Court"

Dear Client: Last week, BBD chatted with Anheuser-Busch CCO Kyle Norrington about marketing plans for ’24 (yes, we will see more Bud Light Genie) as well as color on brand improvements.  But we also wanted to hear how Kyle was feeling about gearing up for the imminent summer selling season.   Kyle believes the system “really … Continue reading "Kyle Norrington on A-B’s Summer Plans, and their “Seed, Water, Grow” Approach"