“Spirits Folks Have Gained Momentum”

From Heineken USA's Frans van der Minne to David Rehr to Benj Steinman, an emerging theme this year at the NBWA Convention is that wine and spirits are cutting into beer share. Van der Minne said that while spirits companies are coming out with unique new brands and packaging, "we are short on innovation," and it is starting to take its toll on beer demand. "Make no mistake," he intoned in an accent that sounds like Heineken Tarwibock over granite,