Dear Client: Anheuser-Busch InBev reported strong first quarter results for its global business this morning, highlighting double-digit gains in revenue (+11.1%) through a combination of volume growth (+2.8%) and revenue per hl growth (7.8%), while also delivering EBITDA growth of 7.4%. Turning to U.S. results, A-B did notch revenue growth in the first quarter, up … Continue reading “A-B Depletions Drop 5% in Q1, Covid Resurgence in January had an “Impact””

Dear Client: Supply chain issues shadowed an otherwise sunny Spring Distributor Meeting from Heineken USA yesterday. Chief Maggie Timoney wasted no time addressing the topic, stating that they’re in the midst of “unprecedented times, particularly with our Dutch portfolio.” The “biggest mountain” they have to climb is with “ocean freight coming across from the Netherlands.”  … Continue reading “Maggie: Despite Out-of-Stocks, HUSA Biz Still “Really Strong””

Dear Client: Dos Equis is launching a spirit-based RTD margarita, to launch this summer (June/July).  “The brand [Dos Equis] is flying,” Heineken USA CMO Jonnie Cahill told BBD, riding off  a “very successful wave of innovation,” like the Variety Pack and Lime & Salt offering.  The new 4-pack of 12 oz. slim can margaritas will … Continue reading “Dos Equis Tequila-Based RTD Margarita Debuts this Summer”

Dear Client: It’s been awhile since we’ve checked in with COOP Aleworks, the Oklahoma-based craft brewer managing the rollout in partnership with Sonic of Sonic Hard Seltzers.  COOP chief Sean Mossman told BBD that they have gone from 7 states in mid-March to 30 today (timed for spring resets), mixed between the blue and red … Continue reading “Sonic Hard Seltzer Expanding Territories, Switches Houses in OK, Teases New Licensing Partner”

Dear Client: Molson Coors called out many a feats in its first quarter results this morning, sharing how the company turned in its largest quarterly top-line growth in over a decade; delivered bottom-line growth on an underlying basis by triple digits; reached its highest above premium mix since the 2016 MillerCoors acquisition; and how the … Continue reading “Molson Coors Delivers Solid Q1, Despite Depletion Drop Stateside”

Dear Client: Remember Bud Light Next, A-B’s giant new zero-carb, 80-calorie launch targeting Gen Z? (Surely you remember the Super Bowl commercial.)  At the prompting of some wholesalers, we set out to take stock of the company’s biggest launch in years. Recall, the zero-carb technology was 10 years in the making.  Many distributors told BBD … Continue reading “What’s Next For Bud Light Next?”

Dear Client: John Shea – who is coming up on two years as CMO of Mike’s, by the way – dropped into BBD virtual offices (AKA the phone) to share some news about a giant new campaign for White Claw, and why they expect to win their main selling season: Summer.    Though the seltzer category … Continue reading “White Claw’s Second Act”

Dear Client: Folks must really love to do the dew in Iowa. In that state, Hard Mtn Dew achieved an eye-popping 34% of FMB share in a single week of its launch, reports Brett Cooper of Consumer Edge Research. “Very early data would point to success from PepsiCo in pushing into the alcohol market,” he … Continue reading “Grokking MTN Dew, Blue Cloud, and A Tale of Three Models “

Dear Client: Earlier this month, we reported some topline findings from our most recent wholesaler survey, executed in late March (it snagged roughly 85 responses from wholesalers of all sizes and affiliations).  You may recall the main idea: Slightly more than half indicated a tougher start to the year than expected. And all but one … Continue reading “Wholesalers Dish on Hot Brands “

Dear Client: Molson Coors filed several motions in the aftermath of the Keystone infringement case where a court awarded plaintiff Stone $56 million – and possibly $284 mill in other damages [see BBD 03-29-2022]. Most notably, Molson Coors filed a motion to vacate what it deems to be the Court Clerk’s erroneously entered judgement, which … Continue reading “Molson Coors:  This Ain’t Done “

 Dear Client: No topic has been quite as hot as direct-to-consumer shipping of beverage alcohol over the past two years. R Street Institute, a libertarian-leaning think tank, hosted a panel of pro-DTC industry experts and advocates yesterday to weigh in on the recent changes to DTC and what they think is next for the oft-controversial … Continue reading “Grokking the “New” DTC Landscape”

Dear Client: Well, it was a 1.5-hour-long call for a typically short first quarter, but we think we can boil down Boston Beer’s earnings highlights to about three themes: run room to hit ambitious guidance; more shelf space for key brands; and more details on the just-announced Truly Vodka (yes, like actual vodka) Seltzer. First, … Continue reading “Three Talking Points from Boston Q1 Call: New Vodka, More Shelf Space, and Run Room”

Dear Client: Top FMB player Geloso, maker of big but still fast-growing brands, Clubtails and Johnny Bootlegger, is now making a big push with hard tea.  They’re rolling a brand new franchise – a colorful brand dubbed Buzz Tea. At 6.5% ABV, it courts the younger LDA consumer with its emoticon-clad cans and “all natural” … Continue reading “Top FMB Player Geloso Gets in on Hot Category with New “Buzz Tea””

Dear Client: Heineken earnings hit early, early this morn, and per usual, only a little ink was spilled on U.S. trends (but expect more in the coming days as the company shares brand plans soon).  Suffice it to say, while brand Heineken has come upon hard times here, Dos Equis is still a train.  “In … Continue reading “HUSA Q1: Brand Heineken Down Low Teens, But Dos Up Mid Teens”

Dear Client: The lawyers for Stone and Molson Coors were busy over Easter/Passover weekend. On Monday, both parties filed the latest in the aftermath of the California jury trial case that awarded Stone $56 million over a 2017 Keystone’s rebrand, which Stone said caused confusion and a host of company-wide woes.  Last time we penned … Continue reading “Molson Coors Fights Back Against Stone:  Time is What They Need”