Dear Client: We finally got Pabst general manager, Matt Bruhn, on the horn to talk about Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Coffee.  It’s been in market just about four weeks now, and they’re already out of the stuff. They’ve got to ensure they can scale their manufacturing process of the malt beverage with coffee and milk … Continue reading “Pabst Testing 8% “Stronger Seltzer” in 5 Markets”

Dear Client: These days, CPG companies inside and outside bev alc feel compelled to hedge their bets in uncharted territories, like the growing non-alc occasion, and the spectre of legal weed.  Just yesterday, Diageo, the world’s largest liquor company,  announced its investment of a “significant majority shareholding” in Seedlip, the “world’s first” distilled non-alcoholic spirit. … Continue reading “What’s this World Co(nsu)ming To? CPG Companies Pivot Via Non-Alc, Weed Deals”

Dear Client: Anheuser-Busch is still buying craft breweries.  The brewer just announced that they’ve purchased Ohio’s Platform Beer Co. for their Brewers Collective, which is now roughly 12 partners strong.  If you haven’t heard of Platform Beer Co., well, they’re already eyeing 40,000 barrels of production this year, per a recent Crain’s article. The brewer … Continue reading “A-B Adds Ohio’s Platform Beer Co. to Brewers Collective”

Dear Client: As alcohol trends flatten, “restaurants, bars and other establishments are having to get equally creative with their drink offerings to meet the needs of consumers opting for booze-free nightlife experiences,” says Nielsen, opening its charting of the “sober curious” movement. It’s a roundup informed by a survey that the research firm conducted with … Continue reading “Sober September? Please Stop”

Dear Client: Looks like A-B’s Drinkworks machine is just about to meet a very direct challenger.  We’re always on the trail.   Recall, Drinkworks is the joint venture between Anheuser-Busch and Dr. Pepper Keurig, that launched in late 2018. Touted as the “ultimate bar back,” Drinkworks launched statewide in Missouri and Florida in May, [see BBD … Continue reading “The Next Big Personal Drinks Machine?”

Dear Client: Every now and then, readers will write in to tell me that they thought a certain issue of Beer Business Daily was so good that they printed it out and keep it handy as a reference. I feel like this is one of those issues.  Tony Magee, the iconic founder of Lagunitas, has … Continue reading “Where in the World is Tony Magee?”

Dear Client: Diageo Beer Co. reported another strong fiscal year last week, with volumes growing 8% and net sales growing over 10% for the 12 months through June.  Their FMB sales grew 18% on continued growth of Smirnoff Spiked Seltzer and Smash, with Guinness up 3% for the year and dollar sales up 7% for … Continue reading “Diageo’s Nuno Teles on Expanding Share in Seltzer and On-Premise”

Dear Client: Lots of questions for Gavin Hattersley on Molson Coors’ earnings call yesterday about his plans as incoming CEO of Molson Coors. Everyone received the same answer. As we reported yesterday, Gavin, the current CEO of MillerCoors will take Mark Hunter’s spot as CEO of Molson Coors after Mark retires on September 27 this … Continue reading “What’s Next for MillerCoors?”

Dear Client: Shortly after Molson Coors reported Q2 earnings this morning (global depletions down 5.6%), they sent out another major announcement: That president and CEO Mark Hunter will retire, effective September 27, with current MillerCoors chief Gavin Hattersley to take his place, effective September 28.  Asked about Gavin’s replacement at the top MillerCoors spot, a … Continue reading “Gavin Hattersley Taking Top Molson Coors Role; Mark Hunter Retiring”

Dear Client: MillerCoors just reported Q2 depletions were down 4.8%, which the company partially attributed to “industry declines.” Shipments excluding contract brewing were down 6.7%, “driven by lower brand volume and quarterly timing of wholesaler inventories as we expect brand volume and STW trends to largely converge on a full year basis.” Meanwhile, it’s costing … Continue reading “MillerCoors Q2 Depletions Down 4.8%, Shipments Down 6.7%”

Dear Client: Coors Light’s new advertising campaign is based on the tagline:  “Made to chill.” The double-entendre is perfect for the MillerCoors brand built on coldness as a product attribute, and also perfect for the occasions depicted in the three ads we saw.  These ads are unique and could be a game-changer for the brand. … Continue reading “Coors Light Taking Bold New Direction in Ads: Chilling at Home”

Dear Client: It ain’t legal (federally), and it’s not really bankable, but there are already 300-plus Cannabis beverages startups in North America.  But in the top four recreational marijuana states, a handful of players (five) account for the majority of cannabis beverage sales, per data presented by  Canopy River president Narbe Alexandrian at the Cannabis … Continue reading “The Biggest Challenge of Cannabis Beverages: Distribution”

Dear Client: As we reported yesterday, Boston Beer reported that second quarter depletions (STRs) and shipments (STWs) matched, at plus 17% for the second quarter.  For the half year, depletions are up 15%.  While that’s an acceleration at retail, shipments for the half year are still up 23%, suggesting still high distributor inventories.  But summer … Continue reading “Boston Beer Investing Heavily Behind Truly”

Dear Client: Anheuser-Busch InBev reported second-quarter earnings early this morning, and as usual, BBD wakes up with the crickets to bring it to you. U.S. RESULTS. In the U.S., A-B’s depletions were down 4% in the quarter. That’s a bit worse than the industry depletion trend for the quarter, which they estimate was down 2.8% … Continue reading “A-B Depletions Drop 4% in Second Quarter, Shipments Down 2.3%”

Dear Client: Call us Seltzer Business Daily these days. Hey, other people do the drinking, we just do the reporting… Anyway, the latest in the seltzer world is news that PRESS Seltzer, the four-year-old brand started by a self-proclaimed Midwestern mom, is now hitting its 32nd market, with the addition of Colorado via New Age … Continue reading “PRESS Seltzer Opening More Markets, Getting Good Press, Gleaning Distrib Praise”