Dear Client: The Big Game is nearly upon us, and with it, comes in-store deals on beer (and beyond). Your editors were particularly curious how this week’s circulars would stack up, considering industry noise about beer getting promotional.  Let’s dive in. BUNDLE DEALS A PLENTY. Many of the best Super Bowl deals require consumers to … Continue reading “A Peek at Super Bowl Promos”

Dear Client: Bev alc is apparently set to receive more space in convenience this year, but what players will get it? The latest Beverage Bytes survey from Bonnie Herzog and co. over at Goldman Sachs weighs in on that and much more. The Q4 survey, which represents about 30,000 convenience retail locations or a fifth … Continue reading “C-Store Retailers Spill on Shelf Space in Latest “Beverage Bytes” Survey”

Dear Client: In the wake of a recent Bang Energy Presentation with an alleged 1,200 digital and in-person attendees, Bang chief Jack Owoc seeks to raise $580 million — from its distributors, BBD has learned.  They’re working under the idea of a roughly $10 billion valuation starting point, based on recent deals. We’ll get to … Continue reading “Bang Seeks to Raise $580M Investment From its DSD Network”

Dear Client: Over the weekend, your editor spotted a new Truly Vodka Seltzer commercial in the wild, during the NHL All-Star Skills competition. Just as someone in our party asked, “Are those the ones with vodka?” (a fair question) the tagline flashed: “There’s vodka in this!”  We reached out to Boston for more details on … Continue reading “Truly Vodka Seltzer Already Posting Impressive Trends”

Dear Client: One of the themes that came out of our conference in January is that beer will return to 2019-level or above discounting levels, and it appears to be happening.  Remember that when price gaps get out of whack — not only within and among beer categories but compared with wine and spirits — … Continue reading “Beer Getting Promotional”

At SAMCOM last week, High End chief Andy Thomas said he aims to double share of their High End business. But how? “A NEW DAY” FOR STELLA, WHICH GETS BIGGEST SPEND IN HALF DECADE. Let’s start with Stella, the “crown jewel” of their High End strategy, and the first part of their three-prong High End … Continue reading “It’s “A New Day” for Stella, with Investment to Match”

Dear Client: Bud Light’s long-awaited return to a major campaign is upon us.  The brand previewed its new approach during the NFL playoffs with “The Bud Light Carry” spot, featuring a woman carrying five pints of Bud Light through a crowded bar (to the tune of the Notorious B.I.G.’s classic, “Hypnotize”).  But its imminent, 60-second … Continue reading “Miles Teller and Fam Kick Off Bud Light’s New Voice at Super Bowl”

Dear Client: We’ve already brought you the high-level scoop on Anheuser-Busch’s Super Bowl plans [see BBD 01-11-2023]. And after last week’s SAMCOM meeting coverage, readers also know the sky-high hopes that A-B brass has for Mich Ultra, which the company thinks can get to 10 share by 2025 [see BBD 01-27-2023] — particularly by closing … Continue reading “Inside Mich Ultra’s “Boldest, Most Ambitious” Super Bowl Plan Yet”

Dear Client: One of SAMCOM’s recurring themes last week was a focus on Hispanic consumers.   And for good reason: We heard this stat no less than three times (and possibly more) over the course of the 1.5-day show: By 2030, 50% of all new LDAs entering the category will be Hispanic (1/3 of them, Mexican). … Continue reading “Hispanic Drinkers are A-B’s Largest Growth Opportunity “

Dear Client: Anheuser-Busch is riding Busch Light’s hot hand with a dedicated Super Bowl spot. The humorous commercial (it seemed to be a fan favorite at SAMCOM) features the rugged Busch Guy  — and ’90s breakout musician Sarah McLachlan.  The clever spots play on the brand’s outdoorsy nature via those infamous ASPCA “save the animals” … Continue reading “What do Sarah McLachlan, the Busch Guy, and a Wolf Have in Common?”

Dear Client: Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth took the stage early on at SAMCOM’s opening day this week in Anaheim (their first in-person since 2020) with one theme: Accelerate.  Even when things are growing, Brendan said, “I refuse to be satisfied.” For example, by all accounts, Michelob Ultra had a great 2022. Brand VP Ricardo Marques … Continue reading ““Acceleration,” and Other Themes from SAMCOM”

Dear Client: A 45-year Tri-State area Sapporo distributor claims in a lawsuit the supplier has threatened to terminate the parties’ decades-long relationship, citing the distributor’s poor post-Covid performance as a pretextual reason for pulling the contract.  Wine of Japan Import Inc. (WOJ) and its import affiliate, Sanwa Trading Co. Inc., distribute “Sapporo products in the … Continue reading “Longtime Sapporo Distrib Sues Supplier Over Termination Notice”

Dear Client: The founders of “party punch” in a box – BeatBox Beverages – took the stage at our Beer Summit earlier this month to talk ‘23 plans for the company following an uber-successful ‘22.  Let’s dig in.  DOUBLING THEIR BUSINESS. In 2022, BeatBox “more than doubled,” co-founder Justin Fenchel said, to over $40 million … Continue reading “BeatBox on Building the Brand to 100K Bbls”

Dear Client: In a recent conversation regarding the flimsy supplier agreements non-alc purveyors are thrusting upon beer distributors, he indicated that wholesalers needed to take a page from the playbook of labor unions and hold the line collectively and not give in to contracts that heavily favor the supplier. Wholesalers we’ve spoken with all agree … Continue reading “A Beast of a Contract”

Pricing hits the Deuce ceiling, but tougher comps will bring it back down. Dear Client: David Williams of Bump Williams Consulting represented our industry on the Today Show to talk about, what else? Beer pricing.  Beer was late to the price increase game, but when we did, we came in hot, and consumers along with … Continue reading “Pricing Breaks the Sound Barrier”