Dear Client: Dry January was as robust as ever this year — at least, according to Drizly, the leading e-commerce platform for bev alc.  Drizly Insights emailed to share some numbers supporting the theory that people are still abstaining from alcohol in January, as has been trend the last few years.  In fact, according to … Continue reading “Dry January Was Stronger This Year”

Dear Client: Topgolf is already just about the top bev alc on premise concept in its markets, second only to professional sports stadiums for alcohol sales [see BBD 02-15-2019].  The concept is about to pour even more suds and liquor. They opened eight new venues last year, for a total of 60 units. And they’re … Continue reading “Topgolf is Committed to Cracking Seltzer”

Dear Client: Those who read CBD know that Boston Beer pulled out another stellar quarter for depletions growth, which was up 25% (including 6 points from Dogfish Head) for the quarter and 22% for the year. That’s their seventh straight quarter of double-digit growth. But that growth ain’t cheap. They’re running contract at City Brewing … Continue reading “Boston Beer Sells More, Makes Less”

Dear Client: We seem to remember, in the last couple years, Constellation brass saying they could even get into the domestics business someday. It looks like that time is now. Today the company is announcing a  partnership with country music star Luke Bryan to bring “Two Lane American Golden Lager” to market. They’re calling it … Continue reading “Constellation Tiptoes into Domestics With Two Lane Golden Lager”

Dear Client: This dude John Sacksteder is the busiest person in the beer business, and I almost feel sorry for him. He’s either going to be a hero, or…..  The poor guy is in charge of supply chain for the fastest growing bev-alc company in decades, Mark Anthony Brands, and while some folks conjectured that … Continue reading “Being John Sacksteder”

Dear Client: Last week was A-B’s third annual “I-Week” at The Liberty Warehouse in Red Hook, Brooklyn. The “I” is for innovation. Indeed, it’s a sort of “hack-a-thon” for beverages. During the week’s course, tens of ideas are prototyped and vetted across thousands of consumers, both in person and online. By week’s end, twenty or … Continue reading “How A-B is Hacking Innovation”

Dear Client: Could Anheuser-Busch’s largest import, Stella Artois, soon see a return to its days of double-digit growth? A-B’s VP of Premium/Super Premium Brands, Peter Van Overstraeten, believes it’s possible.  Here’s why.   Recall the brand has had a rough go of it the past couple years. After posting double digit gains in 2017, the brand … Continue reading “What’s Up Stella’s Sleeve in 2020?”

Dear Client: Molson Coors chief Gavin Hattersley didn’t beat around the bush in yesterday’s earnings call. The first line out of his mouth was “Look, 2019 was a challenging year for Molson Coors Beverage Company.” Indeed, there weren’t a whole lot of positive numbers Gavin could point to within the past year for their biggest … Continue reading “How Molson Coors Will Respond After a “Challenging” 2019″

Dear Client: It looks like things are getting sequentially better for Molson Coors Beverage Company.  Today they reported depletions down 1.7% and shipments up 2.5% for the U.S. fourth quarter. That’s a far better showing than their previous quarter results, where shipments were down 6.2%, and depletions down 3.9%. Although, they were facing some pretty … Continue reading “Molson Coors Q4 U.S. Depletions Only Down 1.7%”

Dear Client: After “his successful 15-year leadership of the company,”  Heineken N.V. is announcing that Jean-Francois van Boxmeer will be replaced by former Heineken USA chief and 22-year Heineken vet, Dolf van den Brink, come June 1.  Recall, Dolf announced he would leave the top position at HUSA in the summer of 2015 after six … Continue reading “Dolf van den Brink to Replace Jean-François van Boxmeer as Heineken CEO June 1”

Dear Client: Anheuser-Busch’s chief marketer Marcel Marcondes hit up the BBD Bat Phone yesterday to give us a behind the scenes look at all the Super Bowl results they have compiled over the last week. We know what you’re thinking – ‘tell me all about the Super Bowl metrics later… I want to know how … Continue reading “Bud Light Seltzer Seizes 11 Share of Seltzer in Three Weeks’ Time”

Dear Client: Recently we reported that BeatBox maker, Future Proof, had sent a cease and desist letter in January to Molson Coors Beverage Company for what the former dubbed infringement against its seltzer brand, Brizzy. As BBD readers know, MCBC is bringing a similarly named hard seltzer brand, Vizzy, to market imminently.  Molson Coors Beverage … Continue reading “Future Proof Files Injunction Against Molson Coors”

Dear Client: Yesterday we covered the latest “Made to Chill” spot, which dubs Coors Light as the “Official Beer of Skipping Cuffing Season,” for those who’d rather curl up on their sofas with a dog and a beer than hook up to stay warm. The spot debuted during the Grammys, with a pooch-friendly adoption promotion … Continue reading “What to Expect from “Made to Chill” This Year”

Dear Client: AB InBev announced last night that longtime CFO, Felipe Dutra, will step down. Fernando Tennenbaum will take his place, and former A-B sales exec Dave Almeida will become Chief Strategy and Technology Officer; and Nelson Jamel has been appointed Chief People Officer. ABI says “they will be part of the company’s Senior Leadership … Continue reading “Felipe Dutra Out as ABI CFO”

Dear Client: After news broke late last week that PRESS seltzer was selling a minority stake to Constellation via its Focus on Female Founders program, we called up the source for all the “when, where and why” deets.  Recall, PRESS founder Amy Walberg (and business partner Jim Sorenson) sold an undisclosed minority stake to Constellation, … Continue reading “Who is PRESS, Constellation’s Minority Investment?”