Beer Industry News, Insights, Jobs, & Events
Bartender-Crafted RTD Hugo’s Cocktails Scales With New Distribution Deal
Cristian Molina built the flavors for Hugo’s Cocktails with the premise that his 20 years of bartending put him more in touch with trends than a focus group.
Kroger Strikes $1.65B Deal to Acquire Giant Eagle
Kroger has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire regional grocery chain Giant Eagle for $1.65 billion, marking the company’s first major acquisition since its proposed megamerger with Albertsons collapsed in 2024.
Constellation Maintains 1.8% Shipments Growth Thru Q1, Depletions -0.3% YoY
Constellation Brands had a stronger start to its fiscal year 2027 (FY27) than the prior year, recording beer division growth in Q1, according to financial details released today.
Columbia Distributing Adds 850K Cases of Wine & Spirits As RNDC Deal Closes in WA, OR
Columbia Distributing has completed its acquisition of certain wine and spirits distribution rights from Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) in Oregon and Washington, adding approximately 850,000 cases to its portfolio across both states.
Plant-Based Bev Maker Elmhurst Launches Hard Oat Spritz
Plant-based beverage maker Elmhurst 1925 has always been ambitious in its broad approach to innovation, be it through milk alternatives, protein drinks or sour cream. Now, it’s going hard.
Beer Wholesaler Optimism Continues for 4th Consecutive Month; All Segments Improve YoY Led by Imports
There’s still more beer demand in the future, according to beer wholesalers’ crystal balls.
‘Seller’s Market’ Develops for Scaled RTD Brands
The time is right for founders of scaled ready-to-drink (RTD) brands to consider exits with the emergence of a “classic seller’s market,” Arlington Capital Advisors managing director Townsend Ziebold declared earlier this month at the Beer Marketer’s Insights business conference.
Father’s Day, World Cup Help Bev-Alc Sales Return to Growth; Spirits, Wine Offset Beer Declines
Total beverage-alcohol dollar sales turned positive year-over-year [YoY] (+0.8%) and week-over-week [WoW] (+1.7%) in the week ending June 21, according to the latest weekly report from market research firm Circana. Off-premise dollar sales reached $1.542 billion during the week, which featured several drinking-centric occasions, including Father’s Day celebrations and nearly two weeks of World Cup play. Volume, measured in case sales, declined 1.9%.
Featured Jobs
Report: Untitled Art to Cease Operations
Untitled Art is ceasing operations after a decade, the New School reported, citing “internal sources and memos circulated around the company employees and partners.”
How Dirty Shirley Cleaned Up with Sazerac Deal
Most founders build to scale, but Adam Kost, founder of ready-to-drink brand Dirty Shirley, built to prove. In a saturated market, Dirty Shirley was structured from day one as a market-validation project that was lean, disciplined, design-led and deliberately positioned for an early strategic exit – which it got.
Craft Negative Trends Stabilize in June; Grocery Continues to Offset C-Store Gains, Per Circana Monthly Report
Craft dollar sales declines stabilized to start the summer selling season after a period of worsening trends. In the four-week period (L4W) ending June 14, craft dollar sales declined 4.6% year-over-year (YoY) at multi-outlet grocery, mass retail and convenience stores (MULO+C) tracked by market research firm Circana. This marked no change in momentum from Circana’s previous monthly report (data ending May 17), which itself reflected a doubling of dollar sales declines compared to the prior period (-2.3% YoY L4W through April 19).
Keg 1 Missouri to Acquire 1M+ Cases from Fechtel Beverage & Sales
Keg 1 Management is wheeling and dealing. The multi-state distribution platform/consolidator’s Keg 1 Missouri subsidiary announced a deal to acquire more than 1 million cases from Fechtel Beverage & Sales in Central Missouri.
Insider’s Week in Beer: 🤞 Tilray Bets £1M (of Free Beer) On the World Cup
Well, it’s nice to see TILRAY totally learned from the spending warning lessons of the previous BREWDOG ownership era. It’s launching a promotion to give away up to about $1.3M of beer in the UK and Vegas at its branded locations if England, Scotland or U.S. teams make the World Cup Final (although with these remaining odds, don’t get your hopes up too high there, Tartan Army).
Press Clips: NIQ’s Top 5 Beer Growth Manufacturers in the L4W; RNDC Illinois Layoffs Affect 280 Workers; Maui Light NA Returns
Nearly 300 Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) workers in Illinois are expected to be laid off as the distributor shuts down its operations in the state.