An important summer selling period is drawing near, and Brewbound has you covered with some of the most recent category data from market research firms such as Nielsen and IRI, as well as industry trade groups the Beer Institute (BI) and National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA).
The vice president of Anheuser-Busch’s Beyond Beer division has departed the company, Brewbound has confirmed. Randy Ornstein — who oversaw the sales strategy for alcoholic brands like Bon & Viv spiked seltzer, and non-alcoholic offerings such as Hiball Energy – left the company on June 4. The reasons behind Ornstein’s exit are unclear, but a replacement has been identified and an announcement is expected later this month.
John Manfreda, the administrator of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), died Saturday, May 25, from a heart attack. He was 73. Manfreda had led the alcohol and tobacco industries’ regulatory agency since January 4, 2005.
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) this month announced the acceptance of a $420,000 offer in compromise from Constellation Brands’ Crown Imports LLC subsidiary. According to the TTB, between January 1, 2016, and April 25, 2019, Constellation used a third party to make illegal payments to retailers in an effort to secure draft beer placements.
A number of small brewery transactions have emerged this month, as craft breweries across the country fight to remain competitive in an increasingly more crowded industry.
A minority activist investor in Craft Brew Alliance (NASDAQ: BREW) has sent a letter to the brewery’s board of directors urging the company to consider a sale. David Cohen, the founder of Boston-based private investment fund Midwood Capital Management LLC — which owns about 2 percent of CBA’s outstanding shares and currently has about $70 million under management across 20 different small cap-stocks — believes CBA “must seek a sale to maximize shareholder value.”
Rich Lindsay has departed Finestkind Brewing LLC, the operating company behind the Smuttynose Brewing brand, after about 14 months as CEO, Brewbound has confirmed. Lindsay joined the North Hampton, New Hampshire-based craft brewery after it was acquired by Runnymede Investments in a foreclosure auction last March.
Eight years ago, Dogfish Head and Boston Beer Company teamed up to brew a collaboration beer for the annual SAVOR craft beer and food pairing experience. Today, the two companies announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement valued at about $300 million. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter. As part of the transaction, Dogfish Head co-founders Sam and Mariah Calagione will receive about 406,000 shares of Boston Beer stock (NYSE: SAM), valued at $314.60 per share, making them the largest non-institutional shareholders in the company, behind Boston Beer founder Jim Koch.
Craft Brew Alliance today reported its first quarter earnings results, which included a net income loss of $7.3 million and a 5 percent decline in total depletions. The net income loss was primarily driven by the previously disclosed $4.7 million charge that CBA elected to record as a result of settling a years-long class-action lawsuit over alleged “false and deceptive advertising” of its Kona Brewing beer brand.
A growing number of drinkers are looking to consume “better-for-you” alcohol products with “functional” ingredients and fewer calories. In the following video, attendees of the 2019 Craft Brewers Conference share their thoughts on this emerging area of the beer category.
Longtime beer industry veteran Simon Thorpe has been tapped to lead the North American craft beer division of Kirin Holdings-owned and Australia-based Lion Pty Limited, announced today. The former Pabst Brewing CEO will serve as the managing director of Lion’s mostly undeveloped U.S. craft business.
Attendees of the 2019 Craft Brewers Conference, held last month in Denver, Colorado, explain how they are standing out in a crowded environment and overcoming challenges in the marketplace.
Canada’s oldest and largest independent brewery is getting into the cannabis business. Moosehead Breweries Limited and Sproutly Canada, which aims to become the leading supplier of water-soluble cannabis solutions, yesterday announced their intent to form an exclusive joint venture that will develop, produce and market cannabis-infused beverages.
Longtime New Belgium Brewing spokesman Bryan Simpson will depart the company on May 10, Brewbound has learned. Leah Pilcer-Pitman, who most recently served as New Belgium’s director of retail development and strategy, will supplant Simpson as director of communications.
