In 2023, U.S. craft spirits faced the first dip in sales, volume and share in recent history, according to data from the 2024 Craft Spirits Data Project, shared by the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) and Park Street.
Across oversaturated retail shelves, bev-alc brands are under pressure to stand out.
In premium spirits and canned cocktails, brands have learned that calling out unique ingredients and connecting to audiences through their own cultural stories is key to positioning. They’re also balancing bolder looks with conveying brand values, health benefits and taste without over-messaging. Many have gone back to the drawing board, honing their brand prepositions and packaging.
Constellation Brands may have lowered its fiscal year 2025 (FY25) guidance earlier today, but the company has not lost confidence in the continued growth of its beer brands.
Earnings calls from Brown-Forman and Pernod Ricard echoed other spirit companies struggling to regain their footing in the U.S. as the inventory build-up continues. Meanwhile, Pernod Ricard announced separately it is further bolstering its non-alc portfolio.
Spirits, hard cider, mead and braggot producers can now ship their products directly to New York consumers. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed Senate Bill S2852A into law Monday, allowing direct-to-consumer (DTC) shipping from in- and out-of-state manufacturers.
Earlier this month, an article in Food & Wine proclaimed craft spirits in crisis, kicking off a tense debate between wholesalers and craft spirit representatives about the root causes of the challenges facing distillers.
Marking its first annual sales loss since 2020, Diageo reported a -1.4% decline in net sales for fiscal year 2024 during its earnings call Tuesday morning.
Fast-growing whiskey company Uncle Nearest has launched a unique trade mentorship program, leveraging a brand advocacy strategy its creator said is centered on investing in bartenders and building long-term relationships.
Ever since Diageo’s acquisition of Casamigos made George Clooney an overnight billionaire, there’s been a race to the shelf from celebrity-backed brands. But with the wider spirits downturn, how have these business models evolved and where do they have an edge, if at all?
Uncle Nearest, the country’s largest Black-owned distillery, is widening its reach across spirit categories in announcing a deal to acquire Square One Organic Spirits, the company announced today.
Beam Suntory is rebranding to Suntory Global Spirits, a move that both reflects back on the decade since the Japanese spirit giant acquired the maker of Jim Beam, as well as the company’s continued evolution into a global premium spirits and ready-to-drink competitor.
Surfside, a fast-growing line of canned iced tea and vodka cocktails, is getting the summer par-tea started with five new SKUs and a distribution expansion putting the brand in over 40 states, the company announced today.
America’s No. 1 cocktail is… still No. 1. The margarita retained a fifth of all cocktail sales on-premise in the last quarter of 2023.
U.S. government trying to limit your booze intake or access? The short answer is no. So why do we keep hearing rumblings about something called the ‘neo-prohibition’ movement?
