US wine exports in 2012 grew 2.6% in value while volume dipped 4.9%
U.S. wine exports, 90 percent from California, last year increased 2.6 percent in winery revenue to a record $1.43 billion from 2011, but at the same time, shipment volume dipped 4.9 percent, a major wine trade policy advocacy group announced today. Export volume last...
January 2013 Control State results: volume up 8.7% and revenue up 12.3%
During January, nine-liter spirits case sales in the control states grew 8.7% compared to same month last year sales. Rolling-twelve month volumes were up 4.0% compared to December’s 3.6%. Alabama, Iowa, Idaho, Montgomery County Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi,...
Rioja sales flat with exports growing by 5.5%, offsetting the decline in sales in Spain
The DOCa Rioja has kept its sales over 355 million bottles for the third year in a row, with exports growing by 5.5%, offsetting the decline in sales in Spain. This has been attributed to a continued rise in demand in export markets, with record export sales close to...
Pernod not interested in Cuervo distribution deal or Sobieski acquisition, but hints at interest in US craft spirits sector
Deputy chairman and chief executive Pierre Pringuet said in London yesterday that he had been surprised by reports from Paris last week that he wanted Jose Cuervo to fill the tequila gap in his portfolio. “I was asked if it [Cuervo] is a desirable brand – and it is –...
Trends in wine: out-innovated by beer, under-indexing with Hispanics
Is wine losing its buzz? Lately the category has been out-innovated by brewers, who have flooded the market with new beer flavors, brands and line extensions, fueling a resurgence that's coming at the expense of wine. Wine volume sales grew 1.5% in 2012, slowing from...
Buyout firms Oaktree and Pamplona fail to reach an agreement over a deal for Stock Spirits Group
Talks about a sale of the biggest spirits producer in eastern Europe have collapsed after a disagreement over price between the seller and a fund backed by one of Russia's richest oligarchs. I understand that discussions that would have seen Pamplona Capital, a...
MIT scientists are developing a new class of drugs that act as an alcohol antidote
Party animals could soon be able to sober up in an instant just by popping a pill. Researchers have developed a cocktail of alcohol metabolizing enzymes that speedily reduces blood alcohol levels in drunk mice. The treatment, which has been compared to having...
Champagne shipments fell by 4.4% in 2012
Champagne sold 14m less bottles in 2012, a 4.4% decline after a slump in pre-Christmas trade. The final figure of 308.8m bottles was lower than anticipated – industry insiders had forecast a 3% fall to 314-315m bottles – following poor demand in November and December,...
Prioritizing brand and consumer feedback over production needs – example of Maker’s Mark: announced the reversal of the controversial decision to water down the product
After backlash from customers, the producer of Maker's Mark bourbon is reversing a decision to cut the amount of alcohol in bottles of its famous whiskey. Rob Samuels, Maker's Mark's chief operating officer, said Sunday that it is restoring the alcohol volume of its...