State tax competition: Massachusetts alcohol tax cut hurt bottom line at New Hampshire state-owned liquor stores
Revenue from state-owned liquor stores has trailed expectations the last couple of years, in part because Massachusetts eliminated its 6.25 percent sales tax on alcohol in 2011, according to the New Hampshire Liquor Commission’s chief financial officer. “We hoped it...
Privatization battle in Pennsylvania: lessons learned from Washington privatization
A year ago, if Tom Dieker wanted to pick up a bottle of Stolichnaya vodka, he had to drive to one of the small state stores near his suburban Seattle home. Now, almost eight months after Washington state sold off those stores, chances are he can find it at his local...
Champagne in China seen failing to match Cognac cachet
As global champagne consumption goes flat, makers of bubbly are turning to China to make up the difference. After all, cognac has become a huge hit there, and the country now accounts for 22 percent of worldwide shipments, up from 5 percent in 2000. “We think China...
Scotch-whiskey makers see the European Union and its single market as vital – have no desire to leave
The dandy has been striding out ever since he first graced a bottle of Johnnie Walker in 1908, becoming the world’s favourite Scotch whisky. Having made his name along the trading routes of the British empire, Johnnie Walker might be expected to support the...
US public interest groups call for standardized labels with alcohol content and calorie information on alcoholic beverages
US public interest groups - Center for Science in the Public Interest, Consumer Federation of America, National Consumers League and Shape Up America! - have proposed Treasury Department to finalize the rules for standardizing the alcoholic beverages labels with...
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 –...