Diageo CEO Says Acquisition Strategy Driven by Premiumization
Diageo has been on an acquisition streak this fall, picking up Aviation gin in August and Chase Distillery in October, but it's not closing up shop yet. Diageo CEO Ivan Menezes told CNBC that the company's acquisition strategy is driven by the ongoing trend for...
Spirits Chip Away at Wine’s Dominance of Online Sales
For the month of September, online alcohol sales were up over 250% compared to last year, and still continue to outperform most other consumer good categories, according to recent report from Nielsen. Spirits led online alcohol growth increasing over 350%, followed...
Off-Premise Buyers Increase in October as On-Premise Closures Rise
The off-premise saw a slight increase in buyers for October, which could indicate that cooler weather and a second round of on-premise closures is shifting consumers from on-premise back to off-premise, according to data from Nielsen. At the beginning of the pandemic,...
Consumers Still Buying High-End Beverage Alcohol Brands
Third-quarter data shows that nearly all of the product segments in the popular price tier for wine and spirits declined during the period, indicating consumers are still buying higher-end brands, according to a new report from SipSource. The off-premise continues to...
Americans Downsize Thanksgiving Plans
Seven out of ten households this year are planning a Thanksgiving gathering with less than six people, according to the latest Nielsen data. Those planning to serve alcohol at their gatherings are down slightly in each category with 37% planning to serve wine compared...
COVID Spurs Highest Levels of New Business Applications Since 2004
The US has always been a global leader in “creative destruction," the economic phenomena of creating new economic structures by destroying the old. This approach has the US leading all other nations in new business creation during the pandemic. New business...
IWSR: US Spirits “Remained Relatively Resilient” in 2020
The growth of the ready-to-drink (RTD) category and hard seltzers has paved the way for a resilient US beverage alcohol market throughout the pandemic, according to IWSR Drinks Market Analysis. US alcohol beverage volumes are expected to rise over 2% in 2020. Out of...
SweetWater Brewing Acquired By Global Cannabis Company Aphria
Global cannabis company Aphria has entered an agreement to acquire SweetWater Brewing Company for $300 million. SweetWater Brewing is one of the largest independent craft brewers in the United States and has created an award-winning portfolio of specialty beers, many...
EU Adds New 25% Tariffs on Select US Spirits
The European Commission has announced new 25% tariffs on US rum, brandy, vodka, and vermouth that will go into effect November 10. Products already on the water are exempt, but proof will be required, according to the Wine and Spirits Shippers Association. The US...