Diageo North America Opens New Canning Facility to Accelerate RtD Growth

Posted on March 1, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Diageo launched a new manufacturing site featuring two high-speed can lines, capable of producing 25 million cases of malt-based beverages and spirits-based Ready-to-Drink (RTD) cocktails a year.

The operation at the new 225,000 square-foot facility supplements existing ready-to-drink production across North America. Diageo Lincolnway is producing some of Diageo’s latest portfolio brands and innovations, including Smirnoff seltzers and spirits-based RTD cocktails from Crown Royal and Ketel One Botanical Vodka Spritz.

With an investment of approximately $110 million, Diageo Lincolnway employs 50 full-time team members. Diageo North America has built a 56-year-old partnership with the Village of Plainfield and has played an important role contributing to its economic development. Diageo’s presence has grown and expanded over the years: the Plainfield Bottling site – opened since 1966 – and the warehouse collectively employs more than 600 additional people.

“We’re incredibly proud of the speed and innovative approach from our team and partners in their efforts to build this site in record time. Diageo Lincolnway will be instrumental in accelerating our offerings in the convenience space and help meet consumer demand,” said Michael L. Nelson Jr., Manufacturing & Distillation, Senior VP, Diageo North America. “The new facility strengthens our manufacturing footprint in the region and allows us to leverage synergies with our warehouse and bottling operation in Plainfield.”

“The new canning facility will enhance Diageo’s existing operations, strengthening our offering and accelerating our strategy in the ready-to-drink category,” said Keara Funck, Convenience, Vice President, Diageo North America. “As we continue to build on this opportunity in the convenience space to deliver premium delicious bar-quality cocktails and malt-based beverages, we are excited about the innovations and possibilities this could bring to our consumers.”

The RTD category continues to gain momentum in the United States, driven by consumer interest in enjoying cocktails at home and demand for a range of drinks in convenient formats that are ideal for casual and at-home occasions.

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Coors Light Ends 6-Pack Plastic Rings Worldwide

Posted on March 1, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Coors Light said it will eliminate plastic rings from packaging globally, where Molson Coors owns brewing operations, and is set to become the largest beer brand in North America to move away from plastic rings. To support the move to more sustainable packaging, Molson Coors Beverage Co. will invest $85 million, enabling Coors Light to begin the transition to fully recyclable and sustainably sourced cardboard-wrap carriers later this year.

The Molson Coors investment will upgrade packaging machinery, which will also allow the company’s entire North American portfolio of brands to advance to cardboard wrap carriers by the end of 2025. In total, the move by Molson Coors will avoid 1.7 million pounds of plastic waste annually.

In 2021, Molson Coors removed plastic rings across all major brands sold in the United Kingdom, including Coors and Carling, and transitioned to recyclable cardboard sleeves. Molson Coors in Canada moved to more sustainable plastic rings in 2021 as an initial step, and as part of today’s announcement commits to eliminate plastic rings entirely.

“Our business, and Coors in particular, has a long history of using packaging innovation to protect our environment, and today we are building on that rich legacy,” said Molson Coors CEO Gavin Hattersley. “Just as Coors led the way by pioneering the recyclable aluminum can, Coors Light will lead the way by moving out of single-use plastic rings in North America.”

“We believe that buying beer shouldn’t mean buying plastic,” said Marcelo Pascoa, VP-Marketing for the Coors Family of Brands. “That’s why we’re taking a step toward making packaging even more sustainable, and with this achievement Coors Light will save 400,000 pounds of single-use plastic from becoming waste across North America every year.”

 

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Wiseacre Brewing Expands to Indiana, Missouri

Posted on March 1, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Wiseacre Brewing Co. said it plans to launch statewide distribution in Missouri and Indiana this month. Craft Republic will distribute Wiseacre’s products in Missouri, and Craft Roads in Indiana.

Five of the Memphis-based breweries’ year-round beers – Ananda IPA, Bow Echo Hazy IPA, Gotta Get Up to Get Down Coffee Milk Stout, Puffel Hazy Double IPA, and the Great American Beer Festival Bronze Medal-winning Tiny Bomb Pilsner – will be available in both states along with Seasonal and Specialty Releases.  Tiny Bomb has grown to become the No. 6 Craft Pilsner in the entire country with 57% growth across Wiseacre’s footprint in 2021.

Thanks to its state-of-the-art production facility opened last March, Wiseacre is able to offer a full array of packages with 12oz, 16oz, and 19.2 oz cans coming in 6-packs, 4-packs, 12-packs, Variety Packs, and single-serve to create options for consumers in the fast changing landscape of craft beer.

Wiseacre is currently sold in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Washington, D.C., so the expansion means that Wiseacre fans in a total of 16 states and the District of Columbia will be able to buy their Wiseacre favorites closer to home.

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Riboli Family Wines Acquires New Vineyard

Posted on March 1, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Riboli Family Wines said it a new vineyard near their existing Stefano Vineyard in Paso Robles, Calif., for an undisclosed amount. Located in the El Pomar District, the vineyard is known for Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Petite Syrah.

This acquisition will be the seventh estate vineyard in Paso Robles for the family. The 100-acre property was chosen for its unique calcareous (limestone) soil and high-quality water supply.

“Our family is thrilled to add another vineyard from the highly sought after El Pomar District AVA”, says 4th generation winemaker, Anthony Riboli. “We are excited to continue expanding in Paso Robles fresh off our acquisition of Jada Vineyard and Winery.”

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Bourbon Dominated Whiskey Sales on Drizly in 2021

Posted on March 1, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

It represented 38% of sales, followed by Scotch at 33%, Irish Whisky at 8%, Flavored Whiskey at 7%, Rye at 6%, Japanese at 4%, Canadian at 3% and Single Malt at 2%.

In 2021, Irish whiskey accounted for an 8.5% share of total whiskey category sales on Drizly. This is down slightly from 8.8% the year prior, but it is in line with Irish whiskey’s 8.5% pre-pandemic share in 2019. The category currently holds 3.1% of the total liquor category on Drizly compared to 3.3% in 2020.

NielsenIQ data for the 52 weeks ending Jan. 29, 2022 show a 6% year-over-year decrease in off-premise dollar sales. However, the category’s sales increased by an impressive 21 percent compared to the same period in 2020. The single-malt category, on the other hand, is on the rise; dollar sales grew seven percent in the year ending Jan. 29, 2022 and jumped 43% compared to 2020.

Though the Covid-19 pandemic presented challenges for Irish whiskey brands as bars shuttered, consumer familiarity with the category drove continued growth for some brands. Pernod Ricard’s full-year report released in September 2021 reveals that top-selling Irish whiskey brand Jameson saw 15% growth in the U.S. market, fueled by at-home consumption and the reopening of on-premise venues.

As Irish whiskey has gained popularity over the past decade, it has moved beyond its reputation as a St. Patrick’s Day staple, or a go-to choice for shots. More consumers are adding Irish whiskeys to bar carts, exploring new styles and flavors, and mixing it into cocktails.

“Whereas consumers at one time may have had preconceptions about Irish whiskey, such as flavor or specific occasions, we’re seeing its popularity continue to grow,” says Andrew Eis, the Jameson engagement director at Pernod Ricard USA. “This interest has accelerated innovation, which is great news for the category as a whole.”

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Splash Beverage Expands Distribution through Suncoast Beverage in Southwest Florida

Posted on March 1, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Splash Beverage Group, Inc., a portfolio company of leading beverage brands, said Suncoast Beverage Sales in Southwest Florida will now distribute SALT tequila and TapouT performance drinks as well.

Suncoast Beverage Sales is the authorized distributor of Anheuser-Busch products to wholesalers, restaurants, sports lounges, drug stores, the hospitality industry and other commercially licensed institutions in Southwest Florida. Suncoast Beverage Sales distributes a selection of specialty beers, flavored malt beverages, and non-beer brands.

Robert Nistico, CEO of Splash said, “We continue to expand our footprint across Southwest Florida with the expansion of our distribution agreement with Suncoast. Suncoast is already one of our strong partners through which we sell our Copa di Vino and Pulpoloco brands.  The agreement will now expand to include our SALT tequila and TapouT performance drinks.  The beverage business is all about distribution, and we continue to execute our business strategy of blanketing important consumer markets through key distribution partners like Suncoast. We look forward to growing our business with Suncoast.”

Salt Tequila is naturally flavored 100% blanco agave tequila with a clean and sweet taste. Grown, distilled, and bottled in the region of Jalisco Mexico, each pristine bottle of Salt is the result of hard work, determination and countless blends. Salt Tequila offers a variety of naturally flavored tequilas to enhance the pleasure.

TapouT is an international lifestyle brand include a complete line of high-performance sports drinks. TapouT Performance and TapouT Hybrid both feature a 3-in-1 advanced performance formula that delivers hydration and cellular recovery benefits.  TapouT performance drinks restore what the body loses through physical exertion with 12 key vitamins, 68 minerals and all 5 electrolytes.

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