RNDC Acquires White Mountain Beverage, an A-B Wholesaler in Alaska

Posted on January 6, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Republic National Distributing Co. (RNDC) said it acquired White Mountain Beverage, an independent Anheuser-Busch wholesaler, combining wine and spirits with beer to have one consolidated route to market. White Mountain Beverage, with offices in Anchorage, Alaska; Fairbanks, Alaska; Juneau, Alaska; and Renton, Wash., will now be known as RNDC Alaska.  Terms weren’t disclosed.

“This purchase gives RNDC a unique competitive advantage, allowing RNDC to be the only wholesaler to own the full route to market in the state of Alaska,” said Bob Hendrickson, RNDC Chief Operating Officer. “Don Grasse continues to lead the beer, spirit and wine business, making RNDC the only company with local control and national expertise. We believe this will bring more stability to the business in the Alaska marketplace and a platform for future growth.”

Also included in the purchase is the full ownership of subsidiary K&L, which includes associates in five Control States: Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Utah and Wyoming, as well as support services. These associates begin to transition to RNDC as their employer in January.

Comment:  Note that the A-B has to approve wholesaler changes.  We suspect you will see increased movement into spirits by A-B and other brewers — whether by allowing wine and spirits wholesalers to acquire A-B distributors or by producing spirits themselves.

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Beer Imports Fell 6.1% in November

Posted on January 6, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

That’s according to the Beer Institute, which noted that “November 2020 was a very strong month for imports, with nearly 3.5 million barrels, up 24% compared to 2.8 million barrels in November 2019. Therefore, we are comparing 2021 volumes to extremely strong volumes for imports for November 2020. Import growth for November 2021 compared to November 2019, a more realistic comparison, is up 16.8%.”

January through November 2021 (YTD), imports are up 9.1% compared to the same months in 2020, and up 7.4% compared to the same months in 2019.

Mexican import growth has slowed but is still up 2.1% compared to November 2020 and up 13.3% YTD vs. the same months last year.

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SGWS to Rep Prestige Wine Imports in 7 More States

Posted on January 6, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits said it will represent Prestige Wine Imports, importer of Italian wines, in seven additional markets including Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Washington D.C.

“We are thrilled to start the new year with a strengthened national reach for Prestige Wine Imports,” said Rusty Pape, Executive Vice President, Prestige Wine Imports. “Through this expansion with Southern Glazer’s, we have an exciting opportunity to streamline our business with a partner that shares our vision and values.”

Southern Glazer’s has represented Prestige Wine portfolio in key markets for many years. Expanding this existing footprint will allow Prestige Wine Imports to tap into Southern Glazer’s expertise and infrastructure to accelerate brand building capabilities. The strengthened distribution will also give Southern Glazer’s unprecedented access to Prestige Wine Imports’ iconic portfolio of wines.

“This market expansion is an exciting next step in our long-term partnership with Prestige Wine Imports,” added Mark Chaplin, Southern Glazer’s Senior VP-Sales and Marketing. “We have built a great foundation with the team and are looking forward to working even more closely to drive lasting results.”

Prestige Wine Imports is a New York-based subsidiary of Gruppo Mezzacorona and is the exclusive importer of a diverse portfolio which runs the gamut of high-quality Italian wines, from the Italian Alps to Sicily.

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Black-Owned Victor George Distillery Buys Controlling Stake in Palm Beach Distillery

Posted on January 6, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Black-owned Victor George Spirits (VGS) announced they have closed on a deal to buy a majority equity stake in Palm Beach Distillery (PBD). GTerms weren’t disclosed.

Founded by Summer Piep in 2017, Palm Beach Distillery currently makes  vodka, rum, gin and will begin producing several Victor George Spirits products including Pullman Porters 1867, a six-year aged rye whiskey named after former slaves that became the highest paid Black people of the 1860’s, and  Fort Mose’ bourbon named after the first city in America that Black people could live free which wasjust outside St Augustine, Fl.a. These two new brands are scheduled to be released by Victor George Spirits in February 2022 in honor of Black History Month.

Victor and Jolyn Harvey with Summer Piep (PRNewsfoto/Victor George Spirits)

Victor and Jolyn Harvey with Summer Piep (PRNewsfoto/Victor George Spirits)

Piep will remain as a partner and serve as Chief Operating Officer and Master Distiller of Palm Beach Distillery. “We feel this is a great opportunity to help Palm Beach Distillery get to the next level. The Victor George Spirits team brings experience, marketing, resources and distribution opportunities that will help get our award-winning brands in the hands of more consumers,” said Piep.
Victor G Harvey, an industry veteran and owner of nationally distributed Victor George Vodka “VG”, will be the Chairman of the Board and Director of Business Development, his daughter Jolyn Harvey, also a partner in the new venture and graduate of Ohio State University who has worked in the family business for the last three years will serve as Chief Marketing Officer of Palm Beach Distillery.

Palm Beach Distillery will remain Florida’s first female operated distillery with Summer Piep and Jolyn Harvey.

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CBrands to Make Fresca-Brand Bev/Al

Posted on January 6, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Constellation Brands said it will produce Fresca Mixed, a new distinctive line of spirit-based, ready-to-drink cocktails that, CBrands says, “are well-aligned to a new of emerging consumer trends.”  The announcement comes after the company reached a brand authorization agreement with Coca-Cola Co., which owns Fresca.

Fresca Mixed is expected to launch this year, starting with cocktails using real spirits and inspired by recipes created by Fresca fans from around the globe. The products will be produced and marketed by Constellation and distributed through Constellation’s three-tier distribution networks, leveraging the company’s consumer knowledge, brand-building capabilities, beverage alcohol expertise, and strong retail and trade relationships to secure national distribution.

“Fresca is not only trusted by consumers, but also directly delivers on consumer preferences for refreshment, flavor, and convenience – attributes that also play well within beverage alcohol and where we can leverage our expertise,” said Bill Newlands, Constellation’s president and chief executive officer.

Adult Alternative Beverages, including ready-to-drink cocktails, represents nearly an $8 billion segment projected to grow at a 15% to 17% CAGR over the next three years, with trusted consumer brands commanding a significant share of the market, according to Constellation Brands market research.

“One of the core tenets of our innovation strategy is a belief in the power of extending strong and trusted brands in thoughtful ways to bring to market unique products that resonate with consumers,” said Mallika Monteiro, Constellation’s chief growth, strategy, and digital officer. “This is an exciting agreement that allows us to continue expanding our premium portfolio in ways that deliver distinctive consumer value propositions that include things like more flavor, different alcohol bases, and functional benefits.”

Comment:  Execution will be of prime importance.  CBrands will have to be very careful to make sure that underage persons don’t confused Fresca Mixed with regular Fresca.

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Yellowstone Bourbon Marks 150th Year with Park Scenes on Labels

Posted on January 6, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

It’s been 150 years since the Yellowstone bourbon brand first appeared, and Limestone Branch Distillery is marking the anniversary by debuting the Yellowstone Select Landmark Edition Bottle series, featuring six different scenes from the national park that inspired the brand:
● Lower Yellowstone Falls (original image)
● Old Faithful
● Grand Prismatic Spring
● Minerva Terrace
● Roosevelt Arch
● Lamar Valley

Named after the country’s very first national park, Yellowstone bourbon was introduced in 1872 to honor the park’s remarkable beauty and pioneering spirit. Limestone Branch Distillery, which was opened in 2015 in St. Louis by Stephen Beam and his brother, Paul Beam, brought the Yellowstone brand back to the family in 2015.

“We’re proud of our brand’s long history honoring its namesake national park, and we are thrilled to pay further tribute through our Yellowstone Select Bourbon Landmark Edition Bottle series,” said Limestone
Branch Brand Manager Caitlin Palmieri Jackson. “Our iconic label featuring the Lower Yellowstone Falls has created a connection with fans of both our brand and the park. The Landmark Edition Bottle series was
created to expand upon that connection, as the different landmarks are likely to inspire different memories among consumers of the brand, who are now able to choose the bottle/label that is most special to them.”

Limestone Branch Distillery has produced a limited number of cases featuring a random assortment of all six Landmark Edition Bottle labels. Yellowstone Select Landmark Edition bottles will be available nationwide at a suggested retail price of $39.99 while supplies last.

To date, Limestone Branch has donated nearly $210,000 to the National Parks Conservation Association.  From Jan. 1 – Nov 30, 2022, Limestone Branch will donate $1.50 to NPCA for each bottle of Yellowstone Whiskey sold, representing a guaranteed donation up to $30,000.

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