19 Crimes Adds Martha Stewart to Its Brands

Posted on January 6, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

The lifestyle guru’s picture appears on labels of 19 Crimes’ Martha’s Chard, which is debuting in California and will be available nationally Feb. 1.  SRP: $11.99.

Martha’s Chard joins two previous California launches from 19 Crimes partner Snoop Dogg, 19 Crimes Snoop Cali Red and Rosé, in addition to a portfolio of Australian wines including the signature Red Blend that started it all.

19 Crimes, which is owned by Australia’s Treasury Wine Estates, refers to the 19 crimes that in 18th Century Britain resulted in 160,000 convicts being sentenced to live in Australia rather than be executed.  The deal with Martha Stewart is rich with irony.  She was convicted in 2004 on many felony charges involving insider trading and lying to investigators.  She wasn’t sentenced to Australia, but rather served three months at a West Virginia federal prison camp known as “Camp Cupcake” and another five months of home confinement.

The Martha Stewart brand was acquired by Marquee Brands in 2019.  Marquee is owned by investor funds managed by Neuberger Berman, an employee-owned investment manager.

Posted in Marketing | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on 19 Crimes Adds Martha Stewart to Its Brands

Economy Watch: Services Sector Growth Slowed in December

Posted on January 6, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Economic activity in the services sector grew in December for the 19th month in a row with the Services PMI® exceeding 60% for the 10th consecutive month, according to the Institute for Supply Management.

Every major component of the Services PMI declined, but ISM says the services sector is still growing because the readings are above 50%.  The Services PMI registered 62%, 7.1 percentage points below November’s all-time high reading of 69.1%. The Business Activity Index registered 67.6%, a decrease of 7 percentage points compared to the reading of 74.6% in November, and the New Orders Index registered 61.5%, 8.2 percentage points lower than the all-time high reading of 69.7% reported in November.

The Supplier Deliveries Index registered 63.9%, 11.8 percentage points lower than the 75.7% reported in November. (Supplier Deliveries is the only ISM® Report On Business® index that is inversed; a reading of above 50 percent indicates slower deliveries, which is typical as the economy improves and customer demand increases.)

The Prices Index reached its third-highest reading ever at 82.5%, up 0.2 percentage point from November’s 82.3%. Services businesses continue to struggle replenishing inventories, as the Inventories Index (46.75, down 1.5 percentage points from November’s 48.2%) and the Inventory Sentiment Index (registered 38.3%, up 1.9 percentage points from November) stayed in contraction or ‘too low’ territory in December.

Posted in Economic Outlook | Tagged | Comments Off on Economy Watch: Services Sector Growth Slowed in December

Docs Who Advised Biden Say He’s Blowing Fight Against Covid

Posted on January 6, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Six key medical advisors to President Biden have essentially endorsed what we have been advocating for months — the need for massive testing.

“it feels like we are always fighting yesterday’s crisis and not necessarily thinking what needs to be done today to prepare us for what comes next,” Dr. Luciana Borio, a former acting chief scientist at the Food and Drug Administration, said in an interview with The New York Times.

Three of the scientists noted that in July Biden proclaimed “we’ve gained the upper hand against the virus,” which plainly was not true.  The U.S. must avoid becoming stuck in “a perpetual state of emergency,” three of them write in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Every person in the U.S. should have access to low-cost testing, they say, adding that the Biden Administration’s highly touted purchase of 500 million test kits isn’t nearly enough.  They also called for development of new vaccines and forms of delivery with N95 masks sbeing free and readily available to all Americans.

In interviews, the authors said they had made their views know to administration officials but felt as if they were being ignored.  They were especially critical of Biden’s “single-minded focus on vaccines” and the fact that there isn’t a federal system linking testing to treatments, so that people who test positive can instantly get prescriptions for antiviral medicines.

The six served as advisors to Biden during his campaign, but the advisory group was dissolved once he took office.

Posted in COVID-19 | Tagged | Comments Off on Docs Who Advised Biden Say He’s Blowing Fight Against Covid

Who & What —

Posted on January 6, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Kentucky Distillers Association hires Jack Mazurak as director of governmental and regulatory affairs.  He joins from the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development where he was director and executive director of its Office of Marketing and Public Affairs.

California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) announced the planned departure of its president, John Aguirre, effective May 31.  He joined CAWG June 1, 2010..  A successor wasn’t named.

Posted in Who and What | Tagged | Comments Off on Who & What —

CBrand’s Cannabis ‘Investment’ Slam 3Q Bottom Line Despite Bev/Al Strength

Posted on January 6, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Constellation Brands Inc. reports third quarter sales of $2.507 billion, down 5% from the year-earlier $2.644 billion.  But a $171.8 million loss at Canopy Brands, in which the company has a significant interest, resulted in net income plunging 62% to $470.8 million, or $2.48 a Class A common share from $1.281 billion, or $6.55 a share. .

Except for Canopy’s losses, Constellation said it would have seen an 8% growth in earnings per share to $3.42 a share.   Since it invested in Canopy, Constellation has recognized a $424.4 million unrealized net loss.

Constellation’s beer business saw depletion growth exceed 8%, driven by continued strength of Modelo Especial and Corona Extra, gaining 1.3 market share points.  The company noted Modelo Especial saw depletions grow 13% and was the No.1 brand share gainer in the entire U.S. beer category.  Modelo Chelada depletions soared 35%.

Constellation”s wine and spirits business reported sales fell 25% to $568 million from $760.2 million, reflecting the disposal of wine brands last year.  On a comparable basis, sales roe 3% to $568 million from $549.9 million

Bill Newslands, president/ceo, noted the obvious when he said the Beer Business “delivered strong results despite tough prior year comparisons.” the wine and spirits business “delivered high-end share gains and margin expansion.”

Posted in beer, Earnings Report | Tagged | Comments Off on CBrand’s Cannabis ‘Investment’ Slam 3Q Bottom Line Despite Bev/Al Strength

Who & What —

Posted on January 6, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Echolands Winery opens its first tasting room in the historic Drumheller Building in downtown Walla Walla, Wash., today (1/6) and names Alan Crum tasting room manager.

Posted in Who and What | Tagged | Comments Off on Who & What —