1800 Tequila Sponsors Las Vega Raiders and Allegiant Stadium

Posted on January 5, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

To celebrate, 1800 Tequila is unifying Raider Nation in a way befitting of its Vegas hometown. 1800 Tequila invites Raider Nation to join them in the Allegiant Stadium concourse to enjoy the ‘Married to the Game’ ultimate tailgate hosted by Raiders superfan Josephine Skriver. The 1800 Tequila ‘Married to the Game’ tailgate will take place before the home game on January 9th and raise a celebratory glass to the union of Raiders fans from all over the world.

1800 Tequila also created two specialty cocktails to celebrate its partnership with the Las Vegas Raiders and Allegiant Stadium: the 1800 Mexican Mule Rusher (1800 Blanco, fresh lime juice, bitters and ginger beer) and the 1800 Pirate Paloma (1800 Cristalino, light agave, grapefruit bitters and soda water).  These cocktails may be enjoyed at home by purchasing 1800 Tequila and following the recipe on 1800Tequila.com.

“We’re thrilled to welcome fans to Allegiant Stadium as the Las Vegas Raiders’ Official Tequila Partner,” says Lander Otegui, SVP Marketing for Proximo Spirits. “Raider Nation is a diverse and ardent fan base, which reflects 1800 Tequila’s values of authenticity and community. We raise a glass of 1800 Pirate Paloma to celebrate our partnership with Allegiant Stadium and the Raiders.”

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Santa Margherita USA Acquires Majority Ownership of Roco Winery

Posted on January 5, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Santa Margherita USA, the wholly owned fine wine import subsidiary of Santa Margherita Gruppo Vinicolo, said it acquired majority ownership of ROCO Winery in Oregon.  Terms weren’t disclosed.

ROCO Winery was founded in 2001 by Rollin & Corby Stonebraker-Soles.

Santa Margherita USA represents over ten world-renowned wineries throughout the United States, including Santa Margherita, Ca’ del Bosco, Masi, Kettmeir, Lamole di Lamole, Sassoregale, Torresella, Feudo Zirtari, Fattoria Sardi, Cà Maiol, and Cantina Mesa. The wine portfolio is a dynamic and diverse mosaic of Italy’s finest wine regions, including the Veneto, Alto Adige, Franciacorta, Lugana, Tuscany, Sardinia, and Sicily.

Stoel Rives LLP represented Santa Margherita USA, and Davis Wright Tremaine LLP represented ROCO Winery in the negotiation of this agreement.

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AquaBrew, ShotGun Seltzer to Merge

Posted on January 5, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

AquaBrew, the maker of Swine Dive IPA, agreed to acquire ShotGun Seltzer, Texas’ first craft seltzer, are announcing that they have reached an agreement to merge.

The combined company will operate out of AquaBrew’s new 20,000-square-foot production floor, taproom, and beer garden. The expanded facility will allow AquaBrew to scale to over 50K barrels annually. “We have a large, state-of-the-art facility but we needed help with expanding our distributor network and scaling sales across Texas and beyond,” said Founder, Carlos Russo.  “This merger allows us to tap into ShotGun’s 80+ years of combined experience, distributor and retailer relationships.”

ShotGun Seltzer has grown to over 4,000 retail and on-premise accounts throughout Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.

 

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Iowa Restaurant Group Seeks to Liquor Law Changes

Posted on January 5, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Liquor has to be purchased from retail locations and cannot be distributed directly to restaurants themselves.

“We watch the state trucks deliver to the convenience store and to the pharmacy and to the grocery store but they won’t come and deliver to a restaurant or bar,” said Jessica Dunker, president of the Iowa Restaurant Association.

“Products such as our Kinky Green that we put in our house cocktail the Roughrider, we can’t get that from our supplier that sells it, but it’s sitting on the shelves here at our local liquor stores,” Avila-Burillo of Chophouse Downtown said.

The group plans to introduce new legislation for consideration next session. They’re pushing to make beer and liquor distribution to restaurants the same as wine, which can be delivered through a distributor, or purchased at a store in limited quantities.

“When Prohibition was lifted in 1933 there was– there were restaurants and bars, there were not drug stores and gas stations and grocery stores selling the array of alcohol products that they are now,” Dunker explained.

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Topo Chico Goes National

Posted on January 5, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

The brand surged in the 10 months following its March release, winning a 2 share in the U.S. despite being distributed in just 16 markets and posting impressive share numbers in key markets like Texas, Colorado and Chicago.

Now it is going national this month and is launching its highly anticipated Topo Chico Ranch Water Hard Seltzer in select markets, too.

“We’re incredibly excited to take Topo Chico Hard Seltzer to all 50 states. The excitement from consumers is there,” says Alan Bremerkamp, Molson Coors’ director of marketing for hard seltzers. “Throughout last year, people continued to ask where they could find the brand. They drove across state lines to find it. Now they’ll be able to bring it home from their favorite store.”

In what Bremerkamp describes as one of Molson Coors Beverage Co.’s largest innovation launches ever, Topo Chico Hard Seltzer will be available nationally in a 12-pack variety pack containing its four core flavors (Strawberry Guava, Tangy Lemon Lime, Exotic Pineapple and Tropical Mango), as well as standalone 24-ounce cans of Strawberry Guava and Tangy Lemon Lime, and 16-ounce cans of Tangy Lemon-Lime.

Molson Coors believes it can be a Top 3 hard seltzer in the U.S. Topo Chico Hard Seltzer is tripling its media spend from last year, building out a marketing strategy that includes its first national TV spot, digital and out-of-home ads, as well as increased sampling events.

At 4.7% alcohol by volume, 2 grams of sugar and 100 calories, Topo Chico Hard Seltzer is inspired by Topo Chico Mineral Water. It blends spiked pure-filtered sparking water, natural flavors and added minerals for a crisp, refreshing taste.

 

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Economy Grows for 19th Consecutive Month, But Pace Slows

Posted on January 5, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector grew in December, with the overall economy achieving a 19th consecutive month of growth, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.

“The December Manufacturing PMI registered 58.7% , a decrease of 2.4 percentage  from the November reading of 61.1% percent. This figure indicates expansion in the overall economy for the 19th month in a row after a contraction in April 2020,” sqid Timothy R. Fiore, chairman, Institute for Supply Management‘s business survey committee.

The New Orders Index registered 60.4%, down 1.1 percentage points compared to the November reading of 61.5%. The Production Index registered 59.2% , a decrease of 2.3 percentage points compared to the November reading of 61.5%. The Prices Index fell 68.2% 14.2 percentage points, while the Backlog of Orders Index rose 0.9 percentage point to 62.8%.

The Employment Index registered 54.2%, 0.9 percentage point higher than in  November reading.  Supplier deliveries slowed and the Inventories Index fell 2.1 percentage points to 54.7%,   New Export Orders Index eased 0.4 percentage point to 53.6% and the Imports Index rose 1.2 percentage points to  53.8%.

“The U.S. manufacturing sector remains in a demand-driven, supply chain-constrained environment, with indications of improvements in labor resources and supplier delivery performance,” Fiore said.

“Shortages of critical lowest-tier materials, high commodity prices and difficulties in transporting products continue to plague reliable consumption. Coronavirus pandemic-related global issues — worker absenteeism, short-term shutdowns due to parts shortages, employee turnover and overseas supply chain problems — continue to impact manufacturing.

“However, panel sentiment remains strongly optimistic, with six positive growth comments for every cautious comment, down slightly from November. The forecast released this month indicates a strong 2022 performance expectation in terms of revenue growth and profitability, he said.

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