BeerBoard Offers Complimentary Data Services to Suppliers, Distributors

Posted on September 22, 2021 by Joel Whitaker

BeerBoard said it will supply alcohol distributors a complimentary service that equips distributors with real-time visibility, which enables supply chain teams to develop unique strategies for each channel and set a clear vision for category growth. By leveraging SmartOrders’ data intelligence, distributors can capitalize on market demands and consumer needs to drive their portfolio of brands.

In addition, BeerBoard has now incorporated its proprietary Claim Your Brand (CYB) solution to SmartOrders. By utilizing Claim Your Brand, distributors and suppliers can ensure all brand attributes, logos and nutritional information are accurately and consistently displayed at every point of consumer interaction — digital menus, print menus, in-store displays, websites, apps and social media posts.

“Our SmartOrders technology will greatly benefit distributors and suppliers across the industry in supply chain management, optimization and efficiency,” said BeerBoard Vice President of Strategic Development Jim Randall. “SmartOrders can be utilized by staff from senior management to field salespeople. Today’s on-premise landscape consists of evolving consumer preferences, multi-fragmented segments and varying taste profiles. In my 15-plus years working in the industry, I can confidently say this leading-edge service will be essential for distributors and suppliers looking to stay at the forefront of market trends.”

BeerBoard’s client list features high-profile independent groups and major chain operators across North America. Retailers include industry leaders like Buffalo Wild Wings, Hooters, Mellow Mushroom, Twin Peaks, WingHouse, Winking Lizard and Wild Wing Cafe. BeerBoard also partners with major brewers, including Anheuser-Busch, Diageo, Heineken, Lagunitas, New Belgium, Pabst, Shiner, Stone and Yuengling.

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What We’re Reading —

Posted on September 22, 2021 by Joel Whitaker

Inside one of California’s promising new wineries, harvesting fruit in unexpected places.

The couple behind a new wine label.  (San Francisco Chronicle).

 

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Who & What —

Posted on September 22, 2021 by Joel Whitaker

Speakeasy Co., an e-commerce and fulfillment platform servicing the beverage alcohol industry, hired Mark Tholking as Chief Technology Officer and Cara Morrison to Chief Financial Officer.  Most recently, Tholkind was Chief Technology Officer for Vessel and Morrison, a seasoned finance executive, most recently served as Chief Financial Officer of IDW Publishing.

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WSWA Warns on Proposed Limitation of 199A Tax Deduction

Posted on September 21, 2021 by Joel Whitaker

President Biden’s proposed $3.5 trillion tax package to pay for his “human capital” infrastructure plan is raising concerns by members of Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America which warns limiting or repealing the Sec. 199A deduction “would significantly hamper their ability to hire new employees, invest in new technology or infrastructure such as trucks and warehouse equipment.”

“The proposed limitation also further penalizes businesses whose ownership structure includes a trust, significantly hampering the ability of multi-generational family-owned businesses to make investments needed to continue growing and creating jobs in all fifty states and every congressional district across the country,” Michelle Korsmo, WSWA president/ceo, adds.

Currently, 199A allows a deduction of 20% of Qualified Business Income from a domestic business operated as a sole proprietorship or through a partnership, S Corporation, or similar business structure. This deduction allows family-owned wholesalers to reinvest in their business, employees, warehouse technology, delivery truck fleets, and other critical company infrastructure.

Family-owned businesses, like America’s wine and spirits wholesalers, often structure their business entities as pass-throughs, LLCs, or partnerships rather than corporations because it is well suited for multi-generational family business. The use of trusts in the ownership structure allows family-owned businesses with multiple family owners to reinvest in the business in an orderly fashion.*

Depending on the taxpayer’s taxable income, the QBI component is subject to multiple limitations including the type of trade or business, the amount of W-2 wages paid by the qualified trade or business, and the unadjusted basis immediately after acquisition (UBIA) of qualified property held by the trade or business. “WSWA supports these current guardrails that ensure that only real businesses with real employees are eligible for the 199A deduction,” it says.

The unintended consequence of this policy change is that family-owned businesses will not have funds to reinvest and grow the business in future years, because the revenue will be taxed more heavily, WSWA says.

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Texas A&M Develops World’s 1st Organic Treatment for Pierce’s Disease

Posted on September 21, 2021 by Joel Whitaker

A Texas A&M AgriLife Research study has led to the discovery of the first curative and preventive bacteriophage treatment against the pathogen Xylella fastidiosa, which causes the deadly Pierce’s disease in grapevines.

“The development of this first-ever bacteriophage treatment for Pierce’s disease is a significant step for the agricultural industry,” Carlos Gonzalez, Ph.D., Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, who led the research said. “We’ve proven that we’re able to develop a treatment, manufacture the product and put it into large-scale production, and develop it to a point where it’s been approved by the EPA as a treatment for Pierce’s disease.”

A bacteriophage therapy is a precision treatment of bacterial infections that use viruses that only infect and kill the bacterium. Bacteriophages are considered a promising alternative to antibiotics for treating infections in humans, animals and plants.

The treatment has been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, with the commercial name XylPhi-PD, is registered with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, CDPR, and is approved for use in organic production by the Organic Materials Review Institute, OMRI. The product is being marketed in the U.S. by A&P Inphatec, LLC, a subsidiary of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical partnered with AgriLife Research in 2010 to develop a bacteriophage treatment for Pierce’s disease.

“The development of this first-ever bacteriophage treatment for Pierce’s disease is a significant step for the agricultural industry,” Gonzalez said. “We’ve proven that we’re able to develop a treatment, manufacture the product and put it into large-scale production, and develop it to a point where it’s been approved by the EPA as a treatment for Pierce’s disease.”

Pierce’s disease is a problem in vineyards across the U.S. and parts of Europe.

Insects such as sharpshooters, which feed on the sap of grapevines, infect the plant with the pathogen and spread the disease vine-to-vine. In warm and arid climates in places like California, Pierce’s disease spreads efficiently, causing large-scale damage.

XylPhi-PD is an injectable treatment that targets the disease from within the plant’s vascular system, helping to cure the infected grapevine and stopping the spread to surrounding vines.

“Developing a bacteriophage treatment was ideal because it’s an organic remedy that works to cure the plant from within — rather than a pesticide that’s meant to kill insects that vector the pathogen,” Gonzalez said.

Although insecticides can be used to control the insect vectors that spread the disease, these substances can have deleterious effects on non-target beneficial insects such as honeybees.

The Texas A&M Center of Phage Technology is researching bacteriophage therapies for foodborne illnesses and antibiotic resistant infections, in animals and humans.

“As humans are faced with antibiotic resistance, we’re looking for alternative therapies, and phages are among the most promising emerging technologies in medicine,” Gonzalez said. “Bacteriophage therapies will also have a major impact on agricultural sustainability, as they’ll allow us to implement more ethical practices and growing techniques that are good for the plant and the environment.”

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Busch Light Debuts Outdoor Co-Working Space in Colorado

Posted on September 21, 2021 by Joel Whitaker

This is clever:  Busch Light introduced TreeWork, an outdoor co-working space, nestled deep in the Colorado woodlands.

Amenities at TreeWork include a sleek and well-ventilated office space, powerful Wi-Fi, Busch Light happy hours, on-site grilling, campfires, and for those who want to be outside longer than just the 9 to 5, guests are invited to trade in blue light for starlight as they camp under some of the most picturesque night sky the country has to offer.

“Busch Light champions all things outdoors because we know the powerful impact that simply being outside can have,” said Daniel Blake, Group VP, Budweiser & Value at Anheuser-Busch. “As the beer brewed for the great outdoors, we knew we had a chance to step in and create a co-working space that leverages the beauty of nature to help alleviate some of the stress and fatigue that have been impacting all of us. Whether you’re looking to get out of the house, the office or simply outdoors, TreeWork is the ultimate change of scenery to give you the refreshment you deserve.”

As Busch Light developed TreeWork, the brand’s extensive research found that some of the most well-known co-working spaces have succumbed to one fatal flaw; it’s not overvaluation or mismanaged cashflow, it’s the fact that they are in large part…indoors. TreeWork was founded on the ethos that virtually anything is better outside, from enjoying an ice-cold brew, to filing your TPS reports. In fact, research conducted by OnePoll suggests that 29 minutes spent outdoors results in a 45% increase in productivity.

Interested guests can reserve a spot though a simple visit to busch.com/treework, where an intuitive guest-interface allows for spots to be reserved on a first come, first serve basis beginning Sept.22, and ending Sept. 27.  Submissions do not guarantee a spot and all guests will be subject to background check.

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