ABI Names Doukeris CEO, Succeeding Carlos Brito

“Brito was the architect who led and built AB InBev into the world’s leading beer company and a leading global consumer packaged goods company by masterfully integrating the many businesses that comprise AB InBev today,” said AB InBev Board Chairman Martin Barrington.. He has always been a role model of the company’s successful ownership culture. The Board thanks Brito for his dedicated service, passion, caring and commitment to making our company dream big and delivering.”

“I am very proud of being part of this team of 164,000 colleagues around the world that have been on our journey,” said Brito.  “It has been an honor and privilege to work with such a talented group of individuals as we built this global company based on strong values and our unwavering commitment to excellence, quality, consumers and communities. I am very excited about the future of our business under Michel’s leadership and congratulate him on the appointment as CEO of this amazing company.”

In announcing his promotion, ABI said Doukeris has consistently delivered strong results while serving in key leadership roles in Brazil, China and the United States, three of the company’s largest markets.  As President of the North America Zone, the U.S. business has delivered consistent topline growth and led the beer industry in innovations for the last two years.

Prior to leading the North America Zone, Michel was the company’s global Chief Sales Officer. Prior to that, he was President of the Asia Pacific Zone where he accelerated top line, volume and EBITDA growth and implemented the ‘High End’ division in China, a transformational route-to-market initiative focused on building premium brands. He also successfully implemented the company’s first direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform.

A new leader for the North America Zone will be announced before July 1, 2021.

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Who & What —

PROMOTED:  Kathy Durbin to lead Montgomery County, Md., Alcohol Beverage Services.    She has served as acting ABS director for four months, succeeding Bob Dorfman who resigned, saying he was buying a house in Maryland.  Montgomery County is a control state.

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Schlafly Opens 1st Illinois Taproom

Schlafly Beer, the original independent craft brewery in St. Louis, will revitalize a 71-year-old building at 907 Main St.,  Highland, Ill., turning it into Schlafly’s first brewpub in Illinois.  It’s expected to open in late fall of 2021.

The facility will include an 80-seat restaurant and three-season patio that seats 100 guests. Schlafly’s signature beer styles and pub fare will be on the menu, as well as specialty beer brewed just for the Illinois location. There will also be an onsite retail experience for Schlafly gear, growlers, brewpub-only special releases and more.

Schlafly currently operates three brewpubs in the St. Louis area: Schlafly Tap Room (2100 Locust St.), Schlafly Bottleworks (7260 Southwest Avenue), and the most recent addition in 2020, Schlafly Bankside (920 S Main St, St Charles, MO 6330). Schlafly will hire 50-60 local employees for the Highland location.

The 3,420 square-foot base of the building previously served as the Highland Chamber of Commerce and has sat empty for roughly three years. In addition to brewery and restaurant renovations, Schlafly will help guide the team to add a kitchen to the space.

Schlafly recently expanded in the Midwest with distribution throughout the state of Oklahoma and Indiana. Schlafly is now available in 16 states, primarily the states surrounding Missouri as well as the East Coast.

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Greenbar Adds 3 Nonalcoholic Canned Cocktails

Greenbar Distillery, Los Angeles’ first distillery since Prohibition and home to the world’s largest portfolio of organic spirits, has expanded its foothold in non-alcoholic RTD canned cocktails with three new offerings that carry the hallmarks of craft distilling—real alcohol and actual distilling.

The trio of non-alcoholic RTDs includes Earl Grey Bitters+Soda, UnGin+Tonic and UnRum+Cola, each of which starts as alcoholic spirits and has its alcohol stripped away during or after distillation, leaving behind the true flavors of bitters, dry gin and blackstrap rum.

The new RTDs will be available in June in more than 30 states with SRPs for 12oz 4-packs of $9.99 for Earl Grey Bitters+Soda and $11.99 for UnGin+Tonic and UnRum+Cola.

The new cocktails will join Greenbar Distillery’s alcoholic Highballs, Spritz and non-alcoholic Bitters+Soda, bringing the company’s portfolio of USDA-certified organic canned cocktails to 11.

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7 Drinking Trends to Watch for Summer

Bacardi polled indusry leaders, bartenders and consumers in the U.S. on what they think will be big this summer.  Here are seven key trends:

  • Rum will have a huge surge in popularity, with the pina colada and mojito being the top two summer cocktails (31% and 30% respectively). The margarita rounds out the top three with 20% of respondents favoring the classic serve
  • Brunch will become the top dining occasion this summer with 23% of Americans reporting they’ll be enjoying cocktails in the afternoon
  • Nearly half (46%) of respondents noted that they have shopped for food and drink online at least once a month, showcasing that of the e-commerce consumer behaviors have permanently changed
  • People will go out on the town – 64% of Americans note that they plan to go to a bar/restaurant this summer
  • But they’ll be imbibing outside with 81% of people planning to spend more time socializing and enjoying drinks outdoors than ever before. Indeed, there was a 125% increase in US searches online for “outdoor bars near me”
  • They’ll also be enjoying cocktails at home, with 45% of people noting that they order spirits bottles online, showcasing that e-commerce patterns engendered during the pandemic are here to stay
  • But they’ll be enjoying lighter drinks – 19% of Americans have bought no ABV spirits/beer/wine online this year
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Working Mom, Brewer Gets Extended Mentoring From Samuel Adams

Kate Russell, a working mom who opened the Hopkinsville (Ky.) Brewing Co. in 2016 and expanded it just before Covid lockdowns began, is the recipient of the 8th Brewer Experience Program sponsored by Samuel Adams.

Each year, the Brewer Experienceship program selects one craft brewer to experience the Boston Brewery and learn the art of brewing and business discipline alongside the Samuel Adams team.  The Experienceship includes extended mentoring, a trip to the Samuel Adams Boston Brewery to learn from brewing and business experts, including Jim Koch, financial support to attend industry events, and the opportunity to brew a collaboration beer with Samuel Adams.

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