SGWS Accused of Violating Fair Labor Standards Act

Posted on May 17, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Savannah Perez, a “sales consultant” for Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits in Texas, sued both the parent company and its Texas unit alleging it violated the Fair Labor STandards Act by not paying overtime for time worked in excess of 40 hours a week.  The complaint seeks to include not only Perez but also others similarly situated.

Perez was employed as a “sales consultant – transatlantic on premise” from June 2021 to November 2021 in Texas at an annual salary of $23,345, the complaint says.  But Perez and other sales consultants were not paid at the overtime rate of 1-1/2 their regular rate for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek.  Instead they were “misclassified as exempt employes and paid . . . a salary to avoid overtime compensation.”

The complaint seeks to have all sales consultants employed in the U.S. in the three years prior to filing of the lawsuit.

The lawsuit seeks to recover unpaid overtime wages and liquidated damages equal to the unpaid overtime, attorneys fees and costs, and pre-judgment and post-judgment interest.

We asked SGWS for comment, but it had not replied when this story “wen to press.”  If SGWS does comment, we’ll report what it says.

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Vintage Wine Estates Sales Up 68%, Reverses Loss

Posted on May 17, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Vintage Wine Estates reports a 68% growth (organic, up 44%) in revenue, or $32 million.  Acquisitions represented $11.4 million of that revenue. VWE earned $2.8 million, or  5 cents a share, in the FY 2022 fiscal quarter.  A year earlier the company recorded a $900,000 loss.

Pat Roney, founder/CEO, said VWE’s direct-to-consumer channel “continues to validate the success of our omnichannel strategy by reaching the consumer through multiple touch points.  Our tasting room traffic is outperforming as more people are exploring new entertainment options and we deliver a great experience. Importantly,  this activity has not cannibalized our ecommerce traffic, which has held relatively stable. The acquisition of Meier’s at the beginning of the quarter  drove our B2B results, as well as our ability to deliver for our customers’ private label programs. We are ecstatic about the continued success of our  Bar Dog brand, but equally excited regarding the strong market appeal for our Firesteed, Photograph and Clos Pegase brands, as well. We believe  that, similar to our omnichannel marketing strategy, a multibrand portfolio will help drive our growth.”

Supply chain issues are providing persistent headwinds, he said, but the “deep experience of our team enables our ability to quickly pivot on bottling  schedules and brands and our very collaborative culture links our production and marketing teams which enables rapid decision making to keep  operations running. Inflation is yet another issue we are addressing. We are expecting price to begin to flow through and help offset rising costs  beginning in the fiscal fourth quarter.”

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Fishers Island Enters Florida and South Carolina

Posted on May 17, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Fishers Island Lemonade is now sold in 14 states and online.  It was one of the first spirit-based canned cocktails in the U.S.

In a related development, the company introduced the Fishers Island Variety 8 pack with three of the brands flavors — 4 cans of Fishers Island Lemonade Original 9%, 2 cans of Fishers Spiked Tea 7% and 2 cans of Fishers Pink Flamingo 7%.

RTDs are predicted to reach 22% of total U.S. alcohol volume by 2025, and RTDs grew 56% in sales on Drizly in 2021. Fishers Island Lemonade’s growth reflects this trend: the brand grew 57% in 2021 and has seen 3x growth over the past three years. Variety packs share 35% of the RTD category, and Fishers Island Lemonade is launching theirs to offer fans options they can easily bring along to activities and share with friends.

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Smooth Ambler Debuts Cask Strength Bourbon

Posted on May 17, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Smooth Ambler is launching Founders’ Cask Strength Series Bourbon, the first line extension introduced since the inaugural Rye recipe release last year.  It’s aged 5 years, non-chill filtered and comprised of 71% corn, 21% rye and 8% malted barley.  SRP: $54.99.

“What’s great about the Founders’ Cask Strength Series is we finally get to let y’all taste delicious whiskey we’ve been excitedly working on for years in our part of the whiskey world – West Virginia. With this Bourbon recipe, we add a modest amount of Rye to play well with high corn content and let it age in Char #4 casks in the Appalachian climate.  It’s a surprising meddling of flavors and geographical superpowers that just work effortlessly.  So please enjoy this newly minted convergence of flavors, from our home to yours.”

Founders’ Cask Strength Series Bourbon delivers many of the same distinct features associated with its Rye precursor: cask strength, non-chill filtered and released in limited batches.  At this time, only six batches will be produced per year, with less than 900 total cases of product available nationwide. Whiskey drinkers will want to get their hands on a bottle of this bourbon recipe as soon as it hits shelves June 2022.

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White Claw Says It ‘Reinvests’ Lemonade with New Product

Posted on May 17, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

White Claw, the leader in the Hard Seltzer category, is introducing something entirely new: White Claw Hard Seltzer Refrshr Lemonade.

Rolling out nationwide beginning this month, White Claw Refrshr will debut with four distinct Lemonade flavors – each crafted to deliver amazing flavor and incredible sessionability.

“As the leader in the Hard Seltzer category, White Claw is consistently innovating, looking for new and authentic ways to provide consumers with remarkable tasting refreshment,” said John Shea, Chief Marketing Officer, White Claw Hard Seltzer, USA. “That’s why, with the launch of Refrshr, we’re taking an entirely new and different approach to Lemonade, in a uniquely White Claw way, over-delivering on flavor while being incredibly sessionable.”

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Chartreuse Diffusion Joins Frederick Wildman & Sons Shareholder Group

Posted on May 17, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Frederick Wildman & Sons said Chartreuse Diffusion, the distribution company of the historic spirit brand Chartreuse Liqueur, had joined its Shareholder Group and Board of Directors. Wildman has been the U.S. importer of Chartreuse Liqueur since 1989 and has partnered with Chartreuse Diffusion to further build one of the most unique and highly desired brands in bars and restaurants across the U.S.

“Chartreuse Diffusion becoming a shareholder further reinforces our top position among U.S. fine wine and specialty spirits importers,” Corrado Casoli, chairman of Frederick Wildman and of Gruppo Italiano Vini, Wildman’s principal shareholder. “Chartreuse Diffusion has done so much to help support the Carthusian order and their centuries-long tradition and we are proud to have them as part of our shareholder group.”

The Chartreuse company, located in the French Alps, has been making and selling Chartreuse for hundreds of years. Solely owned by the Carthusian monks, the mission is to contribute to sustaining the Carthusian order. This unique business model is based on service and long-term approach and enables them to take into account not only the economic growth but the social, local and environmental aspects.

Established in 1970, Chartreuse Diffusion has been tasked with managing the marketing and distribution for the Chartreuse Liqueur with the primary intent to further sustain the Carthusian order.

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