Dear Client:We’ve heard a lot of different trends and predictions thrown around in the past year, but Nielsen’s latest survey puts its data where its mouth is. The company surveyed 5,000 adults (obviously 21+) to narrow down the main trends. Yes, people are spending more time at home, but they’re also buying larger package sizes, … Continue reading “Value is the Way to a Consumer’s Heart”

Dear Client:Three in 10 Americans reportedly drink alcohol weekly with beer as their top choice followed by domestic wine and vodka, according to a new Harris Poll that surveyed 2,400 U.S. adults in April. A total of 6% say they drink daily. Not surprisingly, men are more likely to drink once a week than women … Continue reading “Americans Favor Beer, Domestic Wine and Vodka”

Dear Client:WSD attended the Legislative/Public Affairs Report panel with NABCA General Counsel James Goldberg and VP for Public Policy/Communications Steve Schmidt, who gave an interesting and wide range review of the issues facing control states and the industry as a whole. Here’s an exclusive summary:NEW ANNUAL FEE. Jim noted that after the TTB suspended the … Continue reading “Legislative Round-Up from NABCA”

Dear Client:Kaumil Gajrawala, an analyst at UBS, and Danny Brager, vp of client service at Nielsen’s beverage alcohol division, attempted to answer the question: “Is alcohol recession proof?” during a panel at NABCA. The answer, as we’ve all come to learn, is no. It’s not recession proof but largely resistant and fairing much better than … Continue reading “Recession Aftermath: What to Expect?”

Dear Client:In the second part of our coverage on NABCA’s three-tier panel (moderated by Dan Gwadosky, director of the Main Liquor and Lottery Commission), the speakers discuss alcohol regulation, including winery compliance, the need for legislation, problems in Europe and the issue of taxes. The panel offered differing and sometimes similar view points from four … Continue reading “Part II: Industry Heavy Weights on Three Tier”

Dear Client:Another lively panel took place Friday morning at NABCA (moderated by Dan Gwadosky, director of the Main Liquor and Lottery Commission) where varying debates and political thought concerning the three-tier system took place. At running the risk of over-simplification, it seems that Charles Merinoff (ceo of Charmer Sunbelt Group) supports staunch regulation although welcomes … Continue reading “Part I: Industry Heavy Weights on Three Tier”

Dear Client:“Beer is the new wine,” declared Jim Koch, founder and chairman of Boston Beer, sitting in-between Joseph Gallo and Bill Newlands of Beam Global at a panel this morning at the NABCA meeting. The panel was moderated by Patrick Stapleton, Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Chairman. We literally heard someone gasp and then everyone erupted … Continue reading “Jim Koch: “Beer is the New Wine””

Dear Client:Beer, wine, and spirits producers today are casting a nervous eye over testimony yesterday to a Senate Finance Committee round table on how to fund the Obama administration’s $1.2 trillion health care initiative. Three of the thirteen academia experts who testified recommended dramatic increases in the federal excise tax on alcohol as part of … Continue reading “Senate Testimony Calls for Dramatic Increases in Alcohol Taxes”

Dear Client:Pernod says it has risen over 1 billion euros by issuing new shares to cut down debt accumulated from Vin & Sprit. The company now has net debt of more than 12 billion euros, it said. In addition, it will dispose of 1 billion euros worth of non strategic assets In all, Pernod’s discounted … Continue reading “Pernod Successfully Cuts Debt”

Dear Client:It’s no secret that Australia has had a rough couple of years and as a result is losing momentum in some of its most popular export markets, like the U.S. and U.K. At this point the industry doesn’t want anything else against its favor, which is why it’s lobbying the Australian government to prevent … Continue reading “New Hurdles Face Aussie Wine Biz”

Dear Client:Planned stock reductions for Diageo’s U.S. wine and spirits wholesalers caused net sales to decline -7% in the third quarter. Inventories at March 31 were approximately one million cases lower than stocks on December 31. Diageo also experienced a significant decline in the Russian market and the Global Travel Retail business.U.S. net volumes were … Continue reading “Diageo Hit by Stock Reductions and Declining Demand”

Dear Client:In Silicon Valley Bank’s annual State of the Wine Industry report, founder Rob McMillan makes predictions for 2009-2010, along with explanations for the present state of the economy and advice. GOOD NEWS. On a year over year basis, Rob predicts slightly improved sales in the second quarter, flat sales in Q3 and positive Q4 … Continue reading ““Capitalistic Darwinism” Envelops Wine Biz”

Dear Client:WSD has learned that Pernod Ricard USA has appointed Lauren Simkin to general manager of Pernod Ricard USA Wines & Champagnes. She will lead the development of the company’s portfolio in the U.S., reporting to chief Paul Duffy. Before joining Pernod Ricard in 2007, Lauren held a series of progressively responsible sales and marketing … Continue reading “Alert: Pernod Restructures Wine and Champagne Unit”

Dear Client:Spirits volumes grew 3.6% in March in control states, whereas volumes grew only 0.2% in February, reports UBS analyst Melissa Earlam based on NABCA data. March benefited from easy comps of -5.2% year over year. Diageo lost some slight share in the month, although volumes grew 3.4%. It grew share in rum with volumes … Continue reading “Spirits grow 4% in Control States”

Dear Client:To say it has been a busy year for Rocky Wirtz is an understatement. As you know, Rocky is the president of Wirtz Beverage Group, which operates in five states, and has overseen a number of changes in the past seven months. After Glazer’s and Southern Wine & Spirits announced intentions to create a … Continue reading “A Talk with Rocky Wirtz”