Dear Client:New consumer insights from the people at Pointer Media Network (a division of Catalina Marketing, the coupon people) finds that a small group of 7.5 million wine drinkers drive 80% of the category’s volume in the United States, indicating that the “targeted” wine consumer may be more concentrated than you think. Pointer Media Network … Continue reading “7.5 Million Constitute Core Wine Drinkers”

Dear Client:Once again growth of domestic wines leapt ahead of imports in the four weeks to February 22, according to food, drug and c-store scan data from IRI. Imports were stronger in dollar sales compared to volume, up 2.8%, while domestics grew 8.4% in value. In volume, imports declined -0.4% and domestics grew 6%.PINOTS NOIR … Continue reading “Evidence of Trading Down in Oregon Pinot Noirs”

Dear Client:Bacardi and Brown-Forman have appointed the Charmer Sunbelt Group (CSG) as its distributor in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Washington, DC and South Carolina. In addition, Brown-Forman will be moving its portfolio to CSG’s operations in Delaware. The moves will take affect over the next 60 to 90 days.“The winning of Bacardi in Arizona and … Continue reading “Charmer Sunbelt Partners with Bacardi and BF”

Dear Client:Diageo’s North American head Ivan Menezes said he expects the U.S. spirits industry to increase sales volumes during the economic downturn despite a slowdown in growth at the end of 2008.Last year the spirits industry grew between 1-1.5% and 2%, compared to growth in recent years of 2-3%. Retailers and wholesaler destocking during the … Continue reading “Diageo Aiming for Innovative New Products”

Dear Client:U.S. wines using certain traditional “expressions” in their title such as chateau, vintage and clos are not allowed to export to the EU. Permission from the EU to use a dozen such expressions expired March 10, which has forced wines such as Napa-based Clos du Val to halt shipping to almost every country in … Continue reading “EU Trade Agreement Ends, Halts Some Exports to Europe”

Dear Client:Several years ago the “Sideways effect” on Merlot sales was one of the major issues in the wine business, but an article in WSJ contends the varietal is making a “Rocky”-like comeback. Could the recession prompt a comeback for the wine industry’s prodigal son? “Americans fell in love with Merlot, after all, because it … Continue reading “Recession Gives Merlot a Chance to Shine”

Fortune Brands has appointed Matthew Shattock as ceo of its Beam Global Spirits & Wine business, effective April 22. He most recently spent 6 years at Cadbury Plc where he served as the president of the Britain, Ireland, Middle East & Africa region, a business driving approximately one-third of Cadbury’s total revenues. He also held … Continue reading “Alert: Fortune Announces New Chief of Beam”

Dear Client:An article in Business Week suggests that growing popularity for high-end, 100% agave tequilas could propel the category to a new height in the mind of the consumer, and essentially become the “new vodka.” Journalist David Kiley admits that he “harbor[s] the same doubts about ultra-premium priced silver tequilas being worth fancy prices as … Continue reading “Tequila the New Vodka?”

Dear Client:Dollar sales of spirits in the U.S. grew 2% in the four weeks to February, while volume grew only 0.6%, according to food and drug scan data from IRI. Although its growth has slowed considerably from last year, at least the spirits biz is still posting positive numbers. Interestingly, 0.375 bottles and 1.75 bottles … Continue reading “Super Premium Spirits Decline in February”

Dear Client:A recent survey of 540 bartenders from across the U.S. highlights consumer trends they are seeing at the on-premise, which as we all know has taken a hit in the recession. It’s well documented that consumers are shifting from the on-premise to the off-premise and are much more cost conscience when they treat themselves … Continue reading “What Bartenders are Saying About Consumer Behavior”

Dear Client:Market conditions in the third quarter were challenging and tested our resiliency, said cfo Don Berg, although Brown-Forman continued to grow its underlying business. The strengthening U.S. dollar negatively affected sales in addition to the continued consumer shift from the on-premise to the off-premise. B-F also saw some acceleration of trading down in the … Continue reading “Jack Daniel’s Experiences “Tough” Q3″

Dear Client:The New York Times featured a piece on vodka and how consumers are increasingly trading down to less expensive brands in the category. The article specifically named Popov (owned by Diageo), Majorska and Laird’s as some of the fastest growing value vodka brands. In the year to January 25, Popov grew 8% in value … Continue reading “The New York Times Talks Vodka”

Dear Client:IRI has released its annual report on the top 30 brand performers in table wine based on scanner data from grocery and drugstores. In the 52 weeks to January 4, E&J Gallo topped the charts with the top 3 brands on the list, as well as 4 others. Constellation Wines also had 4 brands … Continue reading “E&J Gallo Tops Brand Performers List”

Dear Client:WINE IN GROCERY STORES. One of the biggest issues the wine industry has faced in recent months is legislation that could allow the sale of wine in grocery stores. Liquor stores are against it and grocery stores are for it. Officials in New York, Tennessee and Kentucky all have proposed plans to allow wine … Continue reading “A Recap on State Laws, Legislation and Rulings”

Dear Client:Michael Mondavi and Maurice Kanbar have made capital investments in Partida Tequila and also joined the board of directors, the company said today. Terms of the investments were not disclosed. Michael Mondavi – who co-founded the Robert Mondavi Winery with his father and recently founded Folio Fine Wine Partners – said in a statement … Continue reading “Michael Mondavi and Maurice Kanbar Invest in Partida Tequila”