Campari ceo Bob Kunze-Concewitz has big plans for the company “to double in growth every two years,” a target he admits is not easy. To meet that goal, Campari is on the prowl to acquire new brands, reports the AP.Kunze-Concewitz has said for some time that the company is interested in purchasing some of the … Continue reading “Campari Branching Out”

‘Just call me Bob or Robert,’ Mr. Mondavi would often tell people, despite being one of the most distinguished winemakers in California’s history. Needless to say, the impact Robert Mondavi has had on the California wine industry is enormous. He managed to lead Napa from a jug wine producing cottage industry to a global market … Continue reading “Industry Says Goodbye to Bob Mondavi”

Today is a sad day for the California wine industry. We regret to inform you that the legendary Robert Mondavi passed away this morning at his home in Yountville, California. He was 94. Mr. Mondavi was a visionary who paved the way for what Napa and the California wine industry is today. Known for his … Continue reading “Robert Mondavi Dies at 94”

Tennessee-based Sapphire Brands is on a mission to acquire ten California wineries over the next five years. The June 2 issue of Forbes reports that Jeff Hopmayer, ceo of Sapphire, is “prowling California’s wine country” for candidates. He needs a production level of at least 1 million cases a year to gain leverage with distributors, … Continue reading “Napa a Buyer’s Market”

Fortune’s preliminary injunction again V&S will not delay the acquisition between V&S and Pernod, despite earlier reports that claimed otherwise. “We don’t anticipate this having any effect or delay on closing” of the V&S transaction, a Pernod spokeswoman told Dow Jones Newswires.”The stake in Beam are not part of our transaction. The dispute has nothing … Continue reading “V&S Acquisition in Tact”

In a presentation at the Baird’s Growth Stock Conference today, Fortune Brands ceo Bruce Carbonari talked about the spirits biz today and tomorrow. The company’s top initiative is growing its major premium spirits business, where Fortune is #4 in the world. But is premium spirits growth possible during a recession? Here’s what Bruce had to … Continue reading “Fortune: Spirits “Sustainable” in 2008″

Berry Bros. & Rudd, Britain’s oldest independent wine merchant, made several predictions about the state of the wine world in 2058 in its “Future of Wine Report.” Among its many predictions, Berry believes China could one day rival Bordeaux, while England could be a new champagne region in just 50 years.In the world of volume … Continue reading “Wine in Fifty Years: China, Plastic and English Champagne”

In a wide-ranging presentation to analysts at the Goldman Sachs consumer goods conference, Constellation Brands’ chief Rob Sands painted a pretty good picture for premium wine and spirits, which happens to be the sandbox in which Constellation plays. Summarizing their strategy in one sentence, Rob said: “The foundation of our strategy is based on generating … Continue reading “Constellation Makes Its Case”

Any rumors of Diageo selling its beer unit were laid to rest today after the company announced plans to invest £520 million ($1 billion) in a new brewery near Dublin. Once it is completed in 2013, the new brewery will be the largest in the country, says Diageo. The company also plans to renovate its … Continue reading “Diageo Reaffirms Commitment to Beer”

Which imports are suffering due to economic weakness? Which varietals are posting growth and which ones are dropping off?IMPORTS SCALE BACK. After years of speedy growth, imports showed signs of slowing in the four weeks to April 5 2008, according to Nielsen scan data. Dollar sales of domestic wine grew 5.5% in April 2008, while … Continue reading “U.S. Getting Tougher for Imports”

So far, 2008 is looking like an unpredictable year. Some people in the industry think the recession will have little impact on wine, while others contend it will leave a huge stamp on the U.S. wine biz. What about fine wines versus high-volume wines? Will imports manage to power through the recession? And how will … Continue reading “SVB Remains Optimistic in ’08”

How is wine performing during the weak economic climate? Are consumers still trading up? According to Nielsen’s food, drug and liquor scan data, wine and even high-end wine is still growing but at a much slower rate. To get an idea of the difference, we took a look at Nielsen data in the period to … Continue reading “Wine Growth Slowing”

As U.S. wine consumption continues to grow, France – typically thought of as a country synonymous with wine – is drinking less wine then ever before as young adults turn to beer and spirits. Unlike in the U.S., French millennials (young adults aged 21 to 31) aren’t so hot on wine. Since 1980 French wine … Continue reading “French Millennials Stray from Wine”

Higher priced spirits showed signs of slowing in the four weeks to March 8, 2008, according to Nielsen U.S. food, drug and liquor scan data. The total spirits category grew 2.6% in value to almost $500 million and 1.6% in volume to 3.6 million cases. Excluding prepared cocktails, the industry gained 2.7% in sales and … Continue reading “Growth of Ultra-Premium Spirits Slow”

Pernod said today it plans to sell the Plymouth Gin and Fris Vodka brands it won as part of its deal with V&S. Speaking in a press conference, Emmanuel Babeau, Pernod’s deputy managing director in charge of finance, said the company aims to sell Plymouth Gin within 6 months of the deal closing, which Pernod … Continue reading “Pernod to Sell Plymouth Gin and Fris Vodka”