Despite the wine industry problems that New Zealand’s neighbor Australia is experiencing, NZ is doing remarkably well. Expected to be a billion dollar industry by 2010, New Zealand has seen phenomenal growth in recent years as consumers become more aware of its presence in the wine aisles. In June alone NZ exports rose 18% in … Continue reading “INCREASING THREAT FROM NEW ZEALAND”

Flint, Michigan’s Tom Ryan Distributing Co. is planning to sell the wine distribution part of their operation to J. Lewis Cooper, based in Dearborn. The deal is expected to be completed by October 1 and may result in up to 12 employees losing their job.According to local newspapers, the wine division made up about 10% … Continue reading “TOM RYAN DISTRIBUTING LOSES WINE BUSINESS”

As our sister publication Beer Business Daily reported yesterday, senior beverage analyst Caroline Levy at UBS has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer of US Equity Research, effective immediately. As a longtime friend to the company, we are sad to see her go but wish her well in her new promotion.We’re also happy to report … Continue reading “PROMOTIONS AT UBS”

Diageo is planning to launch it super-premium Oronoco Rum in Miami and Las Vegas next month after gaining notable success since its launch in New York, LA and San Francisco last year. You are unauthorized to view this page. Username Password Remember Me     Forgot Password

Evan Williams Bourbon, flagship brand of Heaven Hill Distilleries, is upping its marketing and advertising this fall. As the second largest selling Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Evan is rolling out new retail displays and ads in Sports Illustrated, Playboy and FHM. The brand also plans to increase its sponsorship of BASS Elite Angler Jason Quinn, one … Continue reading “EVAN WILLIAMS UPS THE ANTE”

Rite Aid Corporation, the third U.S. drugstore chain, announced yesterday they will buy the Brooks and Eckerd drugstore chains from Canada’s Jean Coutu Inc. for about $2.6 billion. Just two years ago Jean Coutu purchased the Eckerd stores, leading them to become North America’s 4th largest drugstore chain, but scant resources prevented Eckerd from upgrading, … Continue reading “RITE AID TO BUY ECKERD”

Smirnoff’s “Tea Partay” rap video spoof on YouTube has the industry debating over whether it’s brilliant or less-than-perfect advertising. While the spot features three preppy, loafer-wearing guys in pastel rapping on a tennis court, it’s actually an ad for Smirnoff’s new malted Raw Tea. Some of the lines include: “No one’s harder than a New … Continue reading “SMIRNOFF PUSHES YOUTUBE AD”

Last week WSD did an interview with Kevin Moran highlighting how important influencers are in pushing brands on consumers. A portion of the interview focuses on the importance of educating wait-staff in order to increase wine recommendations, even doing something as simple as a table tent. Constellation is going a step beyond that by rolling … Continue reading “A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR WAIT-STAFF”

Pernod is set to rollout its latest installment to the Glenlivet family next month. Glenlivet Nàdurra (Gaelic for natural) was aged 16 years in bourbon casks and then bottled at natural cask strength to create a more concentrated whiskey. The brand will be available for $60 in a 750-ml bottle. You are unauthorized to view … Continue reading “PERNOD TO LAUNCH THE LATEST GLENLIVET”

Constellation has terminated the U.K. importer and wholesaler Western Wines, opting instead to move the brands in-house as early as October. Their brands include Kumala, Kim Crawford, Hogue Cellars, Inniskillin and Jackson-Triggs. Earlier this month Constellation had announced plans to restructure their bottling and distribution operations in the U.K. after acquiring the businesses from Vincor. … Continue reading “CONSTELLATION STAYING TRUE TO ITS WORD”

A Kentucky Judge has eliminated the ban on direct shipments from out-of-state wineries, making it legal for small wineries anywhere in the nation to ship to Kentucky residents – assuming they have a license. Kentucky put a cap on what they deem “small wineries” by only allowing those that produce less than 50,000 gallons of … Continue reading “KENTUCKY JUDGE LIFTS BAN ON OUT-OF-STATE WINERIES”

LVMH’s wine and spirits unit recorded an 18% increase in revenue in the first half of 2006. Helped by strong volume growth, improved product mix, and price increases in key markets, Veuve Clicquot made progress in Europe and the U.S. while Hennessy cognac continued its momentum in China and the U.S.”Over the second half, LVMH … Continue reading “STRONG 1ST-HALF PERFORMANCE FOR LVMH WINE AND SPIRITS”

Need some management and organizational help? Management Dynamic’s Supply Chain Visibility and Event Management solution – currently used first by Glazer’s in the industry – manages their domestic and international supply chain operations. The system replaces manual order and shipment tracking processes which “significantly led to delays and difficulty in determining accurate inventory levels and … Continue reading “GLAZER’S MOVES TO A WEB-BASED MANAGEMENT SOLUTION”

ABB Partners, LLC is launching the first double-distilled Cachaca in the U.S. market, dubbed Cabana Cachaca. Cachaca is rum fermented and distilled in Brazil directly from pressed sugarcane, unlike most rum which is distilled from molasses. You are unauthorized to view this page. Username Password Remember Me     Forgot Password

Glazer’s Texas promoted four executives and hired two more to help strengthen the Texas division as a whole, the company said today.Phil Meacham has been promoted to the position of Senior Vice President, Operations & Finance for the State of Texas. He will be responsible for day-to-day operations of all of Glazer’s Texas branches, as … Continue reading “SOME NEW APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS FOR GLAZER’S TEXAS”