Growth in single-malt Scotch continues despite overall decline in on-premise spirits sales
January 14, 2014
Restaurant Sciences LLC, a Newton, Mass.-based firm that tracks food and beverage sales throughout the North American foodservice industry, reported that single-malt Scotches grew 3.1 percent in U.S. dollar sales and 3.6 percent in case volume sales in the three months ending November 2013 versus the same three-month period in 2012.
Transaction expected to close in second quarter of 2014
January 13, 2014
Osaka, Japan-based Suntory Holdings Ltd. and Deerfield, Ill.-based Beam Inc. jointly announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Suntory will acquire all outstanding shares of Beam for $83.50 a share. This translates to a total consideration of approximately $16 billion, including the assumption of Beam’s outstanding net debt. The transaction consideration represents a 25 percent premium to Beam’s closing price of $66.97 on Jan. 10, 2014; a 24 percent premium to the volume-weighted average share price during the last three months; and a multiple of more than 20 times Beam’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization for the 12-month period that ended Sept. 30, 2013.
Reese Cates will showcase whiskey brand banner at PBR events
January 10, 2014
Chicken Cock Distillers, a Charleston, S.C.-based division of wine and spirits brand developer Island Club Brands, unveiled its Chicken Cock Whiskey brand as the sponsor of professional bull rider (PBR) Reese Cates at the 2014 PBR Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) season opener.
Deerfield, Ill.-based Beam Inc.’s Sauza Tequila brand partnered with actor and pop music artist Justin Timberlake to launch Sauza 901 super-premium tequila. The new product builds off of Timberlake’s previously launched 901 Silver Tequila and incorporates the same spirit under the Sauza brand name. The co-branded partnership blends the creativity and personality of the 901 brand’s founder, Timberlake, with the quality and history of Sauza Tequila to craft a lifestyle spirits brand.
Joint venture follows strategic alliance on Ciroc ultra-premium vodka
January 8, 2014
Norwalk, Conn.-based Diageo will expand its relationship with rap artist and entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs to acquire the luxury tequila brand DeLeon.
Coffee company also adds Caramel Flan Latte, Guatemala Casi Cielo coffee
January 7, 2014
Seattle-based Starbucks Coffee Co. added lattes to its Via portfolio so that consumers can brew their favorite Starbucks lattes at home. The Starbucks Via line now includes Vanilla Latte and Caffè Mocha varieties, which were inspired by the popular handcrafted Starbucks beverages served on-premise.
Mobile app will award 2,500 fans with gift certificates for two bottles of wine
January 7, 2014
The TBS comedy “Cougar Town,” starring Courteney Cox, is preparing to make its return to TV on Jan. 7 at 10 p.m. Eastern time by promoting its characters’ drink of choice: wine.
New flavors offer fruit and vegetable tastes, vitamins
January 6, 2014
Atlanta-based The Coca-Cola Co.’s Minute Maid brand welcomed two new flavors to its Juices To Go product line: Tropical Blend and Berry Blend. The new blends are the first Minute Maid Juices To Go products to contain both vegetable and fruit juices. Both varieties are available in 15.2-ounce single-serve bottles for on-the-go consumption.
‘Dance More, Drink Slow’ movement involves Dutch DJ Armin van Buuren
January 6, 2014
Heineken USA Inc., a White Plains, N.Y.-based subsidiary of Heineken International BV, launched a new global responsibility campaign designed to make moderate alcohol consumption aspirational.