Although U.S. consumers kept a recessionary mindset in the first quarter of 2013, they exhibited a cautious desire to spend money again, according to the Nielsen Global Survey of Consumer Confidence and Spending Intentions.
Sales for Moscato wine in the United States rose more than 25 percent in 2012, notes Modesto, Calif.-based Gallo Family Vineyards, citing Chicago-based Information Resources Inc.’s total 2011 year-end January 2013 sales for total food and drug store retailers. The wine varietal has boosted overall wine sales and brought new consumers into the category, it says. To celebrate the excitement around this wine varietal, Gallo Family Vineyards will throw a national Twitter party in honor of National Moscato Day on May 9.
Depletions grew 16 percent versus comparable 13-week period last year
May 3, 2013
The Boston Beer Co. Inc., Boston, reported first quarter 2013 net revenue of $135.9 million, an increase of $22.7 million or 20 percent, compared with the same period last year, which it says is mainly due to core shipment growth of 18 percent.
Beam Inc., Deerfield, Ill., reported a net sales increase by 8 percent to $577.7 million, excluding excise taxes, in the first quarter of 2013, benefiting from strong commercial performance and the acquisition of Pinnacle Vodka. On a comparable basis, net sales increased 3 percent, reflecting the comparison to the quarter from the previous year when new product introductions and route-to-market transitions helped comparable net sales increase 13 percent, the company reports.
Total deal value and volume surges, according to PwC US
April 30, 2013
U.S. retail and consumer merger and acquisition activity during the first quarter of 2013 was defined by six multibillion dollar transactions and alternative deal structures employed to achieve strategic objectives, according to New York-based PwC’s U.S. retail and consumer deals insights Q1 2013 report.
Leuven, Belgium-based Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) reported that its total revenue grew 1.5 percent in the first quarter of 2013, with strong revenue per hectoliter growth of 5.8 percent due to the company’s revenue management initiatives and the premiumization of its brand portfolio in key markets. On a constant geographic basis, revenue per hectoliter grew by 6.9 percent, it reports.
Partnership with Complex Media creates online destination for youth culture
April 29, 2013
Mountain Dew, a brand of Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo, and New York-based Complex Media announced a partnership that will support the evolution of Mountain Dews’ legacy programs Green Label Sound, Green Label Art and Green Label Exclusives. The duo will offer a new digital destination, www.Green-Label.com, that will feature the voices and stories of today's youth culture, the companies say.
Wat-aah! Foundation, an organization founded by the New York City-based Wat-aah! brand of functional bottled water for kids and teens, announced the third annual Move Your Body 2013 event will take place in New York City and Los Angeles on Wednesday, May 1, at 1:42 p.m. EDT/10:42 a.m. PDT. The annual nationwide youth exercise event in support of First Lady Michelle Obama 's Let's Move! initiative will involve 250,000 kids from more than 600 schools across the country.
Wirtz Beverage Group, Chicago, formed a joint venture with McLane Co. Inc., Temple, Texas, and together entered into an agreement with St. Louis-based Missouri Beverage Co.
Atlanta-based The Coca-Cola Co. kicked off its newest teen-focused campaign, “The Ahh Effect” with dozens of new digital experiences that create a multi-dimensional feeling of happiness, satisfaction and refreshment that one experiences after drinking a Coke, the company says.