ABSOLUT VODKA
The brand has undergone a bottle redesign with an updated two-line logo, new script, redesigned medallion, reduced glass weight and a new brand signifier. The new bottle will be distributed worldwide this fall. Available from United Liquors.
BACARDÍ GRAN RESERVA MAESTRO DE RON
This new release from Bacardi is double-aged using white oak casks that impart soft notes of oak. Suggested retail is $25 for a 75Oml. Available from Horizon Beverage Company.
BEAM SUNTORY SIMPLIFIES STRUCTURE
DRINKS COMPANY Beam Suntory is simplifying its regional structure by merging its four operating regions into three. The company will combine management of its Europe/Middle East/Africa and Asia Pacific businesses to create a larger international region. Also, the South America business will become part of an expanded Americas region. This... Read More
BOURBON BURGULARS BUSTED
BOURBON IS HOT STUFF. Demand is hot and so apparently is the black market for it. Nine people were recently indicted by a grand jury in Frankfort, Kentucky for alleged involvement in a bourbon-theft ring that stole more than $1OO,OOO of whiskey, including hard-to-find Pappy Van Winkle and several 5OO-pound... Read More
MARTIGNETTI EXPANSION IN THE WORKS
MARTIGNETTI COMPANIES is planning to invest more than $1OO million to build a new regional headquarters. The distributor has acquired 115 acres at the Myles Standish Industrial Park in Taunton and is planning a 68O,OOO-square-foot regional headquarters on the site. This will allow Martignetti to consolidate its 45O,OOO-square-foot facility in... Read More
REMY COINTREAU USA
PHILIPPE FARNIER has been appointed CEO. In addition, he will oversee other markets in the Americas and be a member of the Rémy Cointreau Executive Committee. Farnier began his career in sales and marketing at various food and beverage companies including Kraft Jacobs Suchard and Heineken in France and Spain.
TREASURY WINE ESTATES
MARK MERRION has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Sales – United States. A wine industry veteran, Merrion joined Treasury Wine Estates in September 2O12 as Vice President of Sales for the West division. Before joining Treasury, he was the Senior Vice President National Sales at Wilson Daniels Limited... Read More
FORTUNE BRANDS
NICHOLAS FINK is joining the company as Senior Vice President of Global Growth and Development. In this newly created role, Fink will partner with the senior team to identify, assess and execute opportunities to grow the business around the world. He comes from Beam Suntory where he was the president... Read More
BREWERS ASSOCIATION
MATT STINCHFIELD has been appointed safety ambassador. In this newly created position he will work to promote the mission of the BA safety subcommittee. He is a safety and loss control consultant to mid-sized and regional craft breweries and distilleries in addition to founder of his own brewery, Ploughshare Brewing... Read More
CALIFORNIA GRAPE HARVEST BY THE NUMBERS
THE NUMBERS for the 2O14 California grape harvest are in. Grape acreage totaled 928,OOO acres including 865,OOO bearing acres and 63,OOO non-bearing, according to National Agricultural Statistics Service in Sacramento. Wine grapes: The wine-type grape acreage is estimated at 615,OOO acres. Of the total acres, 565,OOO were bearing and 5O,OOO... Read More