News Briefs for September 24, 2012
September 24, 2012•Total Wine & More is continuing its expansion in the increasingly competitive North Texas market, unveiling plans for a new location at 5200 South Hulen Street in Fort Worth. The new unit will open later this fall and carry 8,000 individual labels of wine, 3,000 spirits and 2,500 beers. It will also contain a separate walk-in humidor for cigars and an in-store classroom for themed private tastings and consumer education courses. The Fort Worth store will be Total Wine’s second in Texas, following a Dallas location that opened in June. Total Wine, which now has 85 superstores across 13 states, is going head to head in North Texas with fellow retail chains like Spec’s, Centennial and Trader Joe’s, which have also been in expansion mode in the area.
•Italian wine producer Voga Italia has added a sweet red, Dolce Rosso, to its portfolio. The wine is a blend of Syrah and Merlot, with flavors of plum and cherry on the palate, according to the company. Dolce Rosso is packaged in Voga Italia’s signature cylindrical bottle with resealable cap. It will be available nationwide on October 1, priced at $10 a 750-ml. Dolce Rosso joins a Voga collection that already includes Pinot Grigio, Merlot, Moscato, Sparkling and Baby Sparkling, ranging in price from $5.99-$15.99. The wines are handled by Baltimore-based Aveníu Brands in the U.S.
•Some Washington state retailers have moved to include the cost of new taxes and fees from the state’s recent privatization on spirits prices posted in their stores, reports the Tri-City Herald. While eliminating the mandatory markup the state used to include on liquor sales, the privatization measure, I-1183, included a new 10% fee on distributors and a 17% fee on retailers to help make up for revenue lost when the state discontinued its retail spirits business. The Washington state Department of Revenue says the average price paid for spirits rose 12.4% in July versus the same month a year ago. After slumping 9.4% in June—the first month of privatization—spirits volume across Washington rose 15% in July compared with the year-earlier period.
•Darden Restaurants reported total sales from continuing operations up 4.8% to $2.03 billion in its fiscal first quarter ended August 26. The increase reflects same-restaurant sales growth of 2.2% for Darden’s Specialty Restaurant Group, which includes The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52 and Eddie V’s restaurant brands. Combined same-restaurant sales for Olive Garden, Red Lobster and LongHorn Steakhouse were down 0.3%. In the first quarter, same-restaurant sales increased 3.6% and 0.3% for LongHorn Steakhouse and Olive Garden, respectively, but declined 2.6% at Red Lobster. Earnings from continuing operations were $111 million, up from the $106.8 million in the year-earlier period. Darden also completed the acquisition of the Yard House restaurant chain, which focuses on craft beers, for $585 million on August 29.
•International Beverage USA’s AnCnoc single malt Scotch whisky brand has released the second entry in its limited edition illustration series. Featuring artwork from Scottish illustrator Peter Arkle, the latest expression’s label depicts a dark warehouse containing casks of AnCnoc Scotch. Priced at $60 a bottle, the second entry will be available at select retailers throughout the New York, New Jersey, New England, Chicago and Washington markets. The new addition follows the May launch of the first Peter Arkle expression, which features a different illustration of AnCnoc’s Knockdu Distillery. Both bottles in the series contain the same limited edition whisky matured in Spanish oak sherry barrels. International Beverage Holdings is a subsidiary of ThaiBev.
•Chef Marcus Samuelsson has partnered with Restaurant Associates to open a new concept at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall in New York City. The 75-seat venue, dubbed American Table Cafe and Bar, offers eclectic American fare inspired by the cuisines of Mexico, Ethiopia and other regions. The space also features a bar that touts West Coast wines and various cocktails created by mixologist Eben Klemm. American Table Cafe and Bar is slated to open this Friday.
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Tagged : Aveniu Brands, Darden Restaurants, restaurants, Total Wine & More, Washington
