News Briefs for March 14, 2013
March 14, 2013•Ste. Michelle Wine Estates has unveiled new packaging for Columbia Crest’s Grand Estates tier, which will begin rolling out nationwide this month. The new look for the wines—based on consumer feedback and designed to give the brand a “modern classic” feel—includes a crest-shaped front label using dark gray and brown color schemes to increase shelf appeal, as well as platinum foil wraps on the red wines and sterling capsules to top off the white wines. Columbia Crest’s Grand Estates portfolio includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Moscato, Red Blend, Syrah, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris (priced at $12). Columbia Crest will also add an unoaked Chardonnay to the tier in August.
•With the cider category in growth mode, Crown Imports is expanding distribution of Carlsberg’s Somersby Cider into several new U.S. markets this month. Somersby, which is 4.5% abv and has 190 calories per 11.2-ounce bottle, tested successfully in the Charleston, South Carolina; Madison, Wisconsin; and Minneapolis, Minnesota markets beginning last fall. Now, it will go statewide in South Carolina, Wisconsin and Minnesota, and add statewide distribution in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina as well. “The early success of the brand both on and off-premise makes expansion into additional markets an easy decision,” said Crown’s CMO Jim Sabia. Since Carlsberg introduced Somersby globally in 2008, it’s become one of the fastest-growing cider labels internationally, and is currently in 32 countries.
•Washington state’s Liquor Control Board has proposed a remedy to the convenience store loophole that opened as part of the recent privatization of spirits sales in the state. Under the privatization initiative passed in 2011, only outlets above 10,000 square feet were permitted to sell spirits. But former state and contract stores were exempted, as were smaller stores in areas where no larger store existed. The proposal tabled Wednesday would create a strict buffer of 20 miles between such smaller stores and their nearest larger competitor. The Liquor Control Board expects the proposal to add about 20 liquor stores to the state’s current total of more than 1,400 (up from 329 prior to privatization). Public comment on the plan will run until April 24, with an effective date scheduled for June 1.
•Sidney Frank Importing Co. has named Tony Bagnulo to the newly created role of vice president, on-premise marketing, effective March 18. He will be based in New Rochelle, New York, and will report to Adam Rosen, executive vice president, marketing/Jägermeister. In his new role, Bagnulo will oversee all on-premise programs, management and training of the on-premise specialist team, and analysis and monitoring of on-premise accounts across the company’s portfolio. Bagnulo previously served as group director, client services at Team Enterprises, where he developed and implemented on- and off-premise programs and strategies for Bacardi USA.
•Atlantic City casino Revel is reorganizing its executive team following its recent decision to file for bankruptcy protection. Revel’s chief executive Kevin DeSanctis and chief investment officer Michael Garrity are both stepping down from casino management, but will retain ownership of the Revel brand and remain involved in select development projects. DeSanctis will be replaced by Jeffrey Hartmann, a former executive of the Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos, while Garrity’s role will be taken over by Dennis Stogsdill, a managing director at restructuring firm Alvarez & Marsal. Revel, which opened less than a year ago, is currently $1.5 billion in debt, as reported by Shanken News Daily on February 20.
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Tagged : Crown Imports, Sidney Frank Importing, Ste. Michelle, Washington
