News Briefs for April 18, 2013
April 18, 2013•Tesco CEO Philip Clarke confirmed yesterday that the U.K.-based retail giant has received interest in its bid to sell its Fresh & Easy concept in the U.S. Clarke, who added that Tesco hopes to sell Fresh & Easy in one piece, didn’t reveal the asking price nor the potential buyers, although rival chains Aldi and Trader Joe’s have been linked to discussions for the struggling brand, which has around 200 stores across California, Arizona and Nevada and stocks more than 450 wines.
•Trinchero Family Estates is set to debut a new look across its Bandit wine brand. The redesigned Tetra Pak carton features bright new colors, strong brand messaging, an easily readable logo and consumer-friendly information printed on the sides and back. It will be available across Trinchero’s distribution footprint beginning next month. Bandit currently offers a Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangria and Moscato, priced at $5 a 500-ml. and $9 a 1-liter. Trinchero will also launch a new Red Blend to the brand lineup in May. An Impact “Hot Prospect,” Bandit was up 16.4% last year to more than 231,000 nine-liter cases, according to Impact Databank.
•San Francisco-based Bacchus Capital Management has provided significant growth capital to Napa Valley’s Madrigal Family Winery. Madrigal is currently run by third-generation family member Chris Madrigal and specializes in Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc and small lots of single vineyard and estate wines. Concurrently, winemaker Ed Sbragia has been named Madrigal’s consulting winemaster, and industry veteran Steve Cousins will assume the role of chief operating officer.
•Crimson Wine Group is introducing a new Oregon Pinot Gris label, Vireton, produced by its Dundee Hills-based Archery Summit Winery. Priced at $24 a bottle and packaged in the screwcap format, Vireton is billed as a classic cool-climate Pinot Gris. Production for the inaugural 2012 vintage was 2,500 cases. Up to now, Archery Summit, which is known for its Pinot Noir, has only offered a Pinot Gris—its low-production Ab Ovo offering—to wine club members. Vireton, by contrast, will be in national distribution this month.
•SABMiller has reported revenue growth of 8% for the 12 months ended March 31, 2013, representing its fiscal year. The group’s beer volumes were up 3% for the full year, bolstered by strong performances in Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific (all up 6% by volume). In the U.S., however, MillerCoors’s domestic sales to retailers fell 2%, as sales for premium light labels Coors Light and Miller Lite both demonstrated single-digit declines, in a reversal for the former and a continuation for the latter. Tenth and Blake—MillerCoors’ thriving craft and import unit—remained a highlight within the U.S. market, with high single-digit growth driven by the success of Blue Moon and the national expansion of Batch 19. Likewise, the brewer’s national rollout of Redd’s Apple Ale and Third Shift Amber Lager helped contribute to double-digit growth within MillerCoors’ above-premium segment.
•Chicago-based Berghoff Brewing is relaunching across the Midwest with updated branding and new beer recipes. Rolling out in June, the relaunch will feature six brews, including year-round labels Straight Up Hefeweizen; Dortwunder Lager; Reppin’ Red Ale, Malt & Rye; Sir Dunkle Crispy Dark Lager; the Solstice Wit Beer summer seasonal; and the debut entry in Berghoff’s Überbier Series, Germaniac Extra Pale Ale. The full lineup, which is produced at the Stevens Point Brewery in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, will initially be available in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana, with the core offerings priced at around $7.99 a six-pack. Established in 1887, Berghoff is currently owned by Ben Minkoff of Wisconsin’s General Beverage Distributors.
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