News Briefs for April 16, 2014
April 16, 2014•Tito’s Handmade Vodka has linked with Glazer’s in Canada, effective today. Tito’s executive vice president of sales, Pete Angus, said Glazer’s has been a key partner in the brand’s meteoric growth in the U.S., and added, “We have high expectations for the Canadian market.” Glazer’s established a Canadian agency/broker business last fall, led by director of operations Joel Toguri. Fellow U.S. wholesale giant Wirtz followed suit this spring, and will handle Diageo’s brands exclusively in the market. Tito’s, an Impact “Hot Brand,” was up 50% to 1.3 million cases in the U.S. last year.
•MillerCoors has reported a U.S. depletions loss of 2.9% for the full year ended March 31. For the fourth quarter, depletions were down 3.4% from the same period last year, due in part to low- to high-single-digit declines by the company’s below-premium, premium-light (Coors Light and Miller Lite) and premium-regular portfolios, as well as a double-digit loss by Miller Genuine Draft. Above-premium offerings, however, were up for the quarter, with additional gains coming from Coors Banquet and the recently launched Redd’s franchise. Within MillerCoors’ Tenth & Blake craft and import unit, Leinenkugel’s achieved double-digit growth, which helped to offset losses by some of the unit’s smaller brands. Domestic sales to wholesalers, meanwhile, were down 3% in the quarter and 3.1% for the year.
•Michael Skurnik Wines has named Laura Williamson vice president, director of national sales. Williamson, one of only 19 American women to hold the title of master sommelier, most recently was chef sommelier at New York City restaurant Jean Georges. She previously was national sales manager for Rudi Wiest, a California-based importer of German wines, and new market developer for Small Vineyard Imports, a Seattle-based importer of Italian wine. Williamson will be responsible for all national imports in the Skurnik portfolio, including Terry Theise Estate Selections and Daniel Johnnes Selections.
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