Beam Suntory Sales Rise By Mid-Single Digits In First Half, Led By Bourbon, Tequila Brands

Driven by gains in American whiskey and Tequila, Beam Suntory saw its U.S. sales climb by mid-single digits in its fiscal first half through June. Jim Beam grew case volume by mid-single digits globally, while Maker’s Mark was up at a high single-digit rate. From smaller bases, the company saw double-digit growth from a number of brands including Hornitos Tequila, Sipsmith and Roku gins, and Toki Japanese whisky.

In an interview with SND, Beam Suntory CEO Albert Baladi noted that the company’s Bourbon portfolio continues to lead the way. “Bourbon continues to be very strong,” he says. “All of our brands are growing both in depletions and in consumption, with some of them up double digits.” In the U.S., Jim Beam was up 8.4% to roughly 570,000 cases in NABCA channels for the six months ending in June, while Maker’s Mark rose 10% to 160,000 cases and Basil Hayden’s leapt 34.1% to just under 30,000 cases.

Beam Suntory’s Tequila portfolio is also posting solid gains, with Hornitos up 8.1% in NABCA channels to over 83,000 cases and Sauza Blue up 8.2% to roughly 22,000 cases. While the bulk of Beam Suntory’s Tequila sales come from the Hornitos and Sauza brands, Baladi notes that the company is making a push at the high end with El Tesoro, a brand priced in the $40-$50 range. “It’s growing at very strong double digits off a small base,” he says. “It’s helping us now participate a lot more than we did previously in the super-premium Tequila space.”

Globally, Baladi pointed to growth for Courvoisier in China, Jim Beam and Teacher’s Scotch in India, and Bourbon in Russia. “Overall the theme is premiumization, particularly in Bourbon, and driving one or two relevant local categories in emerging markets.” Across all of its alcohol interests, which also include beer and wine, parent company Suntory Holdings saw first-half revenue excluding excise taxes rise 4.3% to $3.4 billion, while operating income increased 2.7% to $602 million.—Shane English

Tagged : Beam Suntory, Jim Beam

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