News Briefs for August 26, 2024

•Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits has appointed Jamie Gruwer as senior vice president, national accounts on-premise, effective today. Gruwer is a company veteran, most recently serving as vice president, supplier & customer collaboration. In her new role, she will report to Chris Williams, executive vice president, national accounts. Southern Glazer’s will announce Gruwer’s successor in her previous role in the future.

•Suntory Global Spirits’ Maker’s Mark is lining up an $18.5 million expansion for the brand’s distillery in Loretto, Kentucky, Star Hill Farm. The distillery has not yet revealed details of the expansion but local reporting indicates that the focus will be on expanding Star Hill Farm’s tourism, tasting, and dining facilities. Work is set to begin shortly and wrap up by early 2026. The plan, discussed with the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority, would make Maker’s Mark eligible for up to $3.4 million in tax rebates over 10 years. Last year, Maker’s Mark was at 2.35 million cases in the U.S., according to Impact Databank.

•Bacardi-owned Grey Goose has partnered with American tennis star Francis Tiafoe on a new campaign as it continues its association with tennis via its position as the official vodka of the U.S. Open, which it has sponsored for the last 18 years. Tiafoe will promote Grey Goose in a series of content, social, and out-of-home spots featuring the Honey Deuce cocktail throughout the two-week tournament. Grey Goose ranks sixth among all vodka brands in the U.S. by volume at 2.7 million cases, according to Impact Databank.

•Breakthru Beverage has announced that its Canadian business has now expanded to more than 60 supplier partners while currently representing over 12 million 9-liter cases across the country. The milestone comes as Breakthru Canada marks a decade since company forerunner Wirtz Beverage made landfall in the Canadian market with its initial brokerage operation, which began by representing the Diageo portfolio. At that point, the Canadian operation had 120 employees—today it has nearly doubled that number. Breakthru’s U.S. revenues are projected to approach $8.7 billion this year, according to Shanken’s Impact Newsletter.

Tagged : Bacardi, Breakthru Beverage, Grey Goose, Maker's Mark, Southern Glazer's, Suntory

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