News Briefs for August 22, 2012
August 22, 2012•The China Alcoholic Drinks Industry Association has requested that the Chinese Ministry of Commerce investigate the effect European Union wine subsidies are having in China’s wine market, reports China’s Xinhua news service. The trade group asserts that subsidies are giving European Union wine producers a leg up on domestic Chinese wineries in the fast-growing emerging market. Bottled wine imports currently account for only around 15% of China’s wine market by volume, but they’re growing rapidly, up 65% to 27 million cases last year, according to Impact Databank.
•Italian restaurant chain Fazoli’s has begun test marketing beer and wine sales at a location near the University of Kentucky in Lexington. According to local media reports, Fazoli’s—which is also headquartered in Lexington—is offering Budweiser, Bud Light, Peroni and Kentucky Ale beers, as well as Copa di Vino wines, at the outpost. Although there are no current plans to extend beer and wine to additional Fazoli’s restaurants, the company said it could consider expanding the program to other college-centric locations in the future. Acquired by Florida-based investment firm Sun Capital Partners in 2006, Fazoli’s has more than 220 company-owned and franchised locations across the U.S.
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Tagged : China, restaurants
