News Briefs For May 3, 2011
May 3, 2011• U.S. brewer MillerCoors saw improvement in the first quarter of 2011 as its sales decline slowed to 0.1% to $1.69 billion and underlying net income grew 8.7% to $236 million, helped by cost reductions. Sales trended ahead of volume (depletions and shipments were down by 1.4% and 2.5% for the period, respectively) due to the continued strength of MillerCoors’ Tenth and Blake specialty and import unit, especially Blue Moon and Leinenkugel, both of which saw double-digit volume increases. Coors Light, for which the brewer is releasing a new “two-stage” cold-activated can, also grew by volume, as Miller Genuine Draft continued to decline. Molson Coors, SABMiller’s partner in the MillerCoors venture, also reported Q1 results, with sales rising 4% to $690 million after excise taxes and profits falling 21% to $83 million because of one-off gains a year earlier. Molson Coors’ global volume was down 1.5% to 9.96 million hectoliters during the period.
• Domaine de La Romanée co-director Aubert de Villaine is ready to proceed with plans to make a California Pinot Noir, according to Wine Spectator. He’s a partner in Hyde de Villaine in Carneros, which makes Chardonnay, Syrah and a Merlot-Cabernet blend called Belle Cousine but has never made a Pinot Noir. Now de Villaine has a small winery on the outskirts of the city of Napa and is looking for a California vineyard to buy grapes. He told Wine Spectator he’s looking at vineyards in western Sonoma.
• Italian spirits group Illva Saronno is reportedly reviewing an estimated $33 million global media account for its Tia Maria and Disaronno Amaretto liqueur brands. Currently handled in Europe by media agency MEC, both brands tend to focus their campaigns during Christmas and Valentine’s Day, although Disaronno saw TV ads in the U.K. last summer. Tia Maria, meanwhile (acquired by Illva Saronno from Pernod Ricard in 2009), rolled out a new global TV campaign last November.
• Pernod Ricard’s Australian winemaker Jacob’s Creek has reformulated its Reserve range to feature regional appellations. Rolling out in the U.S. this month, the new Reserve wines will be priced at $12 per bottle in the U.S. and feature a Barossa Shiraz 2007 and Riesling 2010; a Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2009; and an Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2009 and Pinot Noir 2009.
• Beam Global Spirits and Wine has named Euro RSCG Chicago as the creative agency of record for its recently launched flavored vodka range, Pucker Vodka. The agency—which also handles Beam’s Hornitos, Sauza, Effen and Tres Generaciones brands—is responsible for building the brand’s upcoming U.S. campaign, which will include TV, print and online components.
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