News Briefs for June 14, 2022
June 14, 2022•Winebow Imports is adding Sicily’s Cantine Nicosia to its portfolio. Cantine Nicosia currently owns 85 hectares (210 acres) of vineyards on Mount Etna, as well as 80 hectares (198 acres) in Vittoria. Winebow will handle the following wines: Lenza di Munti Etna Rosso ($25), Etna Bianco ($25), Etna Rosato ($25), and Nerello Mascalese Organic ($17); Contrada Monte Gorna Etna Bianco Organic ($32) and Etna Rosso Organic ($32); and Sabbie di Sutta Cerasuolo di Vittoria Organic ($25) and Frappato Organic ($20).
•Irish Distillers, part of Pernod Ricard, plans to invest €50 million ($52m) over the next four years to reach its goal of making its Midleton Distillery a carbon-neutral operation by the end of 2026. Producing more than 70 million liters of pure alcohol a year, Midleton is the home of whiskies including Jameson, Powers, Redbreast, Midleton Very Rare, the Spot family, and Method and Madness. Irish Distillers’ sustainability strategy is in line with Pernod Ricard’s commitment to follow a net zero carbon trajectory by 2050.
•California-based Don Sebastiani & Sons is adding the Spade & Sparrows wine brand to its portfolio. Under a new strategic partnership, Don & Sons will act as producer and North American sales representative for the brand, which was founded by Kaitlyn Bristowe, a former contestant and host of ABC’s the Bachelorette, as well as a Dancing with the Stars champion. The female millennial-targeted Spade & Sparrows has had a solid start in Canada and the U.S. direct-to-consumer channel with a California-sourced range retailing around $20, and will now look to expand in the U.S. retail segment via its accord with Don & Sons.
•Breakthru Beverage Group has completed its acquisition of J.J. Taylor’s Minnesota beer business and will immediately consolidate its beer portfolio into J.J. Taylor’s 600,000-square-foot warehouse. The acquisition bolsters the company’s beer portfolio and enables a larger scale footprint and additional manpower to better serve Minnesota customers, Breakthru noted. “Our existing warehouse was at capacity and shifting our beer operations to a state-of-the-art facility will allow us to support the commercial successes of the entire business,” said Breakthru president and CEO Tom Bené.
•Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits has named Chris Williams as executive vice president, national accounts. Williams will report to Gene Sullivan, chief sales & marketing officer, and will lead the wholesaler’s On- and Off-Premise and Data Intelligence Center of Excellence teams. He will also work closely with the eCommerce team and eCommerce Center of Excellence. Williams previously held the role of chief commercial officer, Ventures, at Anheuser-Busch InBev. He succeeds Shawn Thurman, who is retiring in December after a four-decade career with Southern Glazer’s.
Subscribe to Shanken News Daily’s Email Newsletter, delivered to your inbox each morning.Tagged : Breakthru, Cantine Nicosia, Don Sebastiani & Sons, Irish Distillers, J.J. Taylor, Pernod Ricard, Southern Glazer's, Spade & Sparrows, Winebow
