News Briefs for February 14, 2023

•Delicato Family Wines is adding a Chardonnay to its Bota Box Breeze light wine brand. According to Impact Databank, Bota Box Breeze jumped 51% to 550,000 cases in the U.S. last year. In May, it will be extended with a Chardonnay retailing at $24 a three-liter box, including at national retailers like Kroger, Total Wine & More, and Meijer. Each five-ounce serving contains three grams of carbohydrates, 80 calories, and has an alcohol level of 8.5%. The newcomer joins Pinot Grigio, Dry Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, and Red Blend in the Bota Box Breeze portfolio.

•Suntory is releasing its Ao whisky label in the U.S. market. Previously available only Japan and global travel retail, the new entry is a blend of whiskies from Suntory-owned distilleries in five countries: Ardmore and Glen Garioch in Scotland, Cooley in Ireland, Alberta in Canada, Jim Beam in the U.S., and Yamazaki and Hakushu in Japan. It will retail at $55 a 700-ml.

•Irish Distillers, part of Pernod Ricard, has announced a new sustainable packaging initiative. Under the changes, Jameson will progressively remove gift boxes from its family of products, resulting in the removal of approximately 4 million single use cartons. By the end of 2025, all Irish Distillers’ secondary packaging will be recyclable, reusable, compostable, or removed. Last year, Irish Distillers announced a €50 million ($54m) plan for its Midleton Distillery to become carbon neutral by 2026. Top-selling brand Jameson had global volume of 10.4 million cases in Pernod’s fiscal year through last June.

•Ireland’s Clonakilty Distillery has named Marussia Beverages USA as its new importer. The move will immediately increase Clonakilty’s existing 15-state distribution footprint to 19 states, adding California, Colorado, Illinois, and Texas, ahead of more expansion later this year. The U.S. alignment expands Marussia and Clonakilty’s partnership, with the companies already working together in France. Clonakilty joins brands like Hatozaki Whiskies, Mozart Chocolate Liqueurs, Torabhaig Scotch Whiskies, and Bärenjäger Honey Liqueurs, among others, in Marussia Beverages USA’s portfolio.

•Siempre Spirits, known for its namesake Tequila brand, has named Wes Tachibana as vice president of sales. Tachibana most recently served as Buzzbox’s executive vice president and prior to that was regional vice president of sales at Patrón. His career also includes time at Pernod Ricard, Seagram, and Gallo. At Siempre, Tachibana will report to company co-founder and CEO Alex Lacroix.

Tagged : Bota Box, clonakilty, Delicato, marussia, Pernod Ricard, siempre, Suntory

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