The study from AlixPartners includes lots of epic graphs, like the one seen here, which clearly explains everything…
Global Business-Advisory Firm AlixPartners conducted a poll of 1,000 consumers in February 2010 as part of a study to gauge the consumer market for fine beverages. The report isn’t encouraging, saying that about 20% of non-alcoholic beverage companies and 35% of alcoholic beverage companies are in danger of going under over the next two years. That isn’t good news for sure, though it seems to be something of a misleading statistic given the ambiguity of it. Continue Reading »
According to the recently released 2010 Liquor Handbook, the Beverage Information Group found that total spirits consumption rose 1.6 percent from 2009 to 2010. This gain marks the twelfth consecutive year of advances for the industry, although this rate of expansion has slowed.
“Due to the economic environment, we have seen a ‘trading down effect’ with more consumption in lower-priced tiers,” says Eric Schmidt, manager of information services for the Beverage Information Group, Norwalk, Conn. “As a result, we are seeing heavy price fighting and couponing taking place in order for suppliers to maintain growth and share.” Continue Reading »
The housing sector is in the dumps. GM? Do they even exist anymore? Factories are turning off the power and schools are closing their doors, and banks and companies are standing in line to be bailed out by the government. The looming recession our country has been facing couldn’t possibly cripple the beverage industry…could it? The effects have already been felt as Southern Wine & Spirits of America Inc. is asking for $2 billion to refinance existing debt. The largest wine and spirits distributor in the United States, Southern Wine is seeking the help of Bank of America to bail them out. Continue Reading »
Robert Benmosche is aspiring to be a wine revolutionary as he tries to build a reputation for Croatian wines with his new winery. This would typically pump me up, except that when Mr. Benmosche isn’t making wine, he’s tasked with running one of the most important and unstable mega corporations in America, AIG, which enjoyed a $182.5 BILLION loan from you, me and everyone else in America, which is roughly the same amount as the entire Gross Domestic Product of Chile.
According to NY Daily News:
Wearing flip-flops, khaki shorts and a green polo shirt, the new chief executive of bailed-out insurer American International Group Inc says he’s getting a lot of work done from his massive villa overlooking the Adriatic. Continue Reading »
In 1991 the federal excise tax on many items was basically doubled, this included tax on beer. Since that time all the taxes on so called luxury items have been repealed except for the beer tax. Now, legislation has entered Congress that will take the excise tax back to the pre-1991 level and provide relief to brewers and buyers alike. This is an important piece of legislation that could help stimulate a hard struck economy. The Beer Institute and The Brewers Association have led the fight to repeal this tax. They have detailed information on how to contact your representative to get involved. For the complete story and information click here.
No, I’m not talking about the market for sweet Australian “sticky” wine; I’m talking about the story on CNN.com last night that explored the phenomenon of food and beverage prices remaining high rather than decreasing with inputs such as oil and wheat. Continue Reading »
I was very sad to hear that the father of California wine, Mr. Robert Mondavi, passed away yesterday. Today, though, I was embarrassed to call myself a journalist after seeing the coverage that was given to Mr. Mondavi’s passing and legacy in the news today.
First up, CNN.com. Out of 21 stories featured on the front page, Mr. Mondavi wasn’t mentioned. What was mentioned? “Ashlee Simpson Gets Fairy Tale Wedding”, “Charter Bus Overturns On Freeway, Killing 1″, and my favorite, “Clinton Passes On A Shot Of Bourbon”. You can find the story if you scroll down to the bottom and venture into the “U.S.” section, then find the “West” section.
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