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News Briefs
Manuel Rubiralta Diaz, executive president of Bacardi y Compañía S.A. de C.V. died unexpectedly last month at the age of 63. He had been overseeing Bacardi’s commercial operations in Mexico since 2000.
Pittsburgh Brewing Co.
received approval of its reorganization plans to emerge from bankruptcy
with new ownership, under the name Iron City
Brewing Co. Tim Hickman will serve as the
company’s new president. As part of the approved reorganization plan,
Iron City Brewing Co. will invest $4.1 million for modernization of the
Lawrenceville, Pa., facility. The company also plans to increase marketing
efforts behind its Iron City, I.C. Light, I.C. Golden Lager, Augustiner
Lager and Augustiner Dark brands.
Soyuz-Victan USA, Jersey
City, N.J., has appointed Georgia Crown
Distributing Co. and Alabama Crown Distributing as
distributors for Silk Vodka in Georgia and Alabama. The product will launch
in these markets early this summer.
Heaven Hill Distilleries Inc. has acquired the Mohawk distilled spirits portfolio from Boisset America. The agreement
adds the Mohawk and Newport franchises, Basilica Imported Liqueur line and
Rosita Tequila to Heaven Hill’s portfolio. The company says it also
will strengthen Heaven Hill’s business in Michigan, Texas, Louisiana,
Wisconsin and New York. Boisset America will retain its imported spirits
business.
First Horizon Bank has
launched a food and beverage finance group to serve beverage distributors,
fast food and restaurant franchisees/franchisors, and regional and national
restaurant companies. The division will be based in Atlanta and offer a
range of financial services, including treasury management, merchant
services, lines of credit, acquisition finance, insurance, employee
benefits and investment banking.
Fizzy Lizzy LLC, based in
New York City, has entered into an exclusive
distribution agreement with Exclusive Beverage Inc., a distributor
of non-alcohol beverages, for distribution of the Fizzy Lizzy line of
sparkling fruit juices throughout New York City and Nassau and Suffolk
counties.
“We expect to see a significant increase in
market penetration as a result of this agreement,” said Elizabeth
Morrill, founder and chief executive officer of Fizzy Lizzy, regarding the
agreement.
Ardea Beverage Co.,
Minneapolis, maker of Airforce Nutrisoda, launched a complete Web site for
Spanish-speaking consumers. The Spanish version of Nutrisoda.com provides
information on Nutrisoda nutrient-enhanced sodas, health and wellness tips,
nutritional information, diabetes resources and recipes, and can be
accessed under the Spanish flag.
Union Beverage, a division
of Glazer’s Distributors, has signed a distribution agreement for Windy City Soda
throughout the state of Illinois through four warehouses located in
Chicago, Rockford, Champaign and Collinsville, Ill. Windy City Soda
currently produces root beer and diet root beer in 12 ounce glass bottles.
Additional flavors and package sizes are under development.
New Sun Nutrition’s FRS
energy products will be available at more than 2,500 company-operated GNC
stores across the country. The energy drink and chewable products are
slated to hit GNC shelves early next month, and GNC plans to make FRS
products available to franchisees via catalog and upcoming new product
events.
Numi Organic Tea, Boston,
recently ranked as the 24th fastest-growing inner-city company in
ICIC-Inc.’s Inner City 100 list. The company was recognized for its
more than 500 percent growth rate during a five year period.
Hobarama LLC, Miami, maker
of Bawls Guarana, has added nearly 20 new distributors to the
company’s growing sales network to expand its presence in the
Northeast and Midwest. Great State will handle the brand in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. In
New York, the company signed Buffalo Beverage, Rochester Beer, Finger Lakes Distributing, Spirit and Sanzone, Ryan Sales and Doldo Distributing. In Pennsylvania it has teamed with All-Star Distributing and Metro Beverage. The company will
work with Central Beverage, Mullarkey Distributing, Gaudio Distributing and R.C./Evansville in Illinois. It signed Carlson
Distributing in South Dakota; Home Juice Co., in Tennessee; and Lee Distributing, Beer Capitol and Better Brands in Wisconsin.