Beer

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Following steady performance in 2012, beer sales are proving to be a bright spot in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) market.

St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch (A-B), the U.S. arm of Anheuser-Busch InBev, announced it has agreed to purchase Blue Point Brewing Co., a Long Island, N.Y.-based craft brewer that has more than 40 beers and sales concentrated along the East Coast. The move will bring additional resources to Blue Point's operations, allowing it to meet growing consumer demand for its brands, A-B says. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Holland, Mich.-based New Holland Brewing Co. announced a collaboration with Carhartt, a Dearborn, Mich.-based work wear brand, to brew a craft beer in honor of the clothing manufacturer’s 125th anniversary. The new brew will pay tribute to the hard-working people who wear Carhartt clothing, the companies say.

MillerCoors, Chicago, will launch Miller Fortune lager in mid-February to help the beer category regain share of the market that has been lost to spirits, wine and their drinking occasions, says Karina Diehl, communications manager for the Miller family of brands and multicultural brands.

Diageo plc, London, reported interim financial results for the six months ended Dec. 31, 2013. Following 2.2 percent growth in the first quarter, net sales grew 1.8 percent in the first half of the fiscal year, supported by 4.6 percent growth in North America, the company reports. Sales in emerging markets also were up 1.3 percent, but were negatively impacted by weakness in China and Nigeria, and sales in Western Europe were down 1 percent, continuing the improvement trend seen in the first quarter.

St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch’s Budweiser brand released a teaser trailer for its “Hero’s Welcome” commercial, which will premiere Feb. 2 during Super Bowl XLVIII. This 60-second advertisement, which is one of five Anheuser-Busch Super Bowl commercials running this year, continues Budweiser’s long-standing support of the U.S. military and celebrates returning troops, the company says.

Phusion Projects, Chicago, introduced a new flavor to its Four Loko line of flavored malt beverages.

Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), Leuven, Belgium, announced that it will re-acquire Oriental Brewery (OB), a leading brewer in South Korea, from New York-based Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (KKR) and Hong Kong-based Affinity Equity Partners for $5.8 billion.

Vermont Hard Cider Co. LLC introduced the third cider in its Cider Cellar Series: Chocolate.

St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch, a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), announced that it will debut five ads during the Super Bowl XLVIII broadcast on Fox on Feb. 2. The company’s Bud Light and Budweiser brands will be featured in 3.5 minutes of game-time commercials.