Business move will strengthen AB InBev’s position in Asia-Pacific region
January 20, 2014
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.
Quick-service restaurant leverages PepsiCo partnership with six new offerings
January 20, 2014
Taco Bell Corp., a subsidiary of Louisville, Ky.-based Yum! Brands Inc., announced that it has taken its PepsiCo partnership to the next level by introducing six new beverage offerings.
Future growth will decline as baby boomers retire, according to Silicon Valley Bank
January 17, 2014
Silicon Valley Bank, a provider of commercial banking services to the innovation sector and the wine industry, released its “Annual State of the Wine Industry Report,” which forecasts growth of U.S. wine for 2014 but a decline in future years.
Bud Light to debut new creative campaign during the big game
January 15, 2014
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.
Growth in single-malt Scotch continues despite overall decline in on-premise spirits sales
January 14, 2014
Restaurant Sciences LLC, a Newton, Mass.-based firm that tracks food and beverage sales throughout the North American foodservice industry, reported that single-malt Scotches grew 3.1 percent in U.S. dollar sales and 3.6 percent in case volume sales in the three months ending November 2013 versus the same three-month period in 2012.
Transaction expected to close in second quarter of 2014
January 13, 2014
Osaka, Japan-based Suntory Holdings Ltd. and Deerfield, Ill.-based Beam Inc. jointly announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Suntory will acquire all outstanding shares of Beam for $83.50 a share. This translates to a total consideration of approximately $16 billion, including the assumption of Beam’s outstanding net debt. The transaction consideration represents a 25 percent premium to Beam’s closing price of $66.97 on Jan. 10, 2014; a 24 percent premium to the volume-weighted average share price during the last three months; and a multiple of more than 20 times Beam’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization for the 12-month period that ended Sept. 30, 2013.
Reese Cates will showcase whiskey brand banner at PBR events
January 10, 2014
Chicken Cock Distillers, a Charleston, S.C.-based division of wine and spirits brand developer Island Club Brands, unveiled its Chicken Cock Whiskey brand as the sponsor of professional bull rider (PBR) Reese Cates at the 2014 PBR Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) season opener.
Deerfield, Ill.-based Beam Inc.’s Sauza Tequila brand partnered with actor and pop music artist Justin Timberlake to launch Sauza 901 super-premium tequila. The new product builds off of Timberlake’s previously launched 901 Silver Tequila and incorporates the same spirit under the Sauza brand name. The co-branded partnership blends the creativity and personality of the 901 brand’s founder, Timberlake, with the quality and history of Sauza Tequila to craft a lifestyle spirits brand.