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The beverage marketplace continues to make strides against the economic downturn that hampered consumers and businesses beginning in 2008. In Beverage Industry’s compilation of the Top 100 beverage companies based on 2012 sales, The Coca-Cola Co. continued to lead the list by recording an additional $1.5 billion in sales compared with 2011.

Atlanta-based The Coca-Cola Co., which launched Dasani Drops in October of last year, launched another brand into the liquid drink mix segment but with a sports drink angle.

Precept Wine, Seattle, purchased a Yakima Valley-area vineyard located just south of Red Mountain outside of Benton City, Wash.

Constellation Brands Inc., Victor, N.Y., announced that it completed its acquisition of Grupo Modelo's U.S. beer business from Anheuser-Busch InBev, Leuven, Belgium, for approximately $4.75 billion. The transaction includes full ownership of Crown Imports LLC, which provides Constellation with complete, independent control of all aspects of the U.S. commercial business; a state-of-the-art brewery in Nava (Piedras Negras), Mexico; an exclusive perpetual brand license in the United States to import, market and sell Corona and the Modelo brands Crown currently sells; and the freedom to develop brand extensions and innovations for the U.S. market.

Strongbow, a brand of Heineken USA, White Plains, N.Y., launched its “Golden Hour” on-premise, retail and event activation for the summer. The cider brand will act as a catalyst for spur-of-the-moment experiences to excite consumers of legal drinking age and encourage them to create their own “Golden Hour” celebrations with Strongbow, it says.

Chicago-based Technomic Inc. and Newton, Mass.-based Restaurant Sciences LLC have partnered to provide greater visibility into sales trends in restaurants and bars and also deliver a comprehensive suite of food and beverage tracking services, the companies say.

Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), Leuven, Belgium, has completed its acquisition of Grupo Modelo, Mexico City, in a transaction valued at $20.1 billion.

New York-based Panache Beverages Inc., which produces Wódka vodka and Alibi American Whiskey, has signed an asset purchase agreement to acquire the Empire Winery and Distillery in Hudson, Fla.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc., Greenwood Village, Colo., released two new beer cocktails for the summer that will be available exclusively at Red Robin dining locations. Served in a limited-edition, reusable beer can, these beer and liquor combinations are served in two styles: the Coors Light Can-Crafted Cocktail, which is a mixture of Coors Light beer, ginger liqueur and lemonade topped with fresh squeezed lemon, and the Blue Moon Can-Crafted Cocktail, which is a combination of Blue Moon Belgian White beer, Svedka Clementine vodka, orange juice and lime juice.

Redd's Apple Ale, a brand of Chicago-based MillerCoors, released the Redd's Apple Launcher, a high-powered, robotic apple cannon that can be shot using the Internet.