New Belgium to take over US Kirin production from AB-InBev

USA | By the end of the year, the production, marketing and sales of the Kirin Ichiban and Kirin Light beers in the US will move to New Belgium’s breweries in Fort Collis, Colorado, and Asheville, North Carolina.

After Suntory, will Boston Beer do a deal with a cannabis firm?

USA | Boston Beer cannot stop making headlines. A few days after the leak of supposed deal talks between Boston Beer and Japan’s Suntory, The Wall Street Journal had another scoop. It reported on 4 June, that Chairman Jim Koch had received a letter from the CEO of the Canadian cannabis firm Green Thumb Industries on 2 June, proposing a merger.

USA | There are still entrepreneurs who like a challenge. The colourful and often sad story of San Francisco’s Anchor brewery is about to add a new chapter. Because on 31 May, media reported that the billionaire founder and CEO of Chobani Yogurt, Hamdi Ulukaya, acquired the firm lock, stock, and barrel.

Suntory denies rumour that it wants to buy Boston Beer

USA | As if doing business in such tough times was not difficult enough – Boston Beer again fell prey to rumourmongers, who suggested that it was in sales talks with Japan’s brewer and drinks firm Suntory, the owner of US whiskey brands Maker’s Mark and Jim Beam.

USA | How times are changing for the craft brewing industry. A decade after Lagunitas’ founder Tony McGee opened the Chicago brewery and taproom, all production will return to Lagunitas’ original brewery in Petaluma, California, on 1 August.

Wine firm Gallo moves into beer

USA | So Gallo seeks to transform itself into a total alcohol beverage firm? The world’s leading wine, spirits, and RTD supplier Gallo, on 15 May, announced a “strategic investment” in Montucky Cold Snacks, marking the group’s first venture into the beer category. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Workers and Molson Coors agree to terms after three-month strike

USA | Union members and Molson Coors agreed to a three-year contract, ending the more than three-month-long strike of 420 workers at Molson Coors brewery in Fort Worth, Texas.

Heineken Mexico to add 1000 outlets to its Six retail chain in 2024

Mexico | Heineken's chain of convenience stores, branded as Six, is gearing up for expansion in Mexico by adding 1000 new outlets this year. With over 17,000 outlets nationwide, Six offers a variety of products, including snacks, juices, soft drinks, and Heineken’s beers. Competition with the market leader in convenience stores, Oxxo (owned by FEMSA), which had nearly 23,000 outlets in 2023, is set to intensify.

Boston Beer goes hard and soft with recent product innovations

USA | In its recent first quarter 2024 earnings call (29 April), Boston Beer positively surprised investors by reporting a 3.9 percent increase in revenue to USD 426 million, while depletions (that is sales to retailers from distributors) were flat compared with the same period last year. The revenue hike came after a disappointing fourth quarter 2023, which had seen Boston Beer’s revenue decline 12 percent due to the continuing malaise of its Truly hard seltzer.

Brooklyn’s Garrett Oliver launches campaign for fonio grain

USA | Celebrating his 30th anniversary as brewmaster of Brooklyn Brewery, Mr Oliver has launched a campaign with the help of several breweries around the world to showcase the versatility of the African grain fonio.