Tulleeho Alcobev Newsletter #17 - May, 2006

Tulleeho has begun a monthly column on alcoholic beverages in the recently launched Outlook Business. Catch the first article in the issue dated 20 May on Celebrities and what they drink.

Want to download the latest report on Indian alcohol industry statistics ? Get it here

Vin Expo, Asia Pacific is on in Hong Kong from May 22nd to 25th. Tulleeho will be there and will bring you an update in our next edition of Alcobev.

Rumours
Mohan Meakins to fall into the hands of a large brewer with 9 breweries...? Foster's to fall into the hands of a large brewer with even more breweries....?

Visiting
Dr. Bill Lumsden, Master Distiller from Glenmorangie - read his interview in our blog. Also visiting, the Area Manager from Sogrape - the makers of Mateus Rose, read his interview in our Blog here.

What's in a name? - Jose Cuervo
Don Jose Antonio de Cuervo and his family started it all in 1758 with a land grant from the King of Spain in Jalisco, Mexico. In 1795, King Carlos IV of Spain granted the Cuervo family the first license to commercially produce tequila and so it began...

On with the news..




Launches
In one of the biggest and most courageous new product launches, SAB Miller has launched Haywards Black Label, India's first stout beer, which with an alcoholic percentage of around 7% will rank as a strong stout beer. On a recent visit to Rochees Brewery @ Neemrana, where the beer is being brewed first, we had the good fortune of tasting it under the guidance of the head of brewing for SAB Miller. We will say no more. Taste it and form your own opinion.

German spirits group Borco has struck a distribution deal in India for its Sierra Tequila brand.

Watch for the impending launch of a new varietal from Grover Vineyard's - the Chenin Blanc. On a recent Tulleeho Wine Trail to Grover Vineyard's, we tasted it fresh from the vat. We're not blessed with exceptionally sensitive palates at Tulleeho, but I swear we were drinking guava's.

Foster's in talks to sell it's Asian Breweries
In an effort to focus on its domestic market and its wine business, Foster's is selling several of its overseas assets. Its assets in Europe have already been snapped up by S&N and those in Asia Pacific including India are also up for the taking. It is believed that talks with Heineken were extremely encouraging, but some hitches have developed in their negotiations.

United Spirits to franchise brands
After the merger of McDowell's, Shaw Wallace Spirits division, Herbertson's and Triumph Distillers into United Spirits (US), US has decided to franchise more than 50 of its non-core brands to its major distributors and bottling companies. Earlier reports had suggested that US would be divesting these brands.

Bagpiper touches 10 million cases
Bagpiper (from United Spirits) has become the first Indian brand to touch 10 million cases. The second largest brand is Old Monk with close to 7 million cases.

United Spirits to set up new trade marketing channel
United Spirits (US) is setting up a new team to focus on the sales and marketing of US's premium brands in "leading edge" outlets. This team is to be led by Anant Iyer.

Scotch must be Scottish, Indian court rules
The Scotch Whisky Association won a case in New Delhi thus preventing Indian spirits producer Golden Bottling from using the word Scot in its brand name - Red Scot. What happens to Peter then...

Sapporo eyes Indian investment
Japanese beer maker Sapporo Breweries is eyeing an investment in the Indian market, according to local reports.

Asia Pacific Breweries to enter Indian market APBI, the Singapore based maker of Tiger, Heineken and more have taken a strong equity position in Aurangabad based Aurangabad Breweries (makers of Arlem Pilsner, etc.)



Smirnoff remains world's top-selling spirit
Diageo, the British wine and spirits firm, has announced that Smirnoff Vodka is the number one selling premium distilled spirit in the world for the second year in a row, according to industry journal Impact.

Bacardi launches radio station in the UK
Bacardi is starting up a radio station called Bacardi B-LIVE with online and mobile radio music content. The channel has started in the UK and will roll out globally from May 2006. Listeners can download the radio player from the Bacardi website, bluetooth the software to their mobile handset or listen online.

42 Below to launch an RTD brand
New Zealand vodka maker 42 Below is launching an RTD version of its Pacific Rum brand and an RTD version of its vodka brand Stil.

Anheuser Busch launching blueberry beer / launching Tiger Beer in the US
The company is also testing an alcoholic fruit juice called Peels, a new light beer, Michelob Ultra Amber, and even a new draught beer, Spring Heat Spiced Wheat. Anheuser-Busch will become the U.S. importer of Tiger Beer. It recently also announced a similiar relationship with Grolsch beer.

Bacardi launches flavoured rums in the UK
Bacardi has launched 2 flavoured rums in the UK market, Bacardi Berry and Bacardi Applei.

Diageo launches new RTD's - Quinn's
Diageo is launching Quinn, a new breed of RTD, which is described as a fruit ferment blended drink, where everything, even the alcohol, is made from 100% fruit.

Diageo to sell Smirnov and other liquor in Russia
Diageo and Alfa Group agreed Monday to form a joint venture to market, sell and distribute liquor in Russia. Diageo will own a 75 percent stake in the venture and will acquire a majority interest in the Smirnov vodka brand and business, which will form the basis of the new operation in Russia. A1 Group owns Smirnov Trading House, and the Smirnov brand will be part of Diageo's portfolio within the new company. For more on this - Click here

Guinness to launch light variant
Guinness is trialing a mid-strength version of its beer in Ireland. The new variant, will be @ at 2.8% proof as opposed to 4.2% for it's cousin.

Heineken creates a luxury light beer category
Heineken Premium Light launches with the tag line: "succumb to smooth."

Tech Watch
Guinness is spending £2.5million on an electrical gadget called the Surger "to create the perfect pub pint in the home". The plug-in product sends an ultrasound signal through a glass to separate the black body from the creamy head, just as a pint settles when poured in a pub.

Movements
Deepaknath moves out of UB. Rajiv Ghumman from Bacardi is reported to be off to the Philippines as Country Manager for Bacardi. He will be reporting into his old boss Mahesh Madhavan who has wider regional responsibiilities now. Bruno Yvon, ex head of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin (VCP) in India is now Regional Marketing Director, Asia Pacific for Moet Hennessy Wine Estates, VCP and Krug Champagne. Dipti Jagdev has joined the Johnnie Walker brand team in Diageo. Ashish Monga after a long innings at Diageo as Area Manager, Mumbai has left for a new job in Mexico and Jasraj Kattaura has moved from Diageo Sri Lanka into his place.

Beverage Business Directory The Tulleeho Business Directory is a first of its kind - an online business directory for the alcoholic beverage industry and related sectors. To sign up for your free profile

About Tulleeho
Still don't know what we do! Tulleeho is a marketing and technology services provider for the alcoholic beverage and related sectors. To know more about what we do read : about us.
Tull-ee-ho! : A combination of the old hunting cry Tally Ho! and the colloquial Hindi word "tullee" (used both as verb and noun, and signifying a state of inebriation).
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