In 1795, Jacob Beam, sells his first barrel of "Old Jake Beam Sour Mash." Friends and family call it a "fine dram." In 1895, the great grandson of Jake Beam, James Beauregard Beam, becomes the new head of the family business. He is a straightforward man who prefers simple to fancy, and he insists on being called "Jim." Whence the name...
Closer home, post the takeover of part of Allied Domecq's portfolio, Allied Domecq has changed its name to Beam Global Spirits and Wines.
Business 2.0 magazine has identified 12 start ups to launch now across the world. One of the 12 ideas is importing wines into India! Read the full story here.
On with the news..
Launches/Events
Radico launches Magic Moments vodka, Mcdowells launches Black Dog Centenary (BCS), a 8 yo variant in the popular Scotch segment. They're offering a custom designed car by Dilip Chhabria as a prize to one lucky purchaser of BCS. Jim Beam launching. Bacardi's B-Live events, the successor to the Bacardi Blast have been rolling out across the country. Teacher's High Nights, the prelude events to the Teacher's Achievement awards have been rolling out across the country. So have Castle Loud, a series of DJ Based promotion nights in select outlets as well as Haywards Black Nights.
SABMiller acquires Foster's India
SABMiller has acquired Foster's India for Rs. 564 crores. SABMiller will now have brand rights in India for Foster's lager, Amberro Mild and Amberro Strong Beer.
Diageo IMFL Play
Diageo looks all set to reenter the IMFL market in India. The company appears to have second thoughts after its sale of Gilbey's Green Label Whisky and other brands to its ex MD, Deepak Roy. The product categories are still confidential. There are also rumours in the market about a proposed tie up with Radico Khaitan for the same.
Beam Global launching Jim Beam
Beam Global the new avatar of Allied Domecq in India, is all set to launch Jim Beam Bourbon in India.
UB setting up winery in Baramati / acquires French wine company
United Breweries is setting up a 5 million bottle a year winery in Baramati in Maharashtra. UB has also just acquired Bouvet-Ladubay, a subsididary of Taittinger Champagne (whose bidding UB withdrew from).
Anheuser Busch in Hyderabad talks
Senior management of A-B (makers of Budweiser) were recently in Hyderabad to explore a tie up, believed to be with Crown Breweries, a greenfield brewery coming up just outside Hyderabad. Hyderabad is also where the Cobra brewery is coming up as is the Asia Pacific greenfield brewery. Andhra is one of the largest beer markets in the country and most brewers appear to be making a beeline for the same.
APBI to set up greenfield brewery in Andhra Pradesh
APBI will tie up with the Jaipuria group in setting up a greenfield brewery in Andhra Pradesh, just outside Hyderabad with an initial brewing capacity of 250,000 hectolitres. The joint venture will be called Pearl Brewers Limited.
This is APB's second investment in India this year following its acquisition of a 76% stake in Aurangabad Breweries in May 2006.
UB ties up with brewery in Assam
UB has entered the north-east Indian market through a joint-venture with a local business group in Assam. The joint-venture will set up the region’s first major brewery, in the city of Guwahati. Rhino Breweries will have an initial monthly capacity of 100,000 cases, which would be increased to 200,000 cases subsequently.
Champagne Indage to set up 7 wineries
Champagne Indage is planning to set up 7 greenfield wineries across the country. Their greenfield winery in Himachal Pradesh is also expected to come on stream soon.
Sula Vineyards to open third winery
Sula Vineyards is planning to open its third winery by the end of the year.
Champagne Indage wins global awards
Five of CHAMPAGNE INDAGE LTD wines have cleared a rigorous screening process and won Bronze medals at the International Wine & Spirit Competition. The medal winning wines included Chateau Indage Omar Khayyam, Mist of Sahyadri Chardonnay 2004, Chantilli Chenin Blanc 2005, Mist of Sahyadri Shiraz 2005, Ivy Viognier 2005.
Cider brand launches in India
Green Valley, a Simla based company has launched “Tempest Cider”, which is a carbonated apple based ready to drink alcoholic beverage.
Best Foods launches Argentinian Wines in India
Best Foods has recently launched in India, Titarelli Wines from the Mendoza region of Argentina.
Carlsberg rumoured to be setting up shop
Rumours are afoot that Carlsberg is setting up shop in India, in collaboration with its partner in Nepal, the Khetan Group. We hear that there is a Carlsberg team currently based out of Delhi and working on their India entry plans.
The new variants - Citrico, Oranjo and Tropina - are distilled and bottled in Mexico. Cuervo Citrico is made with natural flavors of lime and other citrus fruits; Cuervo Oranjo contains natural flavors of orange and other citrus fruits; and Cuervo Tropina is a blend of pineapple and other tropical fruit flavors.
Smirnoff launches Electric Cabaret eventsThe programme builds on the “Smirnoff Experience”, a global promotion of club events and festivals that has run for six years. The programme will kick off in Ibiza from now until September with a “flagship event” set for London in October.
Does one see the Smirnoff Experience in India replaced with the Electric Cabaret? Watch and wait…
Havana Club saga continues
The long standing dispute between Pernod and Bacardi over the Havana Club trademark continues as the US Patent and trademark office has not allowed the renewal of the Cuban governments trademark registration of Havana Club in the US. This would allow Bacardi to relaunch its version of Havana Club in the US.
Pernod however plans to appeal this ruling.
Cinzano launching Spritzz Up in UK market
Cinzano is launching a new product on the UK market called Spritzz Up, aimed at 18- to 30-year-old female drinkers. Spritzz Up, which is a wine-based 14.5% abv drink designed to be mixed with tonic or lemonade.
The tag line for the brand is "girls get ready to go".
Brahma Beer to be served @ sub zero temperatures
In Bev has launched sub-zero chillers for Brazilian brand Brahma. The branded units cool Brahma to -5°C. Steve Kitching, MD of on-trade sales at InBev UK, said: “In Brazil, Brahma is always enjoyed ‘estupidamente gelade’ or ‘incredibly cold’, maximising refreshment and product quality.
Last week, Coors Brewers unveiled the UK launch of Coors Sub Zero, a draught beer served at -2.5°C.
Tech Watch
Coors is using technology earlier developed for Nasa to come up with labels which prevent the heat from your hand to reach the beer. So next time you're holding a Coors, remember to hold it by the label!
Janak Vora moves out of Beam Global, where he was Trade Marketing Manager and Mahua Bose has recently moved into Beam Global to look after Teacher's. Bacardi Martini has had a portfolio shuffle, after the movement out of Soumitro (who looked after Breezer and Scotch). Avishek Das has taken over Bacardi and Merwin has taken over Bombay Sapphire, Grey Goose, Scotch and Breezer. All brand management functions in Bacardi will report to Vinay Golikeri.
Kashmira Chaddha moves out from Seagrams to join Coke.
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