Anheuser-Busch InBev says it is paying $1.24 billion for a majority stake in Dominican brewer Cerveceria Nacional Dominicana as it pushes deeper into the Caribbean.
Wine introductions had a good year in 2011. Despite slipping somewhat from 2010 numbers, the segment remained strong in terms of product launches. The year saw nearly twice as many wine debuts as 2009 and nearly three times the number reported in 2008, according to Mintel’s Global New Products Database (GNPD).
New Beer Institute data shows that retail beer sales rose more than 2% in 2011, highlighting beer’s continued strength within the alcohol beverage sector.
Starbucks Corp plans to begin selling beer, wine and more upscale food in a small number of cafes in Atlanta and Southern California by the end of this year.
Bartenders must stay on top of trends such as "culinary cocktails," artisanal spirits, specialty non-alcoholic drinks, regional wines and organic and micro-brewed beers to keep customers' interest.
With New Year’s Eve and its traditional libations now officially in the history books, it might seem a bit soon to take too close of a look at the alcoholic beverages segment. However, Mardi Gras is just over a month away, so it may well be a perfect time to examine the latest releases and news in the category.
