RNDC forms New J-V in South Carolina
First Consolidation of 2008
The first big consolidation of 2008, folks, and we’re guessing there’s a lot more where that came from. Republic National Distributing Co. (RNDC) has joined with The Capital Group of South Carolina to create RNDC of South Carolina, a 50/50 joint-venture. The new company is based in Columbia, S.C.
Former president of Capital Group of South Carolina, Peter Fawcett, will serve as the ceo of the new company. Charlie Bradford, who has been the RNDC state president in South Carolina, was appointed president.
QUICK BACKGROUND. RNDC is the second largest wine and spirits distributor in the nation, with operations in South Carolina and 16 other states as well as the District of Columbia. The Capital Group, which employs 290 people, has South Carolina subsidiaries in West Columbia, Easley, Myrtle Beach and North Charleston. As of December 10, 2007, The Capital Group and its subsidiaries began doing business under the new company name.
The Capital Group began in 1982 as Capital Wine and Beverage Distributing Co. of Columbia. It was founded by Peter Fawcett, his father John Fawcett, Jr., and his brothers John, David and Michael and has remained a family-run business.
RNDC has other joint partnerships in Kentucky, Ohio, and Oklahoma, and wholly-owned operations in Arizona, Alabama, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
MERRYVALE VINEYARDS APPOINTS NEW PRESIDENT
Napa-based winery Merryvale Vineyards says René Schlatter has assumed the role of president, replacing Peter Huwiler. Schlatter previously served as executive VP, with the primary responsibility of overseeing national sales.
Huwiler announced his resignation at the end of 2007 after holding the title of president for over eleven years. Reportedly, Huwiler “plans to pursue other opportunities within the wine industry.”
DEL DOTTO PROPERTY FOR SALE, $34M
A Napa Valley property occupied by Del Dotto Vineyards and several non-wine-industry tenants is on the market for $34 million, according to Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services, which is listing the property. A report in the San Francisco Business Times says Del Dotto has constructed an estimated $10 million new winery and caves in St. Helena. It plans to consolidate operations there when its lease runs out at the Atlas Peak Road property in one year.
ANGOSTURA TO TAKE APPLETON RUM GLOBAL
That is, if Angostura succeeds in acquiring the brand. But it looks like the Trinidad & Tobago company is back on track to acquire Jamaican spirits company, Lascelles deMercado. Jamaican regulators cleared Angostura to proceed with its proposed move to acquire the spirits group late last month, according to local reports. Angostura is interested in Lascelles’ Appleton Rums, which it plans to take global according to a story in the Jamaica Observer. Earlier this year Lawrence Duprey of CL Financial made it clear that his ambition is to get his group of spirits brands among the world's top 10 within the next three years.
Appleton currently sells around 1.2 million cases of rum per annum. Angostura believes that with additional investment and with a dynamic marketing and sales strategy, it can generate sales of between three to four million cases a year.
WINE PREDICTIONS FOR 2008
Reporter Laurie Daniel for the San Jose Mercury News made four interesting predictions for the wine industry in 2008, which we generally agree with. Here’s the short of it:
1. Domestic wines should look more attractive as prices rise on many imports.
2. More companies will start touting how "green" their wines are.
3. We'll see more wines from ever-more obscure places.
4. Some wine producers will become more transparent about their winemaking practices.
To read the full story, click here.
NAPA LOSES A LEGEND
We regret to report that longtime Napa UC Cooperative Extension director Ed Weber died of an apparent heart attack December 31 in Napa. He was only 51. Weber was a key resource on viticulture for local grapegrowers, who have faced many pest challenges in recent decades. He is survived by his wife, Anne Jungerman, and three sons.
Members of the Napa grapegrowers community are meeting at 9 a.m. Friday to discuss creating a trust fund for his children. The meeting will be at the cooperative offices at 1710 Soscol Rd. in Napa. For more information, contact Jennifer Kopp at (707) 944-8311.
A memorial service is planned for Saturday, Jan. 12; 2 p.m. at BV Winery, 1960 S. St. Helena Highway, Rutherford. Diageo will cover all details for the service, but will gladly accept wine donations for the memorial reception. If you are interested in donating wine, please contact Juliana Romani at Diageo, (707) 299-2668 or e-mail juliana.romani@diageo.com. Because parking is extremely limited, please carpool if possible.
WSD Briefs:
WAL-MART reportedly spent more than $4 million on lobbying efforts in Washington in the past 18 months compared to $6.6 million it collectively spent in the prior seven years, according to retail wire. Congressional agenda in 2007 included immigration reform legislation that failed and a minimum wage-hike bill that passed. Wal-Mart had argued that higher wages would push up the cost of goods for customers.
RUDD WINERY in the Oakville region of Napa has named Patrick Sullivan its new winemaker. Rudd’s former winemaker, Charles Thomas, moved to Rutherford's Quintessa Winery before last year’s harvest.
PRICHARDS’ DISTILLERY of Kelso, Tennessee has appointed Terry Marshall as its USA sales manager. Marshall is a former district sales manager for Cruzan Ltd.
PERNOD RICARD has named Marketing Drive as its agency of record for its entire portfolio of wines and Champagnes. Marketing Drive is already Pernod’s agency of record for its spirits division.
Until Monday, Megan
“Frankly, I’m suspicious of anyone who has a strong opinion on a complicated issue.”
-Scott Adams
--------- Sell Day Calendar ----------
Today's Sell Day: 3
Sell days this month: 22
Sell days this month last year: 22
This month ends on a: Thur
This month last year ended on a: Wed.
YTD sell days Over/Under: 0
BEER SUMMIT 2008 – Feb. 24-25, 2008, Hotel del Coronado, San Diego. Join top beer industry executives to talk about burning industry issues, particularly making the most of trading up. Click here: http://www.beernet.com/aboutus/image3.html
WINE & SPIRITS DAILY
Subscribe or check back issues at: www.winespiritsdaily.com
Send news and comments in confidence to: megan@winespiritsdail.com
© 2008 Wine & Spirits Daily, all rights reserved. May quote with attribution.
The first big consolidation of 2008, folks, and we’re guessing there’s a lot more where that came from. Republic National Distributing Co. (RNDC) has joined with The Capital Group of South Carolina to create RNDC of South Carolina, a 50/50 joint-venture. The new company is based in Columbia, S.C.
Former president of Capital Group of South Carolina, Peter Fawcett, will serve as the ceo of the new company. Charlie Bradford, who has been the RNDC state president in South Carolina, was appointed president.
QUICK BACKGROUND. RNDC is the second largest wine and spirits distributor in the nation, with operations in South Carolina and 16 other states as well as the District of Columbia. The Capital Group, which employs 290 people, has South Carolina subsidiaries in West Columbia, Easley, Myrtle Beach and North Charleston. As of December 10, 2007, The Capital Group and its subsidiaries began doing business under the new company name.
The Capital Group began in 1982 as Capital Wine and Beverage Distributing Co. of Columbia. It was founded by Peter Fawcett, his father John Fawcett, Jr., and his brothers John, David and Michael and has remained a family-run business.
RNDC has other joint partnerships in Kentucky, Ohio, and Oklahoma, and wholly-owned operations in Arizona, Alabama, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
MERRYVALE VINEYARDS APPOINTS NEW PRESIDENT
Napa-based winery Merryvale Vineyards says René Schlatter has assumed the role of president, replacing Peter Huwiler. Schlatter previously served as executive VP, with the primary responsibility of overseeing national sales.
Huwiler announced his resignation at the end of 2007 after holding the title of president for over eleven years. Reportedly, Huwiler “plans to pursue other opportunities within the wine industry.”
DEL DOTTO PROPERTY FOR SALE, $34M
A Napa Valley property occupied by Del Dotto Vineyards and several non-wine-industry tenants is on the market for $34 million, according to Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services, which is listing the property. A report in the San Francisco Business Times says Del Dotto has constructed an estimated $10 million new winery and caves in St. Helena. It plans to consolidate operations there when its lease runs out at the Atlas Peak Road property in one year.
ANGOSTURA TO TAKE APPLETON RUM GLOBAL
That is, if Angostura succeeds in acquiring the brand. But it looks like the Trinidad & Tobago company is back on track to acquire Jamaican spirits company, Lascelles deMercado. Jamaican regulators cleared Angostura to proceed with its proposed move to acquire the spirits group late last month, according to local reports. Angostura is interested in Lascelles’ Appleton Rums, which it plans to take global according to a story in the Jamaica Observer. Earlier this year Lawrence Duprey of CL Financial made it clear that his ambition is to get his group of spirits brands among the world's top 10 within the next three years.
Appleton currently sells around 1.2 million cases of rum per annum. Angostura believes that with additional investment and with a dynamic marketing and sales strategy, it can generate sales of between three to four million cases a year.
WINE PREDICTIONS FOR 2008
Reporter Laurie Daniel for the San Jose Mercury News made four interesting predictions for the wine industry in 2008, which we generally agree with. Here’s the short of it:
1. Domestic wines should look more attractive as prices rise on many imports.
2. More companies will start touting how "green" their wines are.
3. We'll see more wines from ever-more obscure places.
4. Some wine producers will become more transparent about their winemaking practices.
To read the full story, click here.
NAPA LOSES A LEGEND
We regret to report that longtime Napa UC Cooperative Extension director Ed Weber died of an apparent heart attack December 31 in Napa. He was only 51. Weber was a key resource on viticulture for local grapegrowers, who have faced many pest challenges in recent decades. He is survived by his wife, Anne Jungerman, and three sons.
Members of the Napa grapegrowers community are meeting at 9 a.m. Friday to discuss creating a trust fund for his children. The meeting will be at the cooperative offices at 1710 Soscol Rd. in Napa. For more information, contact Jennifer Kopp at (707) 944-8311.
A memorial service is planned for Saturday, Jan. 12; 2 p.m. at BV Winery, 1960 S. St. Helena Highway, Rutherford. Diageo will cover all details for the service, but will gladly accept wine donations for the memorial reception. If you are interested in donating wine, please contact Juliana Romani at Diageo, (707) 299-2668 or e-mail juliana.romani@diageo.com. Because parking is extremely limited, please carpool if possible.
WSD Briefs:
WAL-MART reportedly spent more than $4 million on lobbying efforts in Washington in the past 18 months compared to $6.6 million it collectively spent in the prior seven years, according to retail wire. Congressional agenda in 2007 included immigration reform legislation that failed and a minimum wage-hike bill that passed. Wal-Mart had argued that higher wages would push up the cost of goods for customers.
RUDD WINERY in the Oakville region of Napa has named Patrick Sullivan its new winemaker. Rudd’s former winemaker, Charles Thomas, moved to Rutherford's Quintessa Winery before last year’s harvest.
PRICHARDS’ DISTILLERY of Kelso, Tennessee has appointed Terry Marshall as its USA sales manager. Marshall is a former district sales manager for Cruzan Ltd.
PERNOD RICARD has named Marketing Drive as its agency of record for its entire portfolio of wines and Champagnes. Marketing Drive is already Pernod’s agency of record for its spirits division.
Until Monday, Megan
“Frankly, I’m suspicious of anyone who has a strong opinion on a complicated issue.”
-Scott Adams
--------- Sell Day Calendar ----------
Today's Sell Day: 3
Sell days this month: 22
Sell days this month last year: 22
This month ends on a: Thur
This month last year ended on a: Wed.
YTD sell days Over/Under: 0
BEER SUMMIT 2008 – Feb. 24-25, 2008, Hotel del Coronado, San Diego. Join top beer industry executives to talk about burning industry issues, particularly making the most of trading up. Click here: http://www.beernet.com/aboutus/image3.html
WINE & SPIRITS DAILY
Subscribe or check back issues at: www.winespiritsdaily.com
Send news and comments in confidence to: megan@winespiritsdail.com
© 2008 Wine & Spirits Daily, all rights reserved. May quote with attribution.
posted at 11:19 AM
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