Delicato Family Wines, Francis Ford Coppola Winery forge partnership

Delicato Family Wines, Napa, Calif., and Francis Ford Coppola Winery announced that they will come together under one roof, strengthening the families' legacies. Under the terms of the agreement, the Francis Ford Coppola wine portfolio and two facilities anchored in Sonoma County, the Francis Ford Coppola Winery and the Virginia Dare Winery located in Geyserville, including the Archimedes Vineyard, will join Delicato.

As a long-time leader in the wine industry, Francis Coppola will have an equity stake in Delicato Family Wines and join Delicato's Board of Directors. His renowned innovation and influence in fine wine will be pivotal in guiding the continued growth of Delicato for years to come. The company will continue to be managed by President and CEO Chris Indelicato, while Corey Beck will join Delicato's executive leadership team as executive vice president of production and chief winemaker.

The brand portfolio will join strong brands such as 1924, Three Finger Jack, Z. Alexander Brown and will be led by Bota Box and Coppola Diamond. These “musthave” brands will enable Delicato to continue to grow its portfolio, as well as to compete forcefully in new segments.

Francis Ford Coppola stated: “Over my lifetime, Coppola has become a household name across America. What started as a dream to buy a family cottage in Napa Valley turned into a million+ case business producing iconic award-winning wines. I am proud to announce that I have found the perfect fit to take our Family winery to even greater heights. Delicato is also family-owned and shares similar core values as both companies are anchored by a long-term sustainable focus and a foundation built on family values: integrity, respect, quality, accountability, partnership, excellence and community.”

Indelicato added: “There is a strong cultural fit between our two companies, and by combining two highly complementary portfolios, we create a more diversified winery. This places us in a strong position in key growth categories to capitalize on positive market trends, drive profitable growth and create opportunities for our employees. This is an exciting and significant expansion for Delicato Family Wines as we bring Francis Ford Coppola Winery and their brands under our portfolio. We look forward to leveraging Francis Ford Coppola's creativity and fine wine capabilities that have appealed to consumers, distributors, and retailers globally, further bolstering our portfolio strategy.”

Over the next few months, Delicato and Coppola will focus on how best to combine the two companies, effectively utilizing the best business practices and talent of both organizations to make the transition seamless for employees, suppliers, and customers alike.

Inglenook and Domaine de Broglie Winery and vineyard will remain separately owned and run by Francis and the Coppola Family. BI

Louisville, Ky.-based Phocus announced that shoppers at Publix stores across the Southeast will be able to purchase its caffeinated beverages. Phocus now is available in more than 700 Publix stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. “We are so excited to announce our brand-new partnership with Publix Supermarkets,” said Phocus CEO Todd Creek, in a statement. “Teaming up with Publix has been a goal for our company since day one, which makes this so special. It’s clear that the folks at Publix believe in the Phocus mission to help our customers get the most out of their day by providing what we think is the best caffeine experience on the planet … with a naturally energizing, deliciously flavored, sparkling water without the sugar and sweeteners found in so many drinks.”

Freedonia forecasts boost in US beverage sales

U.S. beverage demand is forecast to increase 2.9% yearly in nominal terms through 2025, according to “Beverages: United States,” a report recently released by Freedonia Focus Reports.

Suppliers will benefit from population growth and increases in disposable personal income, which will drive purchases of higher-end and niche beverages and support growth in value terms, the Cleveland-based market research firm states. Faster gains will be limited by ongoing consumer concerns regarding the negative health effects of alcohol and sweetened beverages.

In 2021, beverage demand is projected to rise slightly as the economy recovers following the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The return of some workers to offices and other workplaces will support sales of soft drinks and bottled water from vending machines.

Demand for alcoholic beverages ― the largest and fastest-growing discrete segment ― is expected to rise 4.4% annually to 2025. Suppliers will benefit from the ongoing popularity of novel beverages such as craft beer varieties and hard seltzers. Growth in disposable personal incomes will help boost demand in value terms as consumers choose such options, which are often more expensive.

The report forecasts to 2021 and 2025 U.S. beverages demand and shipments in nominal U.S. dollars at the manufacturer level.

To illustrate historical trends, total demand, total shipments, the various segments, and trade are provided in annual series from 2010 to 2020.

This report includes the results of a proprietary national online consumer survey of U.S. adults (age 18 and older). This Freedonia Focus Reports National Survey has a sample size of approximately 2,000, screened for response quality, and representative of the U.S. population on the demographic measures of age, gender, geographic region, race/ethnicity, household income, and the presence/absence of children in the household. BI

Prost Beverage Co., RF Kettle Co., and Two Trees Distilling Co. have merged under a newly formed parent company, Two Trees Beverage Co. Inc., Fletcher, N.C., which was effective July 1. The company has raised $6 million in Series A funding, which was expected to close in July. The new combined company will utilize a 1,000-gallon system to produce and scale the volume equivalent of approximately 20 barrels of aged product per day. “It’s disruptive to put innovation in tradition, some people are uncomfortable with that, but innovation isn’t about doing what is comfortable, it requires change to improve the old ways of doing things.” said Chad Slagle, CEO of the newly formed parent company, in a statement. “We can help companies keep up with increasing consumer demand for premium spirits, beer, and wine in an environmentally safe and sustainable manner.”