Shaun Belongie named CEO of New Belgium Brewing

New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, Colo., announced that Shaun Belongie, New Belgium’s chief marketing officer of five years, will become its next CEO and lead the business into its next chapter.

“New Belgium Brewing is a special place, powered by the best people in the business,” Belongie said in a statement. “I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to work every day alongside these incredible coworkers. I want to thank Lion Group CEO Sam Fischer for his confidence in me to help guide New Belgium into its next chapter, and our Co-founder Kim Jordan for her inspiration in rethinking what a business can be.”

Following the departure of former CEO Steve Fechheimer, Lion Group, New Belgium’s parent company, conducted an extensive search and interview process, assessing a range of both internal and external candidates.

“We are delighted to welcome Shaun as the next CEO of New Belgium,” Fischer stated. “Shaun’s breadth of experience, innovative mindset, commercial acumen and great love of the New Belgium culture and coworkers makes Shaun an excellent fit to lead the team. I also want to thank and acknowledge Danielle McLarnon for her exceptional leadership as interim CEO. She will continue to play a crucial role as New Belgium’s chief financial officer. The future for New Belgium is incredibly bright and I look forward to working alongside Shaun and the team to continue its growth story.”

Belongie will take the helm of a business that has seen tremendous growth over the past several years. New Belgium’ portfolio has grown since joining forces with Bell’s Brewery in 2022. With brands including Voodoo Ranger, Fat Tire, Two Hearted and Oberon, along with popular and innovative brands like Dominga Mimosa Sour, Hopslam, and La Folie and an award-winning wood-aged sour program, New Belgium continues to outpace industry growth at an impressive rate, it says.

Playing a key role in stewarding New Belgium’s innovative Human Powered Business model since joining the brewery in 2018, Belongie's commitment to driving positive business results through a differentiated way of doing business will ensure New Belgium’s strong positioning for the future, while remaining true to the hallmarks of the brewery's coveted people-centric culture, the company says. BI

Shaun Belongie, CEO New Belgium Brewing

Treasury Wine Estates to acquire DAOU Vineyards

Treasury Wine Estates Ltd., Melbourne, Australia, has reached an agreement to acquire DAOU Vineyards, the acclaimed luxury wine business founded by brothers and co-proprietors Georges and Daniel Daou for an upfront consideration of $900 million, plus an additional earn-out of up to $100 million. This transformative deal will accelerate TWE’s focus on a portfolio that is increasingly luxury-led with a greater presence in key growth markets such as the United States, it states.

Founded in 2007 and based in the U.S. winemaking region of Paso Robles, California, DAOU is a fast-growing luxury wine brand in the United States and is recognized throughout the industry for its award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon-based PATRIMONY wines, unique consumer profile, and benchmark-setting luxury experiences, it notes. DAOU’s fully integrated digital platform, DAOU+, combines eCommerce and membership with seamless and unique features that increase consumer loyalty.

DAOU is a strong complement to TWE’s existing portfolio in upper-luxury price points and fills a key portfolio opportunity for Treasury Americas in the $20-40 range, as well as strengthens its luxury portfolio in the $40-plus range, the company says. Utilizing TWE’s global marketing and distribution expertise, the company’s long-term vision is to bring the DAOU portfolio, winemaking philosophy and unique luxury consumer experiences to new international markets. TWE also will explore sourcing opportunities outside the U.S. for DAOU, as part of its global sourcing strategy.

Tim Ford, CEO of Treasury Wine Estates, said in a statement: “The U.S. is the world’s largest wine market and we’re beyond thrilled to add DAOU to our portfolio, cementing our position as a global luxury wine leader. This is a transformative acquisition that will accelerate the growth of our luxury portfolio globally and paves the way for new luxury consumer experiences. DAOU is an award-winning luxury wine business with an outstanding track record for growth and we have grand plans for DAOU to become the next brand with the international scale and luxury credentials of Penfolds. With DAOU, we will be well-positioned to connect with a new generation of wine lovers, combining tradition with innovation, culture-led experiences, and global distribution.” BI

DRY Soda Co., Seattle, announced the expanded distribution of its esteemed Botanical Bubbly Reserve collection just in time for holiday celebrations. The non-alcohol beverage line now is available in retailers across grocery, natural food, and drug store channels including Sprouts, CVS, HEB, QFC, Market of Choice, Town & Country, Nugget Market, and Lunds & Byerlys. “With a growing number of consumers looking to have non-alcoholic options at their holiday celebrations, we are thrilled to be bringing the Botanical Bubbly Reserve collection across multiple channels,” said Sharelle Klaus, founder and CEO of DRY Soda Co., in a statement. “We’re witnessing a significant transformation in how people socialize and celebrate with a beverage in hand. As more and more consumers embrace the positives of zero-proof living or simply drinking a little less, we’re committed to offering an elevated, zero-proof drinking experience that allows all people to feel included while sipping luxurious, sparking beverages. In expanding our distribution of the Botanical Bubbly Reserve collection, we remain steadfast in our mission to expand social drinking for all.”  

Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, Miami and Dallas, announced that it has launched a new wholly-owned subsidiary, Ankaa Global Logistics (Ankaa), a premier logistics service provider for the beverage alcohol industry. Ankaa’s mission is to provide seamless vertical integration solutions for beverage alcohol suppliers that are efficient, transparent and differentiated. The third-party logistics (3PL) company will provide inventory storage solutions, including temperature-controlled rooms in secured facilities for both short- and long-term needs, offer value-add packaging capabilities, such as repacks, labeling, and lot-tracking, and has the ability to store raw materials (i.e. glass, cardboard, etc.), barrels, and finished goods. “We recognize the needs of suppliers and are eager to help their brands reach their full potential through Ankaa,” said Ed Uber, general manager at Ankaa Global Logistics, in a statement. “Suppliers will benefit from curated storage and logistics solutions that deliver impact and efficiency.”

The Nearest & Jack Advancement Initiative announced Blackleaf Organic Vodka and Mission Craft Cocktails have been selected for its Business Incubation Program, the arm of the initiative that provides mentorship and business support for BIPOC and underrepresented spirits industry entrepreneurs. Launched in June 2020 by the Jack Daniel Distillery and Nearest Green Distillery, the Nearest & Jack Advancement Initiative aims to advance diversity within the American spirits industry through the Leadership Acceleration Program, the Business Incubation Program and the Nearest Green School of Distilling. The Business Incubation Program provides mentorship in all areas of the distilling business, including access to marketing firms, branding executives, expanded distribution networks and other assets and opportunities for growth. “Being selected for the Business Incubation program is a great honor that truly excites us. It's humbling to have such iconic brands and their leaders acknowledge our dedication to making Blackleaf Organic Vodka a world-class brand,” said Kevin Larkai, founder of Blackleaf Organic Vodka, in a statement. Marcin Malyszko, who co-founded Mission Craft Cocktails with Amit Singh, added: “Being part of the Business Incubation Program and having the opportunity to lean into the expertise, resources, and industry leading knowledge of the Jack Daniel’s and Uncle Nearest’s teams will allow us to scale and amplify our mission faster and further than we ever thought possible.”

The Sparkling Ice brand, crafted by Talking Rain Beverage Co., Seattle, announced the promotion of two key executives. Oscar Mayorquin has assumed the position of chief operating officer, while Tiffany Boyd has been appointed vice president of omnichannel marketing for the brand. Mayorquin, a valued team member for nearly 13 years, has been a driving force behind transformative initiatives across supply chain operations, R&D, quality, and manufacturing. As chief operating officer, Mayorquin will spearhead day-to-day operations in those areas, ensuring business goals and objectives align with Talking Rain standards and operate smoothly. Meanwhile, Boyd has been instrumental in modernizing the approach to omnichannel marketing, positioning the Sparkling Ice brand for future success. In her new role, she will lead the company’s omnichannel marketing organization, which includes the eCommerce business unit, shopper marketing, and creating the company’s new digital CX/DTC business strategy.