Anheuser-Busch celebrates early achievement of 2025 renewable electricity sustainability goal

San Diego-based Spa Girl Cocktails Inc., the better-for-you premium vodka cocktail company announced the closing of an oversubscribed $5 million Series A financing round. “Spa Girl Cocktails launched in California in 2019, Colorado in 2020, and now we're launching in Nevada in 2021. I have to admit, as a full-time resident of Nevada, I couldn't possibly be more excited for Spa Girl to become the life of the whole damn party from Las Vegas to Reno to Tahoe,” said Founder Karen Haines in a statement. Next on the list of geographic expansion is Nashville, Tenn., the company says.

Fine wine importer Wilson Daniels, New York, announced the addition of Quinta da Côrte to its national portfolio, marking its first venture into Portugal. Situated in the heart of the Douro Valley in Cima Corgo, the 19th century estate encompasses the core values of Wilson Daniels ― a family owned producer of historical significance crafting terroir-driven wines. Wilson Daniels launched the full range of dry red wines and ports from the Quinta in May, including Princesa 2018, the flagship Quinta da Côrte 2016, Porto Vintage 2015, Porto Late Bottled Vintage 2015, Porto Tawny 10 Years and Porto Tawny 20 Years.

Anheuser-Busch, St. Louis, announced that its entire portfolio of domestic beer and seltzer brands now are brewed with 100% renewable electricity from solar and wind power.

The Anheuser-Busch Solar Farm, the brewer’s 222MWac solar project in Texas, officially comes online this month, marking the early achievement of Anheuser-Busch’s Sustainability Goal to source 100% of its purchased electricity from renewables by 2025.

“At Anheuser-Busch, we dream big in everything we do, including our commitment to creating a more sustainable future for our partners, our consumers, and our communities,” said Michel Doukeris, CEO of Anheuser-Busch, in a statement. “Achieving this ambitious sustainability goal four years early means that each time someone reaches for an Anheuser-Busch product, they are choosing one that contributes to a more sustainable future.”

The Anheuser-Busch Solar Farm, located in Pecos County, Texas, was developed in partnership with Recurrent Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian Solar Inc., and is the largest solar project for the beverage industry in the United States, the companies say. Construction took nearly two years and created approximately 500 full-time jobs during the peak of construction. The brewer’s reach and resources, combined with its commitment to making a positive impact on the planet, led to its decision to bring new renewable electricity capacity to the grid through this project.

“The growth of solar is now driven by the sheer competitive pricing compared to other generation sources. It’s exciting to see companies like our valued customer, Anheuser-Busch, procuring low-cost, clean solar power to support their load on a national level with 100% renewable electricity,” said Michael Arndt, president and general manager of Recurrent Energy. “We are so pleased to help Anheuser-Busch meet their sustainability goals well ahead of their targeted timeline by developing and constructing the 222 MWac Anheuser-Busch Solar Farm in West Texas.”

In celebration of meeting this milestone four years ahead of schedule, on World Environment Day (June 5), the company donated $100,000 to the Green Restaurant Association to pay it forward and support their vital work of creating environmental sustainability in the restaurant industry through certification and educational resources, during a time of crucial rebuilding and recovery, it says.

This announcement builds on Anheuser-Busch’s ongoing investments in renewable electricity, which includes the Anheuser-Busch Solar Farm and the 152MW Budweiser Wind Farm at Thunder Ranch in Oklahoma with Enel Green Power. Through the two projects and more than 10 additional renewable electricity installations at its flagship breweries, distributorships and craft partner breweries across the country, Anheuser-Busch has added nearly 400MW of renewable electricity capacity to the grid, the equivalent electricity usage of more U.S households than the city of St. Louis. In total, the projects also offset more than 950,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, the equivalent of taking 200,000 passenger vehicles off the roads each year. BI

Seraf De Smedt named president of Duvel USA

Duvel USA, Boulevard Brewing Co. and Brewery Ommegang announced Seraf De Smedt will take over as president of the U.S. organization effective immediately. De Smedt has served as the chief finance and administration officer for Duvel Moortgat since December 2013. With the transition to his new role, he will closely work with the U.S.-based leadership team while continuing to oversee the global finance team for Duvel Moortgat. John McDonald, founder of Boulevard Brewing Co., who stepped in as interim president for Duvel USA late January, will return to retirement with this transition.

Los Angeles-based Perfect Hydration (pH) has secured several new distribution partners and retail placements. Under the new distribution footprint, pH rPET bottles and aluminum cans will be available in every U.S. region and all 50 states. New distribution partners include Canteen, Ajax Turner Co., Lipman Brothers LLC and Skyland Distributing Co., with many others coming on board in Q3 and Q4. Perfect Hydration has expanded retail availability at Stop & Shop, Jewel, Albertsons Southwest, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Southeastern Grocers, Metropolitan Market, Twice Daily, Clipper, MAPCO, Stop-A-Minit, Citi Stop, Fastop Market, Energy Mart and more.

San Diego-based JuneShine, has raised a Series A from a number of the leading early-stage U.S. investors and celebrity ambassadors as it aims to accelerate its nationwide growth. The funding round was completed through celebrity investors led by musical artist Diplo (Thomas Wesley Pentz), comedian Whitney Cummings, YouTube star Cody Ko, U.S. Women's National Team's Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger, Outdoor Voices’ founder Ty Haney, and Singer/Songwriter Ashe. Additional investment from existing investors was led by Litani Ventures, Peter Rahal and Amberstone Ventures.

“Since Boulevard became part of the Duvel Moortgat family of breweries in late 2013, Seraf has been an instrumental leader for our company,” McDonald said in a statement. “He has always worked closely with our U.S. operations, so having him take over the reins as president gives me great confidence that we are set up for a successful future. Seraf’s leadership style is collaborative and thoughtful. Combined with his finger on the pulse of the company from a global perspective, I retire knowing this next chapter for our company will be led exceptionally.”

De Smedt will split his time between Belgium and the United States. The U.S. leadership team will oversee daily operations for the U.S. breweries and national sales team. Leading those duties are company veterans Bobby Dykstra, executive vice president of sales and marketing; Rick DeBar, general manager of Brewery Ommegang; Steven Pauwels, brewmaster of Boulevard; Dali Grabar, director of engineering for Boulevard; Julie Weeks, vice president of communications and culture; and newcomer Stephanie Walker, director of human resources.

“The U.S. market has been a great passion of mine since joining Duvel Moortgat,” De Smedt said. “I’m excited to have the opportunity to work with my U.S. colleagues more closely. The beer and alcoholic beverage industries have never been more complex, which provides all of us the task of balancing our innovation and staying true to our heritage beers. I look forward to the adventures ahead and want to wholeheartedly thank John for the crucial role he played these past months. He leaves big shoes to fill, so I count on the entire leadership team to do so with me.” BI