According to Nielsen data for the week ending March 14, off-premise sales were up 27.6 percent for wine, 26.4 for spirits, and 14 percent for beer, cider, and malt beverages compared to the same time last year. While off-premise sales are up, on-premise has been hit hard. Lester Jones, chief economist at the National Beer Wholesalers Association, notes that the beer industry is split between about 80 percent off-premise sales and 20 percent on-premise sales. In past weeks, “we watched the on-premise channel whittle down to a slow trickle, but to balance that out, you see an increase in off-premise,” Jones says.
Busch is giving 3 months' worth of beer to people who adopt or foster a dog during coronavirus crisis
Animal shelters across the U.S. have been affected by the coronavirus – many have had to close their doors to the public and cancel adoption events. So, in an effort to encourage more people to adopt, Busch Beer is offering a three months' supply of its beer to 500 people who adopt or foster a dog from Midwest Animal Rescue in Minnesota. "Social distancing is better with a furry friend by your side and a cold beer in your hand," their spokesperson said.
How a Texas grocery chain planned for the pandemic
In anticipation of a supply chain disruption due to the pandemic, San Antonio-based grocery chain H-E-B started communicating with Chinese counterparts in January and then took internal steps to prepare and coordinate for the incoming outbreak. In early March, the company put limits on purchases of certain products and extended its sick leave policy and implemented other social distancing measures quickly. Read more about how H-E-B’s planning has helped them cope during the COVID outbreak.
Diageo names Debra Crew as North American president
Diageo recently announced that Debra Crew will serve as the new president of Diageo North America starting July 1. She will be replacing Deirdre Mahlan who is set to retire. Previously, Crew served as president and chief operating officer of RJ Reynolds, and she also held multiple roles at PepsiCo.
