- On April 12, Splash Beverage Group expanded distribution of its SALT tequila in Myrtle Beach, SC region
- On April 14, company forged new partnership with Johnson Brothers for distribution of its Copa di Vino, Pulpoloco Sangria in North Carolina
- North Carolinians consumer more than 30 million gallons of wine in 2018
- Between two deals, more than 75 sales reps, other distributor staffers will be pushing sales of Splash products
Much like just about everything else imaginable, the COVID-19 pandemic turned the wine industry upside down in 2020. On-premise wine sales plunged by 45% from 2019, while off-premise and direct-to-consumer (“DTC”) sales both increased 10% year-over-year. Restaurants and bars re-opening will help a rebound, but wine sales at restaurants were already in a downtrend, one that may have been accelerated by coronavirus (https://ibn.fm/bStbU). Against that backdrop, Splash Beverage Group (OTCQB: SBEV) is expanding at an opportune time to reach consumers, partnering this month with distributor Johnson Brothers to widen the company’s existing footprint for its Copa di Vino and Pulpoloco Sangria in North Carolina.
Copa di Vino, the leading premium “wine by the glass” that received (and rejected) multiple offers on popular upstart investment show Shark Tank, comes in single-serve 6.3 ounce recyclable containers in seven different wine varietals. For the last few years, single-serve wines have been growing in popularity for a variety of reasons, including convenience and a reduced chance of waste (https://ibn.fm/iQFjo). Pulpoloco Sangria, which comes in a sustainable innovative package that is both recyclable and biodegradable, comes in 750 ml cans and is available in three different flavors.
Johnson Brothers has been in business since 1953 and has grown a national brand since, with a presence in 27 states. Johnson Brothers employs more than 3,500 people purveying wine, spirits and beer from craft brewers to major brands. The distributor has been serving North Carolina since 1975, starting in a small region and constantly expanding organically and through acquisitions. The Tar Heel state is a big market for wine, coming in at #8 in 2018 for wine consumption at 30.2 million gallons.
“The partnership with Johnson has our wine/sangria brands joining the most elite domestic and international wines covered by JB in North Carolina,” said Splash Beverage Group President and Chief of Marketing Bill Meisner in an announcement on the agreement.
Per the initial pact, Johnson Brothers will distribute the Copa di Vino and Pulpoloco Sangria products in a region spanning west of Route 95 to the area east of Route 85, encompassing Fayetteville (home of Fort Bragg) through Raleigh, one of the fastest-growing tech development hubs in the country. At least 34 Johnson Brothers sales reps, 10 managers and 6 key account managers have been assigned the account, with plans for increases as warranted through added regions (https://ibn.fm/qcymD).
The North Carolina news came only two days after Splash, which owns a portfolio of beverage brands, released other East Coast distribution news, this time for its SALT Naturally Flavored Tequila. In this case, the company partnered with Better Brands, a South Carolina distributor of more than 50 years that works with brands like Corona, Sam Adams, Danica Rose and Chateau Diana, to name a few. Better Brands has assigned more than two dozen people to handle distribution of SALT tequila throughout the Myrtle Beach region, a popular resort area known for beaches, golf, cuisine and relaxing environment that attracts over 19 million visitors each year.
For more information, visit the company’s website at www.SplashBeverageGroup.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to SBEV are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/SBEV
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