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Constellation Brands

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Craft beer has become the fastest-growing - and the most competitive - segment of the global beer market. With more than 1,700 craft breweries in the UK and over 5,200 in the US, the sector has a 12.3% market share of the total beer category and is starting to present a challenge to the growth of large breweries. One way mass beer producers have fought against the bubbling competition spilling over from craft brewers is to acquire them. Anheuser-Busch InBev, MillerCoors, Constellation Brands and Heineken - which together control 81% of the US market – have all expanded their portfolios through buying smaller craft beer brands.

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In February 2017, Molson Coors released its full-year results for 2016; the year in which the brewer took full control of the MillerCoors joint-venture in the US. While the transaction has skewed the numbers for 2016 - full details of which can be found here - the results from the four years prior provide an interesting guide to Molson Coors' longer-term performance.

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Earlier this year, the rumour mill went into overdrive when a CNBC report suggested Constellation Brands had made a move to acquire Brown-Forman. At first, Brown-Forman declined to comment, only to break its silence a few days later, when the company stated categorically that it "is not for sale".

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Has someone got their cheeky hat on, or has Constellation Brands got a bit too big for its boots? Yesterday’s reports linking Constellation with Brown-Forman can only be one of these two, and I think I know which one it is.

At ProWein 2014, Andy Morton sat down with Constellation's international general manager Philip Kingston to talk about its expanding global ambitions including a new tie-up in China for its Robert Mondavi brand.

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Last week we ran the first part of an exclusive interview with Constellation Brands' CEO Rob Sands. In this second and final part here, Sands discusses the group's spirits portfolio, its pending move to take control of Crown Imports and his hopes for Modelo's Modelo Especial beer brand.

Constellation Brands is rolling out new Corona Extra bottles in the US, featuring some of the world's best-known boxers.

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Constellation Brands has acquired Florida-based Funky Buddha Brewery as the firm looks to "lead the high-end beer segment" in US. 

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Constellation Brands has elected Susan Somersille Johnson to its board of directors. 

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The CEO of Constellation Brands has reaffirmed his commitment to Ballast Point, after the craft brewer recorded an impairment charge in the group's first quarter.

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Constellation Brands has emphasised its leading role in driving the growth of the Mexican beer segment in the US, with the group's CEO admitting he is unphased by competing brands.

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Constellation Brands has started its current fiscal year with a less spectacular rise at the top line for the first quarter.

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Ahead of the release on Thursday of Constellation Brands' results for its first quarter fiscal-2018, here's a look at the events that shaped the three months to the end of May for the company.

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Constellation Brands has released details of its latest wine acquisition, this time moving for Californian Cabernet Sauvignon specialist Schrader Cellars.

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Brown-Forman has stated that it "is not for sale", following reports suggesting Constellation Brands is mulling a takeover.

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Brown-Forman has declined to comment on reports claiming Constellation Brands has made a takeover move.

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Constellation Brands has posted a double-digit sales lift for fiscal-2017, with last year's Canadian wine sale boosting an already-healthy bottom line.

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Constellation Brands has launched the second chelada flavour to join the Casa Modelo portfolio, Modelo Chelada Tamarindo Picante.

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Michter's Distillery in Kentucky has lined up the release of the 2017 edition of its ten-year-old Kentucky Straight Rye. 

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Bourbon, rye and Tennessee whiskey helped drive spirits exports from the US in 2016, according to new industry figures.

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Constellation Brands has lined up the release of a new vodka flavour under its Svedka brand.

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Constellation Brands has appointed its first COO, moving Bill Newlands into the newly-created role.

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Trends towards asset-light wine production by companies such as Constellation Brands could backfire as global wine production decreases, a new study has said.

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Constellation Brands is considering shifting the purchase of several raw materials from Mexico to the US, should the country's president-elect Donald Trump implement a so-called border tax between the neighbouring nations.

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Constellation Brands has said it will begin a test launch for its new low-calorie, low-carbohydrate Corona beer in the US. 

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Constellation Brands has continued its recent spending spree with a minority investment in rye whiskey and gin producer Catoctin Creek. 

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Constellation Brands' spending spree over the past 15 months has helped drive strong gains for the company, with year-to-date profits and sales jumping doubled digits.

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On Thursday, Constellation Brands will report its third-quarter and year-to-date results for fiscal-2017. Here, just-drinks takes a look at the company's activities in the three months to the end of November.

Earlier this week, Constellation Brands released the latest results of its 'Project Genome' wine consumer study in North America. The company also issued this infographic of its findings.

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Constellation Brands CEO Rob Sands appears a happy man right now. His company took full control of Grupo Modelo's US beer business in the US earlier this year and now the holiday season is just round the corner, when sales should soar.