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Constellation Brands

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In late-March, Constellation Brands reported its results for the 12 months to the end of February. Sales in fiscal-2018 came in 7% up on the corresponding period a year earlier, as a healthy final quarter gave the period a flourish. Here, just-drinks considers Constellation's performance over the last five years.

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Ever since a beer-assisted business boom - taper lit by the takeover of the Corona and Modelo brands in the US - sent its share price rocketing, Constellation Brands has made its investors a lot of money. Company stock has more than quadrupled in the past five years, buoyed by a consistent procession of quarterly sales jumps and earnings increases.

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What do international brewers know about cannabis? Not very much, it seems, which is why Constellation Brands last year invested CAD245m (US$191m) in a cannabis manufacturer to help Corona's US owner bring a cannabis beverage to market. Molson Coors is reportedly seeking similar help in its potential push into the category.

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A new report from US-based sustainability non-profit Ceres, which assesses the performance of 613 US-based publicly-traded corporations on a comprehensive range of sustainability criteria, reveals food and drinks to be among the most progressive and highest-achieving sectors. However, the research does not reflect well on the drinks sector specifically.

Earlier today, Australian private equity group CHAMP announced the divestment of Accolade Wines to The Carlyle Group for AUD1bn (US$768m). The news marks the end of CHAMP's association in wine, which started in 2011 when it bought 80% of Constellation Brands' Australian and UK wine operations for AUD290m (then-US$290m). Having spoken to CHAMP CEO John Haddock at the time of the purchase, it seemed only right for just-drinks to grab him for one final chat, to find out what CHAMP is passing over, why they're selling and what wine lessons the group learnt over the last seven years.

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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.

Constellation Brands' San Diego-based craft brewer Ballast Point has released a wine-barrel-aged beer, its debut launch from a new unit focussed exclusively on barrel-aged products.

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Diageo has declined to comment on a report linking the drinks giant with a pending entry into the cannabis market in Canada.

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Constellation Brands has appointed its first chief diversity officer.

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Constellation Brands has acquired "bicultural" Texas-based beer maker Four Corners Brewing for an undisclosed sum.

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The head of Constellation Brands has said recently-launched Corona Premier has exceeded expectations at the company.

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Constellation Brands has posted a 6% lift in group sales on the corresponding period a year earlier.

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Constellation Brands has launched a range of spiked seltzers under its Svedka vodka brand, in an effort to target female consumers. 

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Constellation Brands has appointed a chief technology officer as the group looks to adapt to what it calls an "ever-changing digital landscape".

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The head of Anheuser-Busch InBev has said the group is happy to watch the development of the cannabis industry from the sidelines for the time being, despite a recent move into the category from one of its North American peers.

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Constellation Brands has unveiled the design plans for its Svedka vodka-branded alcoholic seltzer.

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A New Zealand initiative to produce lower-alcohol wines "naturally" has borne its first fruit, with two 9.5% iterations launching in the UK this week.

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Constellation Brands has lined up a distribution agreement with France's Champagne Palmer & Co in the US.

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Constellation Brands' San Diego brewery, Ballast Point, has launched its first nationally-distributed beer to be based on a cocktail recipe.

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Anheuser-Busch InBev's Corona Mexican beer has overtaken Skol to retake its crown as Latin America's most valuable brand.

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Accolade Wines finally has a new owner, with Australian private equity group CHAMP and Constellation Brands securing a sale of the company to The Carlyle Group.

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Constellation Brands is testing several new products as it looks to take advantage of emerging drinks trends in the US. 

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Constellation Brands has maintained its half-year performance throughout the full 12 months of fiscal-2018, with sales in the year rising by mid-single-digits.

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Anheuser-Busch InBev's Bud Light bore the brunt of accelerating volume declines in US mainstream lager last year, new analysis has shown.

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Constellation Brands is to increase capacity at the Obregon Brewery in Mexico with a near US$1bn investment.

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Constellation Brands COO Bill Newlands has been handed the dual role of company president, replacing CEO Rob Sands in the post.

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Companies including The Coca-Cola Co, PepsiCo, Heineken and Constellation Brands have joined forces to urge US President Donald Trump not to restrict aluminium imports to the country.

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Constellation Brands CEO Rob Sands has called the recent legalisation of recreational cannabis in California a "non-event" that won't affect beer sales in the state.

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.