Constellation Brands has confirmed plans to create a new business division focused on its higher-end wine and spirits brands.
The ‘Fine Wine & Craft Spirits’ unit, announced this week, will focus on becoming “the number one leader in the fine wine category and among the top portfolios in cult and luxury wine”. A yet-to-be-appointed lead will oversee brand-building as well as areas including commercial, hospitality and direct-to-consumer functions.
The company’s president of wines and spirits, Robert Hanson said the new business unit will be “filled with the industry’s best talent who will build exceptional brands and businesses that stand the test of time”.
Additionally, Constellation has promoted three senior executives to newly-created positions. Jaymie Schoenberg will serve as senior VP of brand management for the group’s mainstream & premium brands division, while Chris Millard and Ollie Davidson will assume senior VP duties in its winegrowing & distilling and production & engineering departments, respectively.
Regarding the appointments, Hanson said Schoenberg, Millard and Davidson’s “respective areas of expertise and strong leadership capabilities will be essential as we enter the next phase of our business transformation”.
Constellation’s premiumisation strategy has included the divestment of its lower-end wine and spirits brands to E&J Gallo winery. Continuing the strategy, the company revealed last week that Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits will be responsible for the distribution of around 70% of its wine and spirits portfolio in the US.
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