[BND] Your Breakfast Briefing

Good Morning and Happy Thursday. It's May 21, 2022.

Wine's Problem? High Cost

45% of people between the ages of 21 to 28 and 38% of Millennials say they are interested in drinking more wine, but the higher cost of wine compared to other beverages is putting it at a disadvantage. That's the surprising conclusion in the 2026 BMO Wine Market Report, which otherwise is full of gloom and doom:

DtC Bottle Price Soars 13% as Shipments Ease 2%

There's a Wall Street adage vintners might want to remember: "Bulls make money, bears make money and hogs get slaughtered." What brings this to mind is the latest direct-to-consumer shipment statistics reported by WineBusiness Analytics and Sov

SGWS to Rep Jackson Family in 3 More States

Effective June 1, the expanded agreement adds Alaska, Illinois, and Kentucky to Southern Glazer’s existing distribution footprint for Jackson Family Wines, increasing the relationship to a total of 22 markets nationwide.

More Trouble for French Wine Sector

As if the French wine sector didn't have enough troubles, now there's this: The French Purchasing Managers Index fell to 43.5 from 47.5, its lowest level in 5-1/2 years. Manufacturing has also fallen, to 48.9 from 52.8.

Napa, Sonoma Family-Run Wineries Form Micro-Winery Guild

Family-run wineries producing fewer than 5,000 cases annually launched the Micro-Winery Guild (MWG), an organization created to protect, promote, and economically strengthen small producers. 

New: Liberty Reserve's 1776 Bottles Honor 250 Years of America

Four Branches Bourbon, the first spirits company founded by veterans representing the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, released Liberty Reserve, a limited-edition commemorative bourbon honoring the upcoming 250th anniversary of America.

CBrands Names McDonald's Marketer to Board

What I'm Reading

Why America’s Non-Alcoholic Beer Movement Is Just Getting Started

More than 90% of NA drinkers still consume alcohol. “The growth in non-alcoholic beer mostly isn’t coming from replacing alcohol,” says Tate Huffard, founder, Best Day Brewing. “It’s replacing sparkling water, soda, iced tea — all those moments where people still want the beer experience.” (Forbes)

What is the ‘Capability Era,’ and How Can Executives Adapt to It?

The Industrial Revolution rewarded control, consistency, and rigid hierarchy. That model made sense for its time, he said, but the next phase of business will demand something different. In the Capability Era, companies will still need scale and capital discipline. But those qualities alone will not separate winners from losers. (Food Institute)

For a Better You –

The healthiest workout may be shorter — and harder — than people think

People who do more short bursts of vigorous activity — like running to catch the bus or running up stairs — are less likely to develop several chronic diseases including heart disease and dementia compared to people who do no vigorous activity, according to a recent study in the European Heart Journal. (San Francisco Chronicle)

Color of Money: The bank shut down this widow’s credit card. Here’s the advice I gave her.

This reader’s husband died in 2020, and at the time, she had just one credit card that the two of them shared. For the six years following her husband’s death, she didn’t carry a balance, paying the bill in full every month.

Then the bank notified her that they were closing the account. Why?

Although the credit card had her name on it, she hadn’t realized the account was only in her husband’s name. She wasn’t aware that she had just been an authorized user. The bank told her she had to apply for a new card in her name.

“I did so immediately,” she wrote. The bank denied her credit application. She wanted my advice. (The Washington Post)

Cheers! – Joel