Steve Wallace

We chat with Allisa Henley, Master Distiller at Sazerac Company on writing a new chapter in Tennessee whiskey. Allisa Henley’s name resonates deeply in the Tennessee whiskey scene, a field she's passionately contributed to for nearly two decades. From starting her journey at George Dickel with an MBA and no distilling background to becoming a Master Distiller for Sazerac, Allisa’s path has been one of relentless learning, hard work, and a love for the craft. Now, with her sights set on the exciting endeavor of A&J Bond Distillery, Allisa continues to carve out her legacy in an industry that's both steeped in tradition and brimming with new possibilities. In this interview, she reflects on her inspiring journey, the challenges she's faced, and the vision she holds for the future of Tennessee whiskey. Here are some of the questions our editor Malvika Patel covers: -Allisa, you've been a key figure in the Tennessee whiskey scene for over 18 years. Could you share some key moments in your journey from George Dickel to Sazerac, and what those experiences taught you about the craft of distilling? -As a woman without a formal chemistry background in a traditionally male-dominated industry, you’ve had quite a few challenges to overcome. How did you navigate your path to becoming a Master Distiller, and what kept you driven throughout? -Starting A&J Bond Distillery is a bold new chapter for you. What makes this venture different from your past projects, and what can whiskey lovers expect from the new Tennessee Whiskey you’re crafting? -Your partnership with John Lunn was a significant part of your journey. How has his legacy influenced the new creations at A&J Bond Distillery? -You’ve mentioned the luxury of waiting until the whiskey is “ready.” How do you know when that perfect moment has arrived, and what does that decision-making process look like for you? -Sazerac has a rich history, and you’re also working on new and innovative products. How do you balance respecting tradition while pushing the boundaries of what Tennessee whiskey can be? -What have been some of the biggest challenges in your role as a Master Distiller at Sazerac, and what have been the most rewarding moments? -You’ve spent a lot of time educating consumers and whiskey enthusiasts. How do you think the perception of whiskey, particularly Tennessee whiskey, has evolved over the years? -The whiskey industry is seeing more women stepping into leadership roles. How do you view the progress for women in distilling, and what advice would you give to women aspiring to become distillers? Allisa Henley’s journey from marketing expert to master distiller showcases her tenacity and love for the craft. Her story shows us that with the right blend of patience, hard work, and a willingness to embrace change, anything is possible – just like a perfectly aged whiskey waiting for the right moment to shine.

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The chicken segment is one of the most dynamic and competitive among the large restaurant chains in the U.S. And while Chick-fil-A continues to dominate and Popeyes is taking over the 2nd in the rank, there has been significant movement in the rank among other mid-size leading chains over the last ten years. It goes to show that in the restaurant industry, you can never rest. Leaders are waking up to the realization that if they’re not growing fast they’re dying slowly.  Outgrowing and outsmarting your competitors requires using the power of long-term thinking. #restaurants #chicken #strategy #leadership

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Offering a unique blend of convenience and premium appeal, these top-rated RTDs present a lucrative opportunity for businesses looking to capitalize on consumer preferences.

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"Thanks Kaleigh Theriault, great play by play on the first half, let’s take a look at what’s going to be needed to win the year." 🏈 Halftime Report: Preparing for the second half in the Beverage Alcohol Industry! 🏆 As we take a breather at the halfway point of 2024, it's clear that the beverage alcohol industry has seen some major plays and strategic moves. Let's huddle up and look at the game plan for the rest of the year: 🍺 Beer: The price increases in 2023 are putting pressure on consumers, with long-term inflation effects and multiple drivers pointing to lower volumetrics. To stay in the game, deeper price subsidization for core Beer categories is essential. However, Imports show potential for a positive finish. Maintaining consumer loyalty will be our MVP move here. 🍷 Wine: The $15-$25 range continues to be the sweet spot, driving consumer interest. But to achieve positive trends by year-end, we need to capitalize on Q4 gifting. A big comparable period is coming up, so some price adjustments might be necessary, especially for infrequent Wine shoppers. 🥃 Spirits: We're seeing a continued shakeout as consumers transition from traditional products to RTDs. Flavor and turn-key cocktails are the winning plays, making Q4 critical for gifting and entertaining. Price discounting is already in motion to boost revenue. 🍹 RTD (Ready-to-Drink): RTDs remain a game-changer this year. With their share of total Alcohol growing, we expect more stability in growth rates as the shift from Seltzers slows. Building consumer brand loyalty for Spirits RTDs is crucial, and we need to watch out for potential flavor fatigue in the second half. Let's get ready to tackle the challenges and seize the opportunities ahead! Here's to a successful second half of 2024! 🥂 "Why did the football team go to the bank at halftime? To get their quarterback!" 🏆 #BeverageIndustry #AlcoholTrends #Beer #Wine #Spirits #RTD #MarketInsights #SecondHalf #HalftimeReport Note: This report looks at the 26 week ending period thru July 6th, 2024

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The moderation trend is continuing to accelerate! The NA segment of on-premise beer sales in the U.S. jumped 33.7% over the last 52 weeks with broad-based gains in all 50 states! 💪 📈 🍻 At Partake Brewing we are seeing on-premise operators move from offering 1 NA beer option to now several with macros and craft represented in addition to house mocktails. 🍺 🍷 🍹 This is an exciting time for the non-drinker and moderator alike! Gone are the days of water, juice, milk, and soda as the non-alcoholic options. 🤩 https://lnkd.in/gibbdbPB

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Beer Drinkers Have the Unhealthiest Diet A study presented at 'The Liver Meeting' and published in 'Nutrients' reveals that beer drinkers in the U.S. have the poorest diet quality among alcohol consumers. Based on a survey of over 1,900 adults, beer drinkers scored the lowest (49) on the Healthy Eating Index, compared to wine drinkers (55) and spirits/mixed-drink consumers (53). Beer drinkers were found to consume the highest daily calories, exercise the least, and were more likely to smoke and have low incomes. The research highlights that beer is often consumed with high-carb, processed, and low-fiber foods, unlike wine, typically paired with balanced meals. Lead author Dr. Madeline Novack emphasized the rising risks of alcohol-related illnesses, particularly cirrhosis and liver diseases like MASLD, linked to poor dietary and lifestyle habits. The study suggests that food choices and drinking environments significantly influence the type of alcohol consumed, with fried and salty foods increasing beer preference. However, it clarifies that no direct cause-effect relationship was established between beer and poor health outcomes. Subhash Arora https://lnkd.in/dFyBeMuJ

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Molson Coors is divesting its four craft beer brands and shutting down its own craft label as the brewing behemoth exits an industry it once longed to access. The whiplash further signals that big beer makers are no longer enamored with craft brands as that slice of the market posts negative growth for the first time in its history. Molson Coors announced Tuesday the sale of its craft beer portfolio — Hop Valley in Oregon, Terrapin in Georgia, Revolver in Texas and Atwater in Michigan — to Tilray, a Canadian company with interests in cannabis and beer. In addition, Molson Coors announced it would shut down its Colorado-based, in-house craft brand AC Golden at the end of September, according to a memo obtained by Axios. Molson Coors chief commercial officer Michelle St. Jacques said the moves allow the company to focus on its premium national brands, Blue Moon and Leinenkugel, as well as non-beer alcoholic beverages, such as seltzers and hard cocktails. "As we map our path forward, we recognize we need to sharpen our focus on the segments where we see the greatest opportunity for our collective businesses," she wrote in the memo to wholesalers. Global beer makers like Coors and Anheuser-Busch rushed to acquire craft beer brands at the height of their boom a decade ago, but fortunes have shifted. The overall beer industry sank 5% in production volume in 2023, but saw retail sales increase 3%. Meanwhile, craft beer production decreased 1% — its worst number since the industry came into view in the 1970s. AB InBev divested eight craft brands, including Breckenridge, 10 Barrel and Shock Top breweries, to Tilray last August. Constellation Brands sold its craft breweries — including the billion-dollar Ballast Point — in recent years. Tilray's two acquisitions from big beer makers now positions the company as one of the five largest craft brewers in the U.S. "Tilray Brands plans to continue to invest in the future of these craft breweries, accelerating their growth and capturing a wide range of new market opportunities," Irwin D. Simon, Tilray's CEO and chairman said in a statement. "Tilray Brands is a beacon for craft brands, and we are committed to driving their growth and success within our portfolio." To earn the "craft beer" seal, it must meet the definition of small and independently owned, set by the industry's trade group, the Colorado-based Brewers Association. Now that Tilray is the owner, all four of its new brands will qualify as craft — a symbolic but significant indicator to consumers.

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Big News in CPG: KDP Acquires Ghost Energy for Over $1 Billion! MONSTER deal for non-alc and great to see continued momentum for M&A activity. Many of the large, nationwide brands owned by conglomerates are struggling to grow. While these brands remain iconic, to tap into new customer segments, acquisitions are becoming essential for growth. The big boys are like cruise ships, SLOW and are NOT good at building new brands, so the best strategy is to buy. Startups excel are at testing, iterating, and building loyal followings, while large CPGs are experts at scaling proven brands.

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From Morning Brew early today: ECONOMY What’s going on with US consumers? Welcome to understanding the American consumer, where everything feels made up and the analysts’ interpretations don’t matter. A spate of recent disappointing earnings reports from fast-food chains hints that consumers are stretched way too thin. But companies like Shopify and Carnival are touting stellar Q2s and painting a very different picture. So, what’s the state of everyone’s wallets? Well—and you’re going to hate this—it’s complicated. One thing to keep in mind is that the US economy GREW more than expected last quarter, jumping 2.8%. Strong consumer spending helping it get there. How people spent their money tells a story: >> Chicken nuggets don’t feel worth it >> McDonald’s reported its worst sales since the start of the pandemic, blaming its price increases. >> Yum Brands said KFC and Pizza Hut also saw same-store sales drop last quarter, while sales at Taco Bell (the fast-food chain that pops into your head when you think “value”) increased. >> Chipotle sales grew 18% from April to June, demonstrating that it’s not about the lowest price point, it’s about the most bang for your buck, including operational excellence and consumer experience. People are still shopping: Amazon, Etsy, and Wayfair have all blamed everything from the Olympics to picky customers to explain why shopping on their sites has slowed down. But people are still shopping somewhere because Shopify, which powers much of e-commerce, beat Wall Street expectations last quarter. Execs chalked it up to a more diverse set of businesses on its platform despite “a mixed consumer spend environment.” Big picture: Despite a flop in the July jobs report last week and a scary reaction from the stock market, most economists (not Jamie Dimon) agree that we aren’t on the verge of a recession...signs are more than likely pointing to normalization after a tumultuous pandemic recovery. If interested in considering Morning Brew as one of your early daily reads, you can sign up here: https://lnkd.in/dfeMNM5t

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Sales of Coca-Cola Spiced are anything but spicy. After just seven months on the market, the Atlanta-based beverage maker announced plans to phase out the offering with a new, yet-unnamed drink debuting in 2025 to take its place. The abrupt turnabout in Spiced comes as Coca-Cola introduced it with great fanfare in February as the first permanent offering in more than three years for the brand. The soda, which combined traditional Coke flavor with raspberry and “spiced” flavors, started appearing on shelves in February. Coca-Cola did not comment specifically on sales for Spiced, but it's the most likely culprit for the announcement. It's possible the flavor did not match the Spiced name, turning off some consumers. It's also possible that despite a marketing campaign, a lack of awareness doomed the liquid. As soda makers look for ways to keep consumers in the beverage, they have little choice but to introduce new flavors and see what resonates with the public. Despite the failure of Spiced, Coca-Cola has had success with its Creations platform that debuted in 2022 to draw attention to the company’s signature beverage while brining in younger consumers.  The limited-time drinks, which highlight a mood rather than a flavor profile, have drawn consumers into the original Coca-Cola brand.

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The non-alcoholic drinks market continues to grow and grow (and mature). Check out recent insights + stats from our friends at Grüvi: March Off Premise Retail Sales: → $48.6M > Identical to February, up 23% YoY → You can see subcategory performance in the chart below. Gruvi predicts: → 30-35% of YoY NA category growth. → 25%+ in off-prem and 50%+ in on-prem. → Premium, high quality craft or import NA beers will capture most of the growth of the NA beer market. → Big bet on NA RTDs to surpass NA wines by end of year. Gruvi has some more great stats in their blog post (link in comments). I’m hearing this same type of growth from members of the Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverage Association (ANBA). There's been some questioning about the growth of the category because of the recent Chapter 11 bankruptcy by non-alc beverage retailer Boisson and the closing of their retail locations. I was going to share some thoughts on this but the Gruvi team summed it up well: “Having served as a supply partner for Boisson, and being intimately familiar with their retail locations, it became apparent that they faced challenges across their retail and e-commerce channels. Boisson positioned itself as the upscale destination for NA beverages, boasting premium locations and a curated assortment. However, despite the overall growth in the NA market, it remains predominantly composed of NA beer (80%) and NA wines/RTDs under $12 (10%). As larger retailers expanded their NA offerings to target the mainstream consumer—the 90% of the market as seen above - Boisson was left with a small addressable market. Unfortunately, the demand proved insufficient for Boisson to sustain its operations.” Andrea Hernández also has a great take on it in her most recent Snaxshot (link in the comments). The adult NA category is maturing. Brands that do not have good business models, have bad product-market, or average quality products will need to adapt or close their doors. And this is not a bad thing. Because what rises out of this are business and products that better serve the consumer. I’m always impressed by the continued release of higher and higher quality NA products, with each raising the bar for the category. And this is great for people looking to moderate or not drink alcohol for whatever reason, and in whatever situation that best suits them. The adult NA category is getting bigger and better each day. And ANBA, our members, and I are here to continue to create a world where everyone has access to great tasting adult non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy in every social situation. And that is something we can all celebrate! 🍾 🥂 🍻 You can join us in growing the category and this movement by visiting ANBA's website and signing up for a soon to launch newsletter (link in comments). And you can follow me, Marcos Salazar 🍺🍷🥃, (& click the bell under my profile banner) to get regular insights and news about NA drinks. ♻️ #Repost if you like this post :-)

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Beer, tequila, mezcal drive exports 1Q2024. By product, the export product with the highest economic value was beer, with sales of 2.169 billion dollars and an annual growth of 19.6%. This is the first time that beer exports surpassed the 2 billion dollar mark for a similar period. This was followed by tequila and mezcal, with exports of 1.341 billion dollars. It remained in second place in terms of the largest Mexican sales abroad, despite registering an annual decrease of 2.9 percent. Grisel Vargas Master profiler of Spirits. Love, drink and live México🇲🇽🥂

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Kellogg Company made a huge mistake… They compromised consumer trust. When will Kellogg stop putting profit over consumer health? Why are U.S. consumers left in the dark about ingredients that aren’t allowed in other countries? It’s time we hold companies like Kellogg’s accountable. As a parent of two children, I find this repulsive that Kellogg is using toxic ingredients in an extremely popular cereal like Froot Loops. It’s shocking, but companies like Kellogg’s continue to use potentially toxic ingredients in products marketed to American children—ingredients that have been banned elsewhere. This raises some serious questions about corporate responsibility, ethics and consumer safety. It should go without saying, but Kellogg has to do better and prioritize health over profit. It’s time to demand safer standards! Let’s discuss how we can protect our families from ingredients no one should be consuming. #kellogs #CPG #foodindustry

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Working in the spirits industry for 24 years, I've had the pleasure of being the voice that amplifies many highly desired bourbon brands. This insightful piece from Food & Wine gives more background on allocated bourbons, and also contains one of my favorite quotes ever, "Buzz doesn’t hurt either. These days, listing the technical details of a great whiskey simply is not enough,...𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗥 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲. Of course, these whiskeys are going to be great, but if bourbon influencers start to go nuts over a new product, then true demand does tend to balloon much more." 𝗜 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝗘𝗘𝗡! #bourbon #publicrelations https://lnkd.in/eakiFrjY

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Should banks become Media Networks? Point 6 of the article attached references the move by Chase bank into becoming a retail media network. To quote the article directly; “Chase brings banking into the retail media network game Chase ventured into the retail media network space with Chase Media Solutions in April. The digital media business will give brands a way to connect with Chase’s 80 million customers, it said. It said Chase Media Solutions is the only bank-led media platform of its type, with advantages over the more typical retail media networks. “Like retailers, we have first-party data and a dedicated audience,” Rich Muhlstock, president of Chase Media Solutions, said in a statement. “But what sets us apart is the unrivaled scale and insights from our customers – having long-served as a trusted guide for their financial decisions. Chase reaches across brands, merchants and shopping verticals, providing a comprehensive view of purchase behavior; this strengthens the degree of personalization, helping brands deliver offers that stoke consumer interests.” Banks have access to a huge amount of 1st party data relating to their customers, where they go, what they buy, how frequently. They also have knowledge of how much income their customers earn & have disposable, how much they have outstanding on mortgages, loans & overdrafts, what their credit rating and status is, when they have received an inheritance, tax rebate or other windfall. In short, my belief is banks probably know so much about us that they are at an unfair advantage compared to their customers in the ‘selling products’ game. Using their knowledge banks could, quite easily, trap their customers in debt. I am not saying that this is the intent, but the fact that it could easily be a consequence, in my opinion, means that we should be cautious about letting banks use our data and their collateral to sell us products. Within their role as ‘trusted guides of our financial decisions’ many banks have already been found guilty of selling sub-prime mortgages, unwanted payment protection insurance and predatory financial products, and now they also want to try and sell us cars (not just finance options, but actual brands and models of car that they will know if we can afford, or not), holidays, nights out, jewellery and other luxury, ‘nice to have’ products. Their ability to use your personal information to target and sell you products you probably don’t need, in many cases using finance that they can offer, knowing already whether you can afford it inside your credit rating, for me that is too far. I think banks should be focusing on offering customers better service and justifying the astronomical interest rates they are charging, rather than trying to sell us stuff, essentially to earn both ad budget from the producer and interest from the buyer. #digitalcommerce #ecommerce #digitalretailmedia #digitalmedia ##digitaladvertising #banking #banks #retailmedianetworks

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The Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola zero sugar...after a stronger-than-expected second quarter 2024 performance that was announced today, which saw net sales revenue increase 3% to $12.4 billion, the Coca-Cola Company has raised its full-year outlook. Coca-Cola’s latest earnings success comes at a time when the soda business as a whole is in decline. Between 2004 and 2023, the volume of carbonated soft drinks bought and sold in America decreased by -27%, according to trade publication Beverage Digest. Still, amid the category’s downward trajectory one brand has continued to rise, capturing more market share in the past 20 years than all the others. That brand: Coca-Cola Zero Sugar. Coca-Cola Zero Sugar is an ongoing example of how superior taste drives consumer demand, with Coca Cola Zero seeing a +20% global volumes increase. The strong performance of Coca-Cola's Zero sugar variants, is reflective of an overall beverages category move to Zero sugar offerings as consumers look for healthier beverages choices, with zero calories and sugar. For any beverages brand owner or manufacturer looking to create great tasting 😋 beverages innovations 💡 with reduced or zero sugar, please reach out to the beverages team at Kerry, we are here to help. #cocacola #cocacolazero #zerosugar #sugar #softdrinks #taste #zerocalories #refreshingbeverages #tastsesense Erlon Pereira Marc LEJEUNE Breda Kelly Tiphaine BEAU Farrah Gilsenan Thomas Hahlin Ahlinder Sheelagh Pentony Carol Dunne Gwyneth Kelly Michelle Osagie Mark Allen Leigh-Anne Vaughan Massimo Barbeni Romel Doshi, MBA Sam Choucha Nina Riggins Sergio Saavedra Rodríguez Birgit Schaaf Ian Chesworth Erika Minaguchi Magdalena Edyta Przewoźnik Barbara Lezzer David Deeley Brian Short Aoife Mc Donald Elaine Druhan Juan Soto Daniel S. Xavier Herrera

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Huge marketing lesson that I hope non-marketing background CEOs can learn from in this sales story. I go to an important sales call yesterday. I'm meeting with the wine portfolio manager at a distributor I'm hoping to work with, and the wine buyer at their flagship account (which is a retail store owned by the distributor). I couldn't get a strong read from the retail buyer, but he seemed kind of intense. I was a little nervous. So I started to pitch. I explained who my customer is, what I've learned about them and why we have made it a point to deliver on things that matter to them (beautiful bottle, approachable and popular flavor profile, calorie count visible). The buyer stops me and says, "I know-- I've been following along on your email list. It's smart that you sent out that survey to understand your customers better." And just like that, I realized something. The past 4 months of email-- where my open rates have been meh, my pre-orders nothing to write home about-- warmed the most important sales conversation I could have. And now he was in. He's pouring the wine for his colleagues. He's giving me feedback on small tweaks, like putting the QR code on the cap. He takes the bottle and puts it out on the shelf to see how eye-catching and different it looks. The lesson: marketing builds the awareness and tells the story (especially if you have consistency of that story). Sales and marketing, working together. #email #marketing #sales #wine

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A big acquisition in the works. This will certainly broaden the reach of PFG in the southeast and continue to solidify itself as the 2nd largest foodservice distributor.

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