In this latest roundup of distribution news, we check in with fast-expanding Costa Tequila, plus Brody’s Craft Cocktails, limoncello brand Fabrizia and single malt specialist Brother Justus.
Costa Goes West, Starting With AZ
Costa Tequila continues to head west from its home state of Florida. The brand is aiming to build off overlap between chain retail accounts in Colorado and Arizona, according to founder Stephen Gavula, making Arizona a natural first step as the company sets its sights on Texas and California in the near future.
The move is part of Costa’s reach into several new territories this year with the help of 41 wholesalers.
“Gaining brand recognition in a strong tequila market brings credibility to our products and allows us to continue to invest in distribution, product development and brand identity,” said Gavula.
Arizona is the sixth largest tequila state by consumption, as well as an important chain market, he added. With coffee cocktails on the rise, the brand’s new tequila-based coffee liqueur has become a fast-mover of the lineup, and Gavula aims to enter new markets by creating a buzz among bartenders and home mixologists.
Brody’s Re-Enters Market Post New Formulation
After stepping back in 2023 to reformulate its bottled craft cocktails, Brody’s is now focused on building out its footprint. The 375 ml cocktails from the Philadelphia-based brand are heading this month to West Virginia, Iowa, and Nevada through Johnson Brothers. Major retailers include Walgreens and Kroger in West Virginia.
After launching May 2021 across the East Coast and California, the company noticed sediment and color dissipation issues about a year later. They paused on production and sales before distribution became too broad, according to Kat Haddon, vice president of marketing. The company has since spent about nine months reformulating the cocktails, in addition to switching co-packers and adding two more (one on the west coast).
Haddon said the company used the time to build out its distribution and marketing strategy so that they’re poised to focus on expansion in 2024. Marketing will rely heavily on sampling and an influencer and social media campaign to boost online sales.
Fabrizia Hits Total Wine & More
Leading U.S. limoncello producer Fabrizia Spirits announced distribution in additional markets with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (SGWS) and retail placement in new territories at Whole Foods Market, Total Wine & More and Binny’s Beverage Depot.
Founded in 2008, the New Hampshire-based company has recently expanded distribution of their Limoncello and ready-to-drink canned cocktails with SGWS in several new states including Florida, Nevada, Illinois and California bringing their total nationwide distribution to 22 states. Fabrizia’s RTD canned cocktails are also hitting the shelves of approximately 85 Whole Foods Market locations in Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey, Washington DC, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, California and Nevada.
As part of the expanded distribution with SGWS, Total Wine & More has extended Fabrizia Limoncello’s line-up of liqueurs to over 60 additional locations in the new markets and Binny’s Beverage Depot also grabbed Limoncello in all 45 Illinois locations.
Brother Justus Hits Chicago
Minneapolis-based craft distillery, Brother Justus Whiskey Company, announced its first steps in increasing distribution of its American single malt whiskey this week.
The distillery will double production with the addition of a second still and four more fermenters, and an expanded contract with Breakthru Beverage Group to bring its products to select restaurants and retailers in the Chicago area beginning in November. In 2024, the company said it expects to finish 5,200 nine-liter cases of whiskey to be sold in Minnesota and Illinois.