Constellation Brands

Constellation Brands, Inc.
legal form	Corporation
ISIN	US21036P1084
founding	1945
Seat	Fairport , United States
management	Robert Sands, (President & CEO ); Richard Sands, Chairman
Number of employees	9,600 (2018)
sales	$ 7.52 billion ( FY 2018)
Branch	beverages
Website	www.cbrands.com

Constellation Brands, Inc. is an international company in the production and distribution of alcoholic beverages ( wine , beer and spirits ) and is listed on the S&P 500 . Constellation is the largest wine company in the world and the largest supplier of alcohol in the United States .

activities

Constellation was founded in 1945 as a wine producer and today owns more than 200 brands, which are divided into two divisions , Wine & Spirits and Beer . In 2005 Constellation had 43 manufacturing facilities and approximately 7,500 employees. The company sells its products in more than 60 countries in North America , South America , Europe and Australia . Revenues in 2006 were approximately $ 5.3 billion.

Wine & Spirits

In terms of quantity, Constellation is the largest wine producer in the world. In the United States, the wine businesses are divided into three other units, Constellation Wines , Pacific Wine Partners and Icon Estates . A total of 57 million boxes were produced in 2006. US brands include Franciscan Oakville Estate , Simi , Ravenswood and Arbor Mist .

The company also produces and markets wine in other parts of the world, the portfolio includes Hardys & Renmano in Australia (→ viticulture in Australia ), Nobilo in New Zealand (→ viticulture in New Zealand ), Veramonte in Chile (→ viticulture in Chile ) and Marcus James in Argentina (→ Viticulture in Argentina ).

In November 2007, Constellation announced the purchase of Fortune Brands' wine division for $ 885 million. This added 600 hectares of vineyards for Constellation , as well as some big brands like Clos du Bois . In January 2008, Constellation announced that Almaden Vineyards , Inglenook Winery and Paul Masson Winery would be sold to The Wine Group for $ 134 million.

Beer

Constellation Beer is one of the largest producers and marketers of alcoholic beverages in the United States. In June 2013, AB-InBev took over the Mexican Grupo Modelo . AB-InBev had to sell Modelo's trademark rights. This was acquired by Constellation Brands for USD 4.75 billion. Some of the brands are, for example, Corona , Modelo Especial , Tsingtao , St. Pauli Girl , Black Velvet , Fleischmann’s , Chi-Chi’s and Paul Masson Grande Amber Brandy . In 2013 Constellation Brands also acquired the brewery in Piedras Negras from Grupo Modelo.

In 2015, Constellation Brands took over the Californian Ballast Point Brewing Company , previously known as a craft beer brewery (according to the American definition) for around $ 1 billion (2015 net sales around $ 115 million).

In October 2016, Constellation Brands acquired a brewery in Obregón from AB-InBev for $ 600 million. The next takeover came in August 2017 with the takeover of Funky Budda Brewery in Oakland Park .

Others

At the end of 2017, the company acquired ten percent of the shares in Canadian cannabis producer Canopy Growth for $ 191 million . The plan is not only to be a silent partner, but also to develop beverages containing THC for the Canadian cannabis market, which will be fully legal from October 10, 2018 .

In August 2018, Constellation Brands increased its stake in cannabis producer Canopy Growth to 38 percent after it was announced in June that Canada would become the world's first leading industrial country to legalize the cultivation and sale of cannabis from October 2018.