When I was really young ages ago, I remember going to the store and buying candy cigarettes. We thought they were cool and imitated smoking them before finishing them off. I can’t remember what they taste like, but I remember having them and my friends and I pretending like we were smoking and being cool.
Candy […]
Provi announced today that it entered into a partnership with the Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery to launch 802Spirits Connect, an online platform for retailers to utilize for ordering spirits online. Vermont is a control state and presently Vermont retailers need to call in orders. The new system will allow retailers to browse real-time […]
In a time long ago, the liquor industry set off alarm bells about Blue Cloud Distribution, Inc., a branch of Pepsi Co. obtaining liquor distribution licenses. The narrative pushed was that Pepsi Co. through the use of its chip’s portfolio would be offering back door slotting fee allowances. After much turbulence, Pepsi Co. pulled the […]
In 2020 we worked on getting cocktails-to-go passed in Illinois. With our movement of the first cocktails-to-go bill passed in America, we faced great opposition from the government. There were refrains that it was dangerous because people would now be able to open a ready-made cocktail while driving and Chicago would turn into New Orleans. […]
Illinois Senate Bill 618 passed in the House and is on its way to the governor’s office where it is expected to be signed. I covered the Illinois Veto Legislation in a previous post
For the sake of not repeating, I will cover significant legislation and anything that has changed.
Cocktails-to-go becomes […]
It is safe to say that a 25% decrease in any industry would sound off troubling warning signs. To me it’s a code red and all hands need to be on deck to find a solution.
A recent report from the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA), 2025 Craft Spirits Data Project, portrays an industry facing a […]
Recent Illinois legislation makes significant but not seismic changes to the Illinois liquor code. Under Illinois Senate Bill 618, which will pass in veto session, distillers, brewers and retailers will see enhanced privileges, but Illinois wineries don’t seem to obtain the privileges they were seeking.
Craft distillers
The craft distillers will see enhanced […]
Nearly 2.5 months after RNDC reached a settlement with Provi, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (Southern) has decided to finally come to the table.
What made Southern fold their hand and succumb to defeat is subject to speculation?
Provi and Southern reached a resolution in their multi-year fight over a lawsuit filed by Provi against Southern. Provi […]
To say I was shocked to hear about the indictment against former Executive Director of the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission, Hobert Rupe, is an understatement. It is alleged that Mr. Rupe took bribes from a Lincoln, Nebraska strip club in the form of free cover charge, free drinks, and sexual acts. From the allegations, it […]
Another case has come forth of bribery occurring at a major supermarket chain with a large winery and a large wholesaler alleged to be involved. We can rinse and repeat as these stories repeat themselves time and time again.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the main buyer for Albertsons took bribes from a large supplier […]