Beer Distribution News
CITY Beverage-Illinois Helps Goose Island Beer Sales Grow 60% in 2007
June 8, 2007, Chicago, Illinois – Chicago’s micro-brewed favorites have gained exposure to a macro-sized audience – and are enjoying a sizeable jump in sales.
Goose Island Ale has grown its sales volume 60% over the first five months of 2007. A partial ownership investment by an Anheuser-Busch affiliate last summer has helped make this impressive leap possible. The distribution deal gave Goose Island access to a much larger geographic market, including all accounts serviced by the CITY Beverage-Illinois family.
“People who previously couldn’t find Goose Island are now able to enjoy it at their favorite tavern or purchase it at a neighborhood grocery store. “CITY Beverage-Chicago has tripled the number of accounts selling Goose Island in the first six months,” says CITY Beverage-Chicago General Manager Mike Flynn, explaining the soaring sales figures. “Additionally, the popularity of specialty craft beers continues to expand as consumers develop a taste for high-end, high-taste products.”
Micro-brewed beers, produced at small, independent breweries, are leading the industry with sales increasing at nearly 12 percent a year. Goose Island, which tracks its Chicago roots to a Lincoln Park pub, surpassed this industry benchmark last year as well. The local brewer grew 21 percent in 2006 with a total production of 61,000 barrels, including 15 different beers and two sodas.
Top sellers from the Goose Island line-up include 312 Urban Wheat Ale, Honker's Ale and the seasonal favorite, Summertime Kolsch. Winning the 2006 Great American Beer Festival gold medal, the 312’s sales increased 91% last year, making it the brewer’s top-selling product.
“Our high expectations for this product have been fulfilled over the past year,” notes Flynn. “We’re proud to provide beer connoisseurs with increased access to one of their preferred beverages.”
CITY Beverage – Illinois is an affiliate of Soave Enterprises, L.L.C., www.soave.com. Soave Enterprises is a diversified management and investment company founded by Detroit businessman Anthony L. Soave that provides strategic planning, financial and other management resources to its affiliated business ventures in the real estate, automotive retailing, beer distribution, scrap metal, industrial services and transportation industries, among others. Recently, Forbes Magazine ranked Soave Enterprises as the 251st largest privately held company in the United States.
