Latest news with #alcohol
Daily Mail
21 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Second biggest alcohol distributor in the US quits California
The second largest alcohol distributor in the US has announced it is pulling out of California , blaming rising costs of doing business in the state. Texas-based Republic National Distributing has said that it will no longer do business in California after September 2. This has sent more than 2,500 drinks brands scrambling to find a new wholesaler and distributor in the state, which is famous in large part for its wine production. The departure of a wholesale giant from the largest wine market in the US is also a warning sign for an industry which is already struggling as Americans increasingly cut back on alcohol . Republic National, which is based in Grand Prairie, has not suggested that politics played a role in its decision to quit California. But the news may be resonating widely in part because of the narrative it presents that a Texas company wants nothing to do with California, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. President and CEO Bob Hendrickson said: 'This decision is driven by rising operational costs, industry headwinds, and supplier changes that made the market unsustainable.' He added that the company is 'using this moment to sharpen our focus and reinvest in the markets where we're best positioned to grow', naming Texas and Kentucky. It comes weeks after the distributor announced a 'strategic reinvestment' in its Texas operations. Several dozen of Republic National's crucial brands have defected in recent months to other distributors. This means the company no longer has the rights to sell popular spirits such as Jack Daniel's, Tito's and High Noon in California. While it is unclear why all the brands cut ties with the company, it is likely to have been a financial blow as many shifted distribution to a major rival, Reyes Beverage Group. Some workers have blamed executive mismanagement for the company's departure from California, according to specialist outlet VinePair. 'They started focusing on numbers instead of customer satisfaction and that's what drove them to their fall,' an anonymous California-based worker told the outlet. A former worker claimed the the company was 'terribly run' and its execs were 'in over their heads' in the Golden State. They alleged executives from Texas did not get out to meet customers or 'learn the market.' John Buehler, owner of Napa Valley's Buehler Vineyards, said Republic National's departure from California 'left everybody in the lurch.' Wholesale purchases drive 80 percent of the business. 'It was really such short notice,' he told the San Francisco Chronicle. Although Republic National continues to sell his wines in a handful other states, he will now need to find a new distributor in the Golden State. The company had only recently increased its presence in California when it purchased distributor Young's Market Co. in 2022. Industry analyst Impact Databank estimated Republic National made $2.8 billion in sales in California alone in 2022. But despite this success, Buehler told the outlet that the distributor consistently underperformed for him in terms of sales. 'I think I should have seen the writing on the wall,' he said. 'You lose these suppliers, and you're not attracting any new suppliers. Still, I had no idea that they were going to close up shop.' It comes after Republic National announced a 'strategic reinvestment' in its Texas operations in May, according to Global Drinks Intel. The company said the move would create around 100 jobs. 'We've taken a close look at where we are – and more importantly, where we need to be,' chief sales and execution officer Taylor Sommer said at the time. 'After listening to our associates, customers and supplier partners, one thing is clear: we need to strengthen our presence and performance in the market. 'Texas is a critical part of our foundation, and we're proud to reinvest here.'
Irish Times
a day ago
- Business
- Irish Times
TD admits she hasn't drank alcohol in over 13 years during impassioned plea to not delay health-warning labels
An opposition TD has spoken about the negative impact of alcohol on her life as she raised concerns about a possible delay in the introduction of health-warning labels on drinks products . Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney told the Dáil she has not drunk alcohol for more than 13 years. The party's enterprise spokeswoman was speaking following recent comments from a number of ministers – including Tánaiste Simon Harris , Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke – suggesting the introduction of labelling may be delayed because of the possible impact of US tariffs on the global trade environment. The labels warn about the risk of liver disease and fatal cancers from alcohol consumption and the risk of drinking while pregnant. They also list the calories in the product and the number of grams of alcohol. The labels are due to come into effect on May 22nd, 2026. Ms Gibney said the measure 'has the backing of the entire medical community'. READ MORE Raising the issue during Dáil questions on enterprise, tourism and employment, the Dublin Rathdown TD said: 'I haven't had a drink of alcohol in 13½ years. Alcohol and its negative impacts have played a huge part in my life. 'I say this and I share this because I think there is hardly a family in Ireland which doesn't have the same experience.' Minister of State Alan Dillon said labelling is a matter for the Department of Health. 'I have a duty to defend the interests of Irish indigenous SMEs who are facing unprecedented global trade pressures,' he said. The US market counts for nearly 40 per cent of Irish exports and Irish whiskey exports alone are worth nearly €450 million, he added. The Minister insisted 'this is not about undermining public health'. He said 'it's about sequencing policy in a way to protect jobs' and ensure economic resilience in the sector. Mr Dillon added that the legislation comes at a time when many businesses 'are struggling with uncertainty'. However, Ms Gibney said it is 'wrong and unfair to dangle it as a response to tariffs, when it won't even help those Irish companies because it doesn't have an impact on exports'. Holding up one of the health labels, she said: 'Distributors are actually already putting the labelling on in anticipation of it. So all this would do is cause confusion if you were to roll it back.' The legislation has been in the pipeline since 2019 and Ms Gibney said it positions Ireland as a leader in health measures, just as the smoking ban did. She said 'if we kept in step with Europe on the smoking ban, we would still not have a smoking ban'. But Mr Dillon said 'we're very much committed to a whole-of-a-Government approach to public health, but also to economic sustainability'. The Minister added: 'We would not apologise for standing up for Irish jobs, for Irish businesses within this sector to ensure that we maintain Ireland's global competitiveness. 'We need to ensure that the well-intentioned regulation does not become, in time, a disrupter to many of these exporters at a time of real uncertainty.' He said 'the national alcohol labelling regulation, while rooted in public health objectives, must be administered in a way that does not jeopardise Ireland's export-led recovery'. The drinks manufacturing sector employs more than 5,500 people and is a strategic contributor to the economy, he added. 'What we wanted to do here is not to abandon the public health goals, but we're asking for a more pragmatic sequencing and economic realism here in terms of its implementation.'
Irish Times
a day ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Ireland is second most expensive country in Europe, data shows
Ireland is the second most expensive country in Europe with only Danes expected to pay more for a range of goods and services, the latest figures from Eurostat have confirmed. Prices here are much higher than the European average with things worsening over the last decade, the data suggests. Back in 2015, when Ireland was still considered a high-priced country, costs here were 28 per cent above the European average. The new figures suggest that gap has climbed to 38 per cent. When it comes to alcohol and tobacco, prices here are the most expensive and 205 per cent of the average with a significant portion of the price differential due to higher rates of tax and the introduction of minimum unit pricing on alcohol. READ MORE Food and non-alcoholic drink prices in Ireland are third highest in the EU, behind Luxembourg and Denmark/ They are almost 15 per cent higher than the average although this is a slight improvement on recent years. Back in 2020, prices were said to be 21 per cent higher than the European average. Restaurant and hotel prices are the second highest in the EU, behind only Denmark and 29 per cent above average, while communications costs are almost 40 per cent above average. Ireland is also the third most expensive country for electricity, gas and fuel with prices over 17 per cent above the mean. There are some areas when Ireland fares better, with clothes prices 1 per cent cheaper and cheaper than in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland. 'We all know that Ireland is an expensive country and these figures from Eurostat today confirm it,' said Daragh Cassidy of price comparison and switching website 'There are several reasons why prices here are so high. These include: our higher wages, a lack of competition in certain sectors, high taxation on certain goods such as tobacco, alcohol and fuel, and lower government subsidies in certain areas such as public transport and childcare compared to our European neighbours.' He also noted that Irish businesses are also 'faced with high insurance and energy costs, which then get passed on to consumers. 'Ireland will never be a cheap place to live. And it's worth noting that many of the world's most expensive countries such as Switzerland, Iceland and Denmark also have some of the highest standards of living in the world. The problem is that wages in Ireland, while high by international standards, generally don't match the salaries in these countries.' He also pointed out that taxpayers in more expensive countries 'tend to get back more from the Government in terms of better and more affordable healthcare, childcare and public transport'. He said the Government should 'look at measures that are within its control to lower the impact of high prices and the cost of living in Ireland'. He highlighted the 23 per cent standard rate of VAT which is 'among the highest in the world' and said 'repeated failures to properly tackle our compo culture mean many businesses continue to pay astronomical insurance costs, which leads to higher prices for consumers.'
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Powerful alcohol distributor abruptly quits California as it takes stand over problems doing business in the state
The second largest alcohol distributor in the US has announced it is pulling out of California, blaming rising costs of doing business in the state. Texas-based Republic National Distributing has said that it will no longer do business in California after September 2. This has sent more than 2,500 drinks brands scrambling to find a new wholesaler and distributor in the state, which is famous in large part for its wine production. The departure of a wholesale giant from the largest wine market in the US is also a warning sign for an industry which is already struggling as Americans increasingly cut back on alcohol. Republic National, which is based in Grand Prairie, has not suggested that politics played a role in its decision to quit California. But the news may be resonating widely in part because of the narrative it presents that a Texas company wants nothing to do with California, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. President and CEO Bob Hendrickson said: 'This decision is driven by rising operational costs, industry headwinds, and supplier changes that made the market unsustainable.' He added that the company is 'using this moment to sharpen our focus and reinvest in the markets where we're best positioned to grow', naming Texas and Kentucky. It comes weeks after the distributor announced a 'strategic reinvestment' in its Texas operations. Several dozen of Republic National's crucial brands have defected in recent months to other distributors. This means the company no longer has the rights to sell popular spirits such as Jack Daniel's, Tito's and High Noon in California. While it is unclear why all the brands cut ties with the company, it is likely to have been a financial blow as many shifted distribution to a major rival, Reyes Beverage Group. Some workers have blamed executive mismanagement for the company's departure from California, according to specialist outlet VinePair. 'They started focusing on numbers instead of customer satisfaction and that's what drove them to their fall,' an anonymous California-based worker told the outlet. A former worker claimed the the company was 'terribly run' and its execs were 'in over their heads' in the Golden State. They alleged executives from Texas did not get out to meet customers or 'learn the market.' John Buehler, owner of Napa Valley's Buehler Vineyards, said Republic National's departure from California 'left everybody in the lurch.' Wholesale purchases drive 80 percent of the business. 'It was really such short notice,' he told the San Francisco Chronicle. Although Republic National continues to sell his wines in a handful other states, he will now need to find a new distributor in the Golden State. The company had only recently increased its presence in California when it purchased distributor Young's Market Co. in 2022. Industry analyst Impact Databank estimated Republic National made $2.8 billion in sales in California alone in 2022. But despite this success, Buehler told the outlet that the distributor consistently underperformed for him in terms of sales. 'I think I should have seen the writing on the wall,' he said. 'You lose these suppliers, and you're not attracting any new suppliers. Still, I had no idea that they were going to close up shop.' It comes after Republic National announced a 'strategic reinvestment' in its Texas operations in May, according to Global Drinks Intel. The company said the move would create around 100 jobs. 'We've taken a close look at where we are – and more importantly, where we need to be,' chief sales and execution officer Taylor Sommer said at the time. 'After listening to our associates, customers and supplier partners, one thing is clear: we need to strengthen our presence and performance in the market. 'Texas is a critical part of our foundation, and we're proud to reinvest here.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Can YOU tell how much we drink from our faces? One of these women sinks 10 G&Ts a night, one's a weekend drinker and one's teetotal. Now they reveal exactly what it's done to them...
Are your drinking habits written all over your face? Alcohol is said to cause untold damage to your appearance. Not only can it trigger skin complaints such as psoriasis, but it's also believed to deepen wrinkles and cause puffiness and bloating. Alcohol's dehydrating effect means your skin loses fluid and nutrients, leaving it looking dull and grey.
