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Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
Luxury Western Wear Brand Kemo Sabe Is Launching A Tequila
Kemo Sabe is known for giving customers free tequila to sip while they shop. Now, one of the tequila brands that will sit behind the retailer's bars will be its own. The Colorado-based Western wear retailer is unveiling a new tequila brand called Original Grit Tequila, which will be available at Kemo Sabe's Aspen and Vail locations and shipped online to customers in around 45 states. Original Grit Tequila has three expressions—blanco, reposado and añejo—and will also be sold in liquor stores and bars across Colorado. The three expressions will be priced between $100 to $130 per bottle, fitting neatly into the premium pricing range that Kemo Sabe fetches for boots that can fetch over $1,800, outwear that can sell for well north of $3,000 and $18,000 bracelets. But why launch a tequila? 'I'm obsessed with tequila,' Kemo Sabe owner Wendy Kunkle tells me during a virtual interview. 'I love it.' Over the course of more than four years, Kunkle worked closely with beverage distribution expert Michael Klauer to conceptualize a tequila brand that could fit into the brand aesthetic of Kemo Sabe. 'We tried to put the energy of the store in the bottle,' Klauer, co-owner of Original Grit Tequila, tells me. Over the course of several trips to Mexico, he finally honed in on partnering with the Partida family, fifth-generation tequila producers. Klauer says his rollout plan will include distribution in Colorado with beverage wholesaler Breakthru Beverage Group. Further expansion is planned for later this year in California, Texas and Illinois. By 2026, the brand hopes to be sold in bars and liquor stores across up to 15 states. 'We're really following the Kemo Sabe customers,' says Klauer, of the markets he intends to prioritize. As for the taste, Kunkle says she's always been on the hunt for new tequilas that could rival her personal favorite, Clase Azul. But the price point for that brand—bottles are sold for as little as $150 to over $2,000 on ReserveBar—can feel cost prohibitive. Her intent was to develop a tequila at a more accessible price point, but still premium, that she would love as much as Clase Azul. 'We have the most amazing products in the world—hats, boots and buckles—why shouldn't we have it in our bars?' asks Kunkle. Kemo Sabe's tequila launch come as demand for agave-based Mexican spirits have soared in the U.S. for more than a decade. Sales of tequila and mezcal totaled $6.7 billion in 2024, according to industry advocate the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, making it the second-largest category after vodka. But that growth has also led to a lot of competition, from industry giants like Diageo, Bacardi and Pernod Ricard that have heavily invested in the category and scooped up some of the most popular brands, as well as celebrity-backed tequilas including George Clooney's Casamigos, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's Teremana and Sammy Hagar's Santo. Entering the crowded tequila category—even without a celebrity backer—fits neatly into Kemo Sabe's own brand equity, which includes much-heralded love from stars including Beyoncé and Shania Twain. Kunkle says she has no plans to include a celebrity endorser for Original Grit Tequila. 'If people love it, just like Kemo Sabe, it's all word of mouth,' she says of her minimalist marketing strategy. The brand enjoyed a cultural breakthrough moment in 2022 when Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Kyle Richards took the show's cast to Kemo Sabe's store in Aspen for a shopping event. The trip seemed innocuous enough, but soon after they arrived, a tequila slight occurred—as they often do on the Real Housewives—between costars Kathy Hilton and Lisa Rinna. The great affront? Rinna ordered model Kendall Jenner's 818 tequila from Kemo Sabe's bar, rather than Casa Del Sol, a brand that heiress Hilton has invested in. The slight enraged Hilton and led to a huge blow up on the show, which also spilled out into the press and led to plenty of free publicity for Kemo Sabe. Stars from the Salt Lake City and Potomac franchises have also filmed at Kemo Sabe, and Kunkle says she has no intention to stop offering brands like 818 to shoppers now that she has her own tequila to promote. But, that doesn't mean she doesn't want to get in on the action too. 'We love a lot of brands, they're great, and we get to rep them in our bars,' says Kunkle. 'Why not rep our own too?'
Business Wire
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
O'Neill Vintners & Distillers Moves to Breakthru Beverage Group in California
LARKSPUR, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- O'Neill Vintners & Distillers, a Certified B Corp company, has appointed Breakthru Beverage Group as its new distribution partner in California, effective August 1, 2025. The decision follows the exit of Republic National Distributing Company from the California market and represents a strategic move to ensure continuity, service excellence, and long-term alignment in one of the country's most important wine markets. 'We are grateful that our longstanding partnership with Breakthru allowed us to significantly expand our partnership,' said Jeff O'Neill, Founder & CEO of O'Neill Vintners & Distillers. 'As we begin our new chapter with Breakthru Beverage Group in California, we're focused on ensuring a seamless transition rooted in operational excellence, shared values, and an unwavering commitment to our customers.' "The expanded partnership with O'Neill Vintners & Distillers and Breakthru represents a deepening of a strong, well-established relationship," said Adam Pizer, SVP Wine Business Development at Breakthru Beverage Group. 'We are excited about what we can achieve together in California." O'Neill Vintners & Distillers partnership expansion further strengthens the strategic relationship with Breakthru Beverage Group, now representing the company in 16 key markets across the country. 'Breakthru has consistently shown a deep understanding of our business, our brands, and the standards we set for execution and service,' O'Neill continued. 'Our work together has delivered impressive results, and we're confident this same level of partnership and performance will benefit our customers and trade partners in California.' At the national level, no other changes are planned across the US. Ron Mertz, SVP Commercial Strategy at O'Neill, shared 'It's critical that we remain closely aligned with our important wholesale partners as we continue to grow. We value our relationships with these organizations deeply and are committed to working collaboratively to support our customers and the trade with consistency, care, and integrity.' As a Certified B Corporation, O'Neill Vintners & Distillers is guided by a belief that business can—and should—be a force for good. Mertz added, 'Whether you are a distributor, a retailer, or a customer, our commitment is the same: we put relationships first and our decisions are made with a long-term view toward quality, service, and sustainable impact.' About O'Neill Vintners & Distillers O'Neill Vintners & Distillers, a Certified B Corporation, is a family-owned, vertically integrated wine and spirits company dedicated to crafting exceptional wines and spirits while setting a new standard for sustainability in the industry. Founded in 2004 by visionary Jeff O'Neill, the company has emerged as a true leader in environmental stewardship—proving that scale and sustainability can go hand in hand. O'Neill has earned some of the highest honors in the field, including B Corp Certification, Regenerative Organic Certified® status, and the prestigious Green Medal Leader Award from the California Wine Institute. These accolades reflect not only a deep commitment to regenerative farming and climate-smart practices, but also a bold vision for the future of wine and spirits. With winery estates in Sonoma and Paso Robles and a winery facility in Parlier, O'Neill's diverse portfolio includes Ram's Gate Winery, Robert Hall Winery, Line 39, Wines of Substance, FitVine Wine, Harken Chardonnay, Rabble Wine Company, Charles Woodson's Intercept, No. 209 Gin, and BrandyLab. To learn more, visit
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Brown-Forman shakes up US distribution
Brown-Forman has made a series of changes to its distribution network in the US. The company, which has seen sales in the US come under pressure in recent months, has named new distributors for 13 local markets. Breakthru Beverage Group will become Brown-Forman's largest national distributor partner, covering 14 markets across the US and Canada. According to multiple reports in the US, Republic National Distributing Co. will handle the spirits giant's products in 12 markets in the country, down from 23. Robinson Brown IV, senior vice president and managing director for the Woodford Reserve maker's operations in the US and Canada, said: 'This is Brown-Forman's first significant change to our US route-to-consumer landscape in more than 60 years. These decisions were taken with great thought and care, and we believe they will bring tremendous opportunities for growth in the years and decades to come.' Brown-Forman, home to brands including Jack Daniel's and Gin Mare, is set to report its annual financial results later this week. In the first nine months of the company's financial year, it reported a 5% fall in net sales in the US. Brown-Forman said the result amounted to a 1% dip on an organic basis but said the decrease was due to the sale of the Sonoma-Cutrer wine business, plus lower volumes of Korbel California Champagnes and Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey. Brown-Forman pointed to growing sales of Woodford Reserve, which 'continued to outperform the US whiskey category'. In January, the company announced more than 600 workers were set to lose their jobs amid moves to realise up to $80m in annualised cost savings. Brown-Forman also set out plans to close and sell a barrel-production facility in the US city of Louisville and the restructuring of its executive leadership team. Last month, the group ended its 60-year sales, marketing and distribution partnership with Californian winemaker Korbel Champagne Cellars. "Brown-Forman shakes up US distribution" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
