For decades, Jack Daniel’s distillery and Moore County farmers benefited from the Cow Feeder Program, where farmers received distillery byproduct for livestock feed. The program, ending March 31, has been replaced with a contract with Three Rivers Energy to convert the waste into renewable gas and fertilizer. This decision has devastated local farmers, who relied on the inexpensive feed source and now face land and livestock sales. While Jack Daniel’s cites sustainability goals and advance notice, the change will significantly impact the county’s many livestock operations and the distillery’s long standing relationship with its neighbors.
Read More
Brown-Forman, the parent company of brands like Jack Daniel’s and Woodford Reserve, reported a 62% decrease in sales to Canada during the latest fiscal quarter, largely due to provincial boycotts of American alcohol. This decline, stemming from retaliatory measures against U.S. tariffs, significantly impacted the company’s overall performance, despite growth from non-U.S. brands. Although Canada has removed retaliatory tariffs on American spirits, the organization warns that until all provinces restore American spirits to store shelves, the impact of tariff removal will be minimal. The United States distillers council stated that in 2024, Canada was the second-largest market for U.S. spirit exports.
Read More
Brown-Forman CEO Lawson Whiting criticized Canada’s removal of US alcohol from shelves as a disproportionate response to US tariffs on Canadian goods, deeming it more damaging than the tariffs themselves. This action, taken by provinces including Ontario’s LCBO, eliminates US alcohol sales completely. While impacting Brown-Forman, the loss represents only 1% of its overall sales. The Canadian government’s retaliatory tariffs, alongside provincial actions, target US beer, spirits, and wine.
Read More
Brown-Forman CEO Lawson Whiting described Canadian provinces’ removal of US liquor from shelves as a more damaging retaliatory measure than tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, despite Canada accounting for only 1% of the company’s sales. While Canada also levied a 25% tariff on US alcohol imports, Brown-Forman’s annual forecast accounts for these impacts, and the company’s stock rose 8% following the announcement. The company’s overall performance has been affected by decreased demand in the US, Canada, and Europe, although emerging markets show stronger sales. Despite these challenges and cost-cutting measures, Brown-Forman remains confident in its future prospects.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker