Press Releases

CHICAGO – March 29, 2006 — Information Resources, Inc., the leading provider of consumer behavior insights to the consumer packaged goods (CPG), retail, and beverage alcohol industries, today announced the release of its second annual “2005 Table Wine Top 30 Brand Performers,” a revealing study that pinpoints the top 30 most influential table wine brands. These individual brands have experienced significant growth in U.S. supermarkets and drugstores across multiple variables during the 52 week period ending Jan. 1, 2006. IRI also unveiled its “2005 Table Wine Top 10 New Brands,” a list of emerging new brand entries.

Leveraging its extensive beer, wine, and spirits vertical expertise, IRI analyzed volume growth, share of segment trends, merchandising effectiveness, front line pricing stability, profitability, distribution gains, incremental sales, and sales velocity growth to develop this distinguished list of leading brands. To qualify for the study, brands had to meet a minimum requirement of 100,000 9L cases sold.

The results of the extensive IRI evaluation comprise the following Top 30 Table Wine Brand Performers, a distinguished list of table wine brands that are successfully leading the way:

The IRI 2005 Table Wine Top 30 Brand Performers

“We are very fortunate that our two largest volume brands, Smoking Loon and Pepperwood Grove, are also two of our fastest growing,” said Don Sebastiani, Jr., director of marketing, Don Sebastiani & Sons. “It is extremely exciting to have them both recognized by IRI as two of the most influential table wine brands and especially gratifying to see Smoking Loon ranked No. 1. In the five years since its inception, this brand’s rapid growth is a direct reflection of our employees’ tireless hard work.”

In addition to the top 30 ranking, the study also revealed the following key trends that are driving the growth of today’s rapidly evolving table wine marketplace:

• An increase in merchandising support appeared to contribute to the success of the top 30 brands; 29 of the 30 brands experienced an increase in weeks of support and the majority of brands increased their display presence.
• 22 of the top 30 brands are domestic table wines from California
• Imported table wine brands held 6 of the 30 spots, with Australia as the No. 1 import country of origin with three brands
• The vast majority of brands, 83 percent, are premium priced at $5.50 and above
• Virtually all or 29 out of 30 brands, increased their presence at retail with an increase in distribution
• 29 of 30 brands that made the ranking grew double digits or more in dollar sales during the 52 week period; 27 out of 30 brands grew double digits in volume sales

"What really jumps out at you from this list of top performing wine brands is the diversification of the U.S. wine industry,” said Rich Cartiere, editor and publisher of the Wine Market Report. “A problem of concentration in certain sectors has plagued the U.S. wine industry and continues to cause problems for other winemaking countries, most notably Australia, because of its overdependence on selling wine abroad in a narrow price of $5 to $8. Even a year ago imported brands--now at a record market share by volume--would have dominated or had a more dominating influence. The breadth of products here is remarkable and probably unmatched by any wine industry anywhere in the world.”

“Wine is more popular than ever with consumers, and wine makers are taking full advantage of their opportunities with bold new packaging, advertising and grocery displays,” said Dan Wandel, vice president of the IRI Beer, Wine and Spirits practice. “The brands on this year’s top 30 list have delivered breakout performance through new and innovative thinking.”

“We're thrilled to learn that five of our brands made the IRI 2005 Brand Performers list and proud that brands across our entire portfolio continue to generate consumer excitement in today's marketplace,” said Jose Fernandez, president and chief executive officer, Constellation Wines U.S. “From mainstream national brands such as Robert Mondavi Private Selection to innovative opportunities like Black Box, we have a range of wines and brands that meet the ever-developing needs of our consumers and provide growth to our trade partners.”

Providing forward-looking insight about key brands to watch in the year ahead, IRI also announced the following Table Wine Top 10 New Brands:

The IRI 2005 Table Wine Top 10 New Brands*

*Based on Dollar Sales in Total U.S. Food and Drug for the 52-week period ending Jan 1, 2006.

For more information about the study, contact Dan Wandel at daniel.wandel@infores.com.

About Information Resources, Inc.
Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) is the world’s leading provider of enterprise market information solutions and services, empowering its clients to grow their business profitably in a complex marketplace. Driving the transformation of the consumer packaged goods (CPG), retail, and healthcare industries, only IRI provides a unique combination of real-time market content, advanced analytics, enterprise performance management software, and professional services. The company’s portfolio of services, solutions, and technology enable leading retailers and their suppliers around the globe to see what they are missing, act faster with greater confidence and win at the shelf. Ninety-five percent of the FORTUNE Global 500 in CPG and retail leverage IRI to power their business.