Friends Fun Wine and FIFCO USA Announce Strategic Marketing and Distribution Partnership in U.S.

MIAMI, NEW YORK, SHANGHAI and LONDON, Nov. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Friends Fun Wine®, a 2018 World Wine Championship award-winning, lower-in-calorie, low-ABV, global beverage company, and FIFCO USA, a leading alcoholic beverage company, today announced their intent to enter into a strategic marketing and distribution agreement. The partnership allows the Friends Fun Wine brand to expand across the U.S. market. Friends Fun Wine features a collection of Fun Wine™ drinks with a 5.5% ABV and 71-94 calories per 4.2 oz serving, and a slight effervesce. The brand has created a new alternative beverage category in countries all over the world. 

Friends Fun Wine Ready to Take on the US Market
"Friends Fun Wine has carved out an enviable position for itself in the alcohol beverage space – with a global brand that lives at the intersection of fashion, music and art.  We have built a global brand outside of the US, with great success, and now it is time to turn our attention to the States," commented Joe Peleg, Founder and CEO. "We feel strongly that having the right partner will amplify our current business success, and drive our business and brand forward to further energize this exciting category. We are thrilled to join the FIFCO USA family, where I have every confidence that we will grow and flourish while also enabling FIFCO to penetrate new lines of business that will add value to its business and customer relationships."

"Friends Fun Wine fills an industry gap. There is a category of consumers looking for approachable and innovative drink options that deliver great flavor and variety," said Josh Halpern, Chief Sales Officer, FIFCO USA. "This product tastes great, comes in at 5.5% ABV, and has less calories per serving than some of the ultra-light beer and seltzer products on the market right now. With eye-catching packaging and strong consumer benefits, Friends Fun Wine will help drive our wholesalers' business, and increase in-store traffic to the beverage alcohol space."

New "Fun" bottle designs and the renowned artist behind them 
Friends Fun Wine is a disruptive brand because of its amazing liquid and bottle designs. "The introduction of our 750 ml glass bottles has had a seismic impact in the wine space," said Scott Morris, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications. "Our retail and c-store partners have been clamoring for the new bottles and they tell us that our product has created a buzz in the industry." 

In 2018, Friends Fun Wine released unique, highly artistic 750 ml bottle designs created especially for Friends Fun Wine by internationally-recognized POP and Graffiti artist Miguel Paredes. Miguel grew up in New York and spent his youth as an art student under the tutelage of Ronnie Cutrone, Andy Warhol's assistant at the Factory. Like Warhol, Miguel has created his own explosive and bold style which is a perfect marriage of graffiti, landscape and pop art. Today, he lives in Miami and creates dynamic pieces of art that have a sophisticated and gritty urban feel.  

About Friends Fun Wine
Friends Fun Wine offers casual and delicious Fun Wine™ drinks that allow consumers to enjoy wine in a new and refreshing way. Fun Wine™ was developed in response to millennial and female consumers seeking new experiences as their taste for alcohol evolves. With wine sales continuing to increase and develop across multiple formats, Friends Fun Wine is an ideal beverage to lead the latest craze and hottest trend in the beverage industry. 

About FIFCO USA

FIFCO USA, headquartered in Rochester, New York is among the top 10 brewers in the United States. FIFCO USA's portfolio includes:  Labatt USA; The Genesee Brewing Company; The Magic Hat Brewing Company; Portland Brewing Company; and Pyramid Brewing Company.

FIFCO USA also owns top flavored malt beverage brands including: Seagram's Escapes, which has experienced nine consecutive years of growth; and Seagram's Spiked, which is the #3 new flavored malt beverage franchise in the total U.S. beer category for 2018.

FIFCO USA imports and markets the Imperial brand of beer in the U.S. Along with its own brands, FIFCO USA contract brews beer and other beverages on behalf of other alcoholic beverage companies. FIFCO USA promotes smart consumption of all its beverages.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Scott Morris  
SVP Marketing and Communications
Friends Fun Wine
(404) 804-2519
[email protected]

Mary Beth Popp
Director of Corporate Relations
(716) 864-5315
[email protected]

SOURCE Friends Fun Wine