In this article, we are going to discuss the 25 largest alcohol companies in the world in 2023. You can skip our detailed analysis of the global alcohol industry, the success of celebrity-owned liquors, and the recent shifts in the global alcohol market, and go directly to 10 Largest Alcohol Companies in the World in 2023.
The true origin of alcohol is lost in the mists of history but the first signs of it show up around 7000 B.C., when a fermented drink was produced from honey and wild yeasts in ancient China. Alcohol is considered to have driven a significant portion of early societal development. In 1877, an archaeologist named James Death went so far as to suggest that the invention of beer even preceded the invention of bread. That might imply that the reason mankind ever settled down into an agricultural lifestyle was to produce enough grain for beer. In fact, the oldest known recipe in the world is not for food, but how to make beer.
The Global Alcohol Industry:
In 2019, the global alcohol consumption, measured in liters of pure alcohol per person of 15 years of age or older, was 5.5 liters, which is a 4.7% relative decrease from 5.7 liters in 2010. According to Allied Market Research, the global alcoholic beverages market size was valued at $1.62 trillion in 2021, and the market is projected to reach $2 trillion by 2031, with a CAGR of 2.2% during the forecast period.
The market is likely to be driven by the increasing global young-adult demographic, coupled with high disposable income and consumer demand for premium/super-premium products. Globally, beer drives the market for alcoholic beverages. Regionally, North America and Asia-Pacific are expected to dominate the market during the forecast period.
The Success of Celebrity-owned Liquors:
The alcoholic beverage industry is unquestionably a profitable one and a growing number of celebrities are investing their time and money in the spirits business by backing brands and forging partnerships. These ventures have often proven quite lucrative.
Of course, a celebrity-backed investment offer is also a boon for the brand itself. Numerous studies have already shown that celebrities can affect consumer behavior, especially if the celeb’s image aligns with the brand. Having celebrities as investors can help the brand increase its sales and make it more recognizable to people. The celebrity’s fans or followers will associate the celeb’s positive image with the brand.
In 2017, George Clooney and his co-owners sold Casamigos to spirits giant Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) for $1 billion. It was a headline-grabbing figure that inspired an avalanche of celebrity-backed tequilas to hit the market over the last decade.
One prominent example of a celebrity alcohol brand investment is Ryan Reynolds buying into Aviation Gin in 2018. Like any private equity investor, Reynolds invested in the company, supported it, and cashed out. The key difference is that Reynolds’ participation in the brand was simply earth-shattering. No one can forget the Hollywood superstar’s witty and hilarious marketing skits, and after three years of investment, the Deadpool star cashed out with $610 million when Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) acquired the Aviation brand.
Similarly, Jay-Z also sold the majority stake in D’USSÉ – his best-selling cognac brand – to Bacardi this year, in a deal worth approximately $750 million.
For these stars and several others, the gambit has undoubtedly paid off. As they say, the rich get richer. But as a business owner, you can get buzzed just like your favorite stars – no drop of alcohol needed. It’s just a matter of finding the right celebrity investor.
From Japan to the United States, global drinking habits have shifted dramatically in recent years. While it may look like the alcohol industry is set to achieve a multi-trillion dollar mark in the coming decades, recent changes in consumer behavior suggest that the market, as we know it today, may be in danger of running dry.
As we mentioned in our article – Gen Z’s 25 Favorite Brands of 2023 – a growing share of the health-conscious Gen Zers are turning away from alcohol. Gen Z drink 20% less per capita than millennials – who, in turn, drink less than Baby Boomers or Gen Xers did at the same age. This has led to the rise of companies like the Athletic Brewing Co., with the non-alcoholic beer maker now becoming one of the Largest Craft Breweries in the US by Volume.
This has also caught the attention of Anheuser-Busch InBev and the industry giant is now investing $34 million in upgrading some of its Belgian breweries, which will help expand its non-alcoholic beer portfolio. The company has also set itself an ambitious target of having low-and-no alcohol beers account for 20% of its overall sales by 2025.
According to Global Market Insights, the global non-alcoholic beer market was valued at $22 billion in 2022, and is expected to reach $40 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 5.5% in the forecast period.
With that said, here is a List of theLargest Alcohol Companies in 2023.
25 Largest Alcohol Companies in the World in 2023
Pixabay/Public Domain
Methodology:
To collect data for this article, we have referred to the 2022 Beverage Companies Report by Beverage Industry, looking for the Biggest Alcohol Companies in the World. We singled out companies involved in the alcohol business and ranked them by their sales revenue in 2022.
Note: A couple of large companies whose alcohol portfolio in itself is small are also included in our article because of their overall huge revenue figures. Such financial positions can enable these kinds of companies to greatly influence the alcohol industry.
25. The Wine Group
Total Sales in 2022: $1.156 billion
Location: Livermore, CA, U.S.A
The Wine Group is one of the world’s foremost producers of award-winning wines across more than 60 brands and many winery facilities in California, New York, and Australia. The company is an industry innovator when it comes to developing, marketing, and selling wine brands loved by consumers around the world, including Cupcake, Franzia, Benziger, Imagery, Tribute, 7 Deadly, Cooper & Thief, The Dreaming Tree, Charles Smith Wines, and more.
24. C&C Group plc
Total Sales in 2022: $1.582 billion
Location: Dublin, Ireland
C&C Group PLC is a premium drinks company which owns, manufactures, markets and distributes a unique portfolio of beer and cider brands. The company has production facilities across Ireland, Great Britain, and the United States, and its products are sold around the world.
23. Henkell Freixenet
Total Sales in 2022: $1.584 billion
Location: Wiesbaden, Germany
Headquartered in Wiesbaden since 1909, Henkell Freixenet is the world’s leading producer of sparkling wine, and offers Sekt, Cava, Prosecco, Champagne, and Crémant from one source – in addition to a diverse range of wines and spirits. Brands such as Henkell, Freixenet, Mionetto Prosecco, Fürst von Metternich, Mía, Mederaño, i heart WINES, Mangaroca Batida de Côco, and Wodka Gorbatschow belong to the group.
Henkell Freixenet sits among the Biggest Alcohol Makers.
The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE:SAM) is one of the largest American-owned brewing companies, best known for its line of all-malt beers under the brand name Samuel Adams.
The company’s adjusted EPS of $4.72 in second-quarter 2023 increased 9.5% from the same quarter of 2022. Earnings also beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.45. This mainly resulted from higher gross margins and operating income.
However, The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE:SAM)’s shipment volume declined by 4.5% YoY to 2.3 million barrels in Q2 of 2023, whereas depletions fell 3%. The decline in shipment and depletion resulted from the soft performances of the Truly Hard Seltzer, Angry Orchard, Samuel Adams, and Hard Mountain Dew. These were partly negated by growth in the Twisted Tea and Dogfish Head brands.
21. Lassonde Industries Inc.
Total Sales in 2022: $2.151 billion
Location: Rougemont, QC, Canada
Lassonde Industries Inc. is a manufacturer and distributor of juices, apple ciders, wine-based drinks, and RTD fruit beverages. With a business presence across Canada, the U.S., and other regions, the company markets its products under the Antico, Canton, Dublin’s Pub, Sensualite, Bortilly, the Shrink, Everfresh, Fairlee, Fruite, Graves, Oasis, Pomme de Coeur, Rougemont, and Ruby Kist brand names.
20. Becle SAB de CV
Total Sales in 2022: $2.362 billion
Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Becle SAB de CV is a Mexico-based company engaged in the beverages industry. Among the company’s extensive portfolio is also the famed tequila brand Jose Cuervo.
Treasury Wine Estates is one of the world's largest wine companies, listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX:TWE). The company boasts 11,300 hectares of vineyards and wine making facilities in the best wine regions of the world, and its iconic wines are sold in over 70 countries around the globe.
18. Mark Anthony Group Inc.
Total Sales in 2022: $2.902 billion
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Mark Anthony is the largest importer and distributor of fine wine and premium spirits in Canada, with sales and marketing offices in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver. The company’s Canadian distribution network includes Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits, The Bacchus Group, Sélections Fréchette, and Mark Anthony Brands.
17. Davide Campari
Total Sales in 2022: $2.929 billion
Location: Milan, Italy
Founded in 1860, Campari Group is a major player in the global spirits industry, with a portfolio of over 50 premium and super premium brands, spreading across Global, Regional, and Local priorities. Global Priorities, the group’s primary focus, include iconic brands such as Aperol and Campari etc.
16. Sapporo Holdings
Total Sales in 2022: $3.509 billion
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Sapporo Holdings is a Japan-based company mainly engaged in the liquor business, the food and beverages business, the restaurants business, and the real estate business.
The company made headlines this summer when it acquired the California-based Stone Brewing Co. in a deal worth $165 million.
Sapporo Holdings is one of the Top 100 Beverage Companies.
15. Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B)
Total Sales in 2022: $5.081 billion
Location: Louisville, KY, U.S.A.
Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) engages in the production, distillation, bottling, import, export, marketing, and sale of a wide range of alcoholic beverages. This includes spirits, wines, whiskeys, flavored liqueurs based on whiskey, pre-mixed and pourable products, cocktails, vodkas, tequilas, champagnes, brandy, bourbons, and liqueurs.
Stocks of Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) were held by 30 hedge funds at the end of Q2 in the Insider Monkey database, with Fundsmith LLP holding the largest stake of over 12.19 million shares, valued at $814.41 million.
Brown-Forman sits among the Top Liquor Companies in the World.
14. The Wonderful Company
Total Sales in 2022: $5.635 billion
Location: Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.
The Wonderful Company is a privately held $5 billion company committed to offering high-quality, healthy brands and helping consumers make better choices every day. Boasting a workforce of around 9,000 employees, the company grows, harvests, bottles, packages, and markets a diverse range of products including fruits, nuts, flowers, water, wines, and juices.
The Wonderful Wine Co. was created for the health-conscious consumer who cares about eating clean and living an active, balanced lifestyle. By creating a line of clean wines that are low carb, low sulphite, and vegan friendly, they're taking the guilt out of guilty pleasure.
Monster Beverage Corporation (NASDAQ:MNST) is an American beverage company that manufactures energy drinks including Monster Energy, Relentless, and Burn. It was announced last year that Monster Beverage had acquired the Canarchy Craft Brewery Collective, in a deal worth $330 million. The acquisition gave the company ownership of Canarchy’s craft breweries including Cigar City, Oskar Blues, Deep Ellum, Perrin Brewing, Squatters, and Wasatch.
The beverage giant spent the early weeks of 2023 rolling out a line of alcoholic beverages. Called The Beast Unleashed, the drinks are made with malt alcohol and contain 6% alcohol by volume, though no caffeine or energy-inducing ingredients.
Stocks of Monster Beverage Corporation (NASDAQ:MNST) were held by 44 hedge funds at the end of Q2 in the Insider Monkey database, with Broadwood Capital holding the largest stake of over 9.31 million shares, valued at $534.94 million.
12. Bacardi Limited
Total Sales in 2022: $6.867 billion
Location: Hamilton, Bermuda
Founded 160 years ago in Santiago de Cuba, Bacardi Limited is the largest privately held, family-owned spirits company in the world. Originally known for its Bacardí brand of white rum, it now has a portfolio of more than 200 brands and labels.
The wine and spirits segment of LVMH produces and sells high quality champagne and sparkling wines, aside from distributing vodka and white liquor. Moët & Chandon merged with the cognac producer Hennessy in 1971 to form Moët Hennessy, which then merged with Louis Vuitton in a $4 billion deal to form LVMH in 1987. An annual production of 30 million bottles means that a bottle of Moët & Chandon is uncorked every second somewhere on earth, putting it amongst the Best-Selling Champagne Brands in the World.
LVMH is one of the Largest Alcohol Companies in the World in 2023 by Revenue.
