Constellation Brands - History and Description

History and Description

The company was established in 1945 by Marvin Sands in the Finger Lakes region of New York as Canandaigua Industries Company. Since that time, the company has grown through internal expansion and by acquisitions across all segments of the beverage alcohol industry.

Constellation Brands is the largest wine producer in the world; the largest premium wine company in the U.S.; the largest wine company in the U.K., Australia and Canada; the second largest wine company in New Zealand; the largest beer importer and marketer in the U.S. through its Crown Imports joint venture with Mexico’s Grupo Modelo. Constellation Brands had sales of more than $3.77 billion in fiscal year 2008. It operates approximately 40 production facilities, employs approximately 4,300 and sells and markets its products worldwide.

The company owns more than 100 brands across the wine, beer and spirits categories. Major wine brands include Robert Mondavi, Clos du Bois, Franciscan Estates, Ravenswood, Blackstone, Nobilo, Kim Crawford, Inniskillin, Jackson-Triggs and Arbor Mist. Major beer brands include Corona, Modelo Especial and Negra Modelo, Pacífico, and Tsingtao. Major spirits brands include Black Velvet Canadian Whisky, Svedka Vodka and Paul Masson Grande Amber Brandy.