By Bill Newlands, President & CEO
Constellation Brands’ story began 75 years ago, when our founder Marvin Sands, at the age of 22, was convinced by his father to move to Canandaigua, N.Y., to assume leadership of a struggling bulk wine company named Canandaigua Industries. Back then, the headquarters office was so small that employees had to squeeze past Marvin’s desk to get to the bathroom. It is amazing to see how this small, family-owned wine company based in upstate New York has evolved from humble beginnings to become one of the industry’s pre-eminent Fortune 500 beverage alcohol companies.
Constellation’s journey includes many twists and turns as we’ve pivoted in response to shifting consumer preferences. This includes geographic expansion, evolving beyond wine into beer and spirits, the continued premiumization of our portfolio, acquiring the iconic Robert Mondavi Winery, the transformational acquisition of our Mexican import beer business, and many other notable achievements. We’ve come a long way from our early days as a company, and I believe Marvin would be extremely proud of all we’ve accomplished.
While the composition of our business has evolved over the years, there are a few things that remain constant. We continue to operate according to our values around people, consumers, entrepreneurship, quality and integrity. We are consumer obsessed with a strong focus on innovation and a commitment to driving industry-leading growth by building brands people love and that elevate human connections. We are resilient in the face of adversity, never complacent, and always thinking bigger and striving to deliver more. We continue to demonstrate a willingness to take calculated, bold moves that keep us on the forefront of consumer trends. We remain committed to serving as responsible stewards of our environment and surrounding communities. And we do all of this because we are anchored by the absolute best team in the industry.
While we have much to look back on and be proud of, I firmly believe our best days lie ahead. Our talented and hardworking team will continue pushing boundaries for the benefit of our consumers, employees, shareholders, business partners, and the communities where we live and work to build a future and company Worth Reaching For.
Cheers to another 75 years and beyond.