Company type | Private |
---|---|
Industry | Winemaking |
Predecessor | Wine Corporation of America |
Founded | Chicago, United States (1933 | )
Founder |
|
Headquarters | , United States |
Key people | E. Schwartz, President[ citation needed ] |
Revenue | $200,000,000 to $499,999,999 [2] |
Number of employees | 100 to 250 [2] |
Parent | The Wine Group, LLC [3] |
Website | mogendavid |
Mogen David Wine Co. is a company based in Westfield, New York that makes wines, including the fortified wine MD 20/20. Mogen David Wine Co. is a trademark held by their parent company The Wine Group in Livermore, California. [4]
Mogen David is the Ashkenazic pronunciation of the Hebrew Magen David, which literally means "shield of David", but is used metaphorically to refer to the six-pointed Star of David.
Mogen David wine is sold in 750mL, 1.5L, and 3L bottles. It is also Kosher for Passover.
Mogen David Concord Red wine is made from must of no less than 51% Concord grapes, an American grape variety, which is typically used for grape juices, jellies, and preserves, but also used for Kosher wines. This makes the wine less expensive, averaging $5 per bottle. In addition to Concord red, Mogen David also markets Blackberry and Pomegranate wines. [5]
Founded months before the Repeal of Prohibition by Max Cohen and Henry Markus in Chicago, [6] the California Wine Company bottled medicinal and sacramental wines, [7] changing its name to Wine Corporation of America in 1941 [8] when it began making wine from Concord grape juice (or concentrate) shipped from growers in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio [9] and later Michigan. [10]
Following World War II the company purchased a 50,000 square foot (4,600 m2) building at 3737 South Sacramento Ave [11] in Chicago's Brighton Park neighborhood which was converted into one of the largest wineries in the Midwestern United States. The entire winery was allocated to a single product, Mogen David, a kosher wine originally marketed for the Passover Seder that turned out to be popular year-round with the general public. [9] [12] Annual production of Mogen David was 75,000 US gallons (280,000 L; 62,000 imp gal) in 1946. [13] Wine Corporation of America began advertising Mogen David nationally in 1947; by the early 1950s the advertising budget for Mogen David was the fourth or fifth largest for wines. [14] [15] Max Cohen, company President and founder, noted that 98 percent of Mogen David's customers were not Jewish. [16]
Annual production of Mogen David increased to more than 3,000,000 US gallons (11,000,000 L; 2,500,000 imp gal) of wine in 1949 [17] and to nearly 5,000,000 US gallons (19,000,000 L; 4,200,000 imp gal) for 1953, [13] [18] and in that year Wine Corporation of America took the name of its most important product, becoming the Mogen David Wine Corporation. [12]
In 1955 Mogen David announced the purchase of new plant facilities at 3700 South Kedzie Ave, about 2,000 feet (610 m) from the main plant on Sacramento Ave, designed to triple its capacity and enable production of two additional wines. [19] The company launched a new line of wines under a different brand name, Key, in 1957. This marketing campaign was unsuccessful and line was dropped after three years. [14]
In the early 1960s, concord wine was still the biggest seller in the Mogen David line, along with a rosé, a blackberry wine, a cherry wine and a dry red wine. [20]
Company founder and chairman Max Cohen announced his resignation on 8 January 1962, citing friction with his brother-in-law, Henry A. Markus who was president of the company. Cohen sold all of his stock to Markus, saying that "I am no longer connected with the firm and I have no interest in it." [6]
The sale of a controlling interest in Mogen David to Richard T. Schofield of Westfield, New York was announced on 9 May 1963, with Schofield taking over as president of the company and Markus appointed chairman. [21] Some operations were moved to Westfield in 1967; Mogen David's Westfield winery was closer to the vineyards in the Northeast that grow Concord grapes for its wines, [22] [23] the Chicago plants remained open. [7] [24]
By 1968, Mogen David was producing a dozen different wines and two kinds of champagne. [25] The company broke away from its conventional Mogen David line with the introduction of the MD 20/20 brand [note 1] of flavored fortified wines that were well received by younger consumers, especially college students. The MD 20/20 line included unusual flavors such as pink grapefruit, wild berry, and Hawaiian blue. [14] [23]
In 1970 the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of New York was the largest soft drink bottler in the world, having merged with the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of New Haven (acquired in 1969) [26] but its growth prospects were limited by the franchise boundaries. When Coke-New York was approached by an investment banking firm to let them know that Mogen David was for sale, they saw an opportunity to become a major competitor in a new industry (Mogen David was the sixth largest winery and the largest Concord grape wine producer in the country) and to pick up a national sales and distribution network. Coke-New York acquired Mogen David on 1 November 1970 by paying $16,750,000 in cash. [14] [27] J. Myron "Mike" Bay was an officer in both companies: President of Mogen David as well as a VP of Coke-New York. [26] [28]
By 1972 Mogen David was producing 27,000 US gallons (100,000 L; 22,000 imp gal) a day in Westfield, NY and 80,000 US gallons (300,000 L; 67,000 imp gal) a day from the two plants in Chicago, for an estimated annual output of 13,000,000 US gallons (49,000,000 L; 11,000,000 imp gal). [28] Mogen David company introduced a "pop wine" product line, Cold Bear (Concord) and Black Bear (blackberry), leading to overall growth in sales of 32 percent for 1972. Mogen David had a staff of over 45 salesmen. Mogen David wines and Tribuno vermouths were marketed nationally through over 300 independent distributors in 1972, in order to strengthen their market position, New York Coca-Cola began consolidating Tribuno and Mogen David distribution networks. [14]
The Jug line of strawberry and apple pop wines, packaged in country-style brown and white jugs, was introduced in 1973. [29] [30] Mogen David had the fourth largest winery and the third largest advertising budget in the wine industry in 1973 [14]
With its 1973 acquisitions of Tribuno Wines (previously Vermouth Industries of America) and later the well established California winery Franzia, Coke-New York was, in all, the third largest US wine producer. [31] Franzia also shipped wine, grape concentrates and brandy in bulk to the Mogen David winery in Westfield, New York, for use in Mogen David products. [14] [22]
Jerome W. "Jerry" Alder joined Mogen David as President and COO in September 1976; former President Mike Bay moved into the new position of Chairman, and continued as Mogen David's CEO. [32] In 1977, the company's administrative and marketing offices moved from the original winery at 3737 South Sacramento Ave, and into space in a new building at 444 Michigan Ave in downtown Chicago. [33] [34]
A study of wine marketing in 1980 found that Mogen David consumers apparently had the strongest brand loyalty in the varietal table wine category. [35]
Discussions between The Coca-Cola Company and The Coca-Cola Bottling Company of New York about a possible acquisition of the latter began in 1974, to little effect. [36]
When merger discussions resumed in 1980, [37] The Coca-Cola Company had already entered the alcoholic beverage market; their Wine Spectrum subsidiary consisting of wineries in California and New York. [22] As part of the proposed merger, The Coca-Cola Company agreed to sell the wine business of Coke-New York to a partnership formed by First Boston and top-level managers of the New York bottler's wine business. [38] Coke-New York divested itself of its three wineries, which were bought in 1981 by The Wine Group, a limited partnership headed by Arthur A. Ciocca, [39] to avoid a buyout involving a third party. [22] [40] The Wine Group was the fifth largest wine producer nationally (just behind Coca-Cola's Wine Spectrum) for 1981 with sales of nine million cases, the same as the year before. [41]
In 1998, 1.5 million adults were drinking Mogen David, putting it just ahead of its chief competitor Manischewitz. [22] By 2005, Manischewitz was again dominant with more than half of kosher wine sales, Mogen David was second with 33 percent of the market. [42]
Coca-Cola, or Coke, is a carbonated soft drink with a cola flavor manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company. In 2013, Coke products were sold in over 200 countries worldwide, with consumers drinking more than 1.8 billion company beverage servings each day. Coca-Cola ranked No. 87 in the 2018 Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations by total revenue. Based on Interbrand's "best global brand" study of 2020, Coca-Cola was the world's sixth most valuable brand.
A winery is a building or property that produces wine, or a business involved in the production of wine, such as a wine company. Some wine companies own many wineries. Besides wine making equipment, larger wineries may also feature warehouses, bottling lines, laboratories, and large expanses of tanks known as tank farms. Wineries may have existed as long as 8,000 years ago.
The Coca-Cola Company is an American multinational corporation founded in 1892. It produces Coca-Cola. The drink industry company also manufactures, sells, and markets other non-alcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups, and alcoholic beverages. The company's stock is listed on the NYSE and is part of the DJIA and the S&P 500 and S&P 100 indexes.
Missouri wine refers to wine made from grapes grown in Missouri. German immigrants in the early-to-mid-19th century founded the wine industry in Missouri, resulting in its wine corridor being called the Missouri "Rhineland". Later Italian immigrants also entered wine production. In the mid-1880s, more wine was produced by volume in Missouri than in any other state. Before prohibition, Missouri was the second-largest wine-producing state in the nation. Missouri had the first area recognized as a federally designated American Viticultural Area with the Augusta AVA acknowledged on June 20, 1980. There are now four AVAs in Missouri. In 2017 there were 125 wineries operating in the state of Missouri, up from 92 in 2009.
Concannon Vineyard is the second-largest winery in the Livermore Valley of California, producing around 30,000 cases annually. It is well known for its Petite Sirah and Concannon was the first winery to bottle this grape as a varietal wine in 1961. Prior to 1961, the petite sirah grape was produced worldwide as a blend wine. It also produces several other varieties of wine, including Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvingnon. Concannon is owned by The Wine Group.
Franzia is a brand of wine produced by The Wine Group, known for its box wines sold in 3 and 5-liter cartons. Franzia wines, throughout their history, were known as affordable table wines, popular in the 1960s and 1970s as "jug wine", and now as "box wine". The Wine Group is the third largest wine company in the world, behind Constellation Brands and the E&J Gallo Winery. The Franzia brand today has no business relationship with Fred Franzia of the Bronco Wine Company, known for its low-cost Charles Shaw wines. The Franzia family sold the brand to Coca-Cola in 1973 when Fred Franzia was in his early adult years; and it was sold to The Wine Group in 1981.
The Wine Group is an American alcoholic beverage company founded in 1981, and based in Livermore, California.
The Bronco Wine Company is a vintner that produces wine under many brands, such as Amusant Bubbly and Ballett Vineyards, and is based south of Ceres, California. It is the fourth largest producer of wine in the United States. Bronco Wine Co has an estimated 10,000 employees globally. There are two companies in the Bronco Wine Co. corporate family.
Manischewitz is a brand of kosher products founded in 1888 in Cincinnati, Ohio, and best known for its matzo and kosher wine. It became a public corporation in 1923 but remained under family control until January 1991, when it was bought out by a private equity firm. On April 7, 2014, Sankaty Advisors, an arm of the private equity firm Bain Capital, bought the company from a group that included the investment firm Harbinger. It is the world's largest Matzo manufacturer, one of America's largest kosher brands, and the first American exporter of matzo.
Urge is a citrus flavored soft drink produced by Coca-Cola Norway that was first introduced in the country in 1996, and later on was released in Denmark and Sweden. It is the predecessor of the American soft drink Surge, which was introduced in the US in 1997. Urge was discontinued in Denmark and Sweden in 2001. In Norway, Urge sales increased greatly over the years reaching a market share near 10% despite receiving no marketing since its initial launch.
Michigan wine refers to any wine that is made in the state of Michigan in the United States. As of 2020, there were 3,375 acres (1,366 ha) under wine-grape cultivation and over 200 commercial wineries in Michigan, producing 3 million US gallons (11,000,000 L) of wine. According to another count there were 112 operating wineries in Michigan in 2007.
Illinois wine refers to any wine that is made from grapes grown in the U.S. state of Illinois. In 2006, Shawnee Hills, in southern Illinois, was named the state's first American Viticultural Area. As of 2008, there were 79 wineries in Illinois, utilizing approximately 1,100 acres (4.5 km2) of vines.
Ernest J. Gallo was an American businessman and philanthropist. Gallo co-founded the E & J Gallo Winery in Modesto, California.
Oak Knoll Winery is a privately held winery located in the Tualatin Valley near Hillsboro, Oregon, United States. Established in 1970, it is the oldest winery in Washington County, and produces Pinot noir, Pinot gris, and Chardonnay. The winery also known for producing Frambosia, a red raspberry wine.
Chateau Morrisette Winery is a winery located in Floyd, Virginia. It was founded by David Morrisette in 1980, making it among the oldest wineries in Virginia. Containing 13 acres (5.3 ha) of land, the winery production has increased to approximately 60,000 cases per year.
Cameron Coca-Cola Bottling Co. was a large Coca-Cola Bottling company in Washington, Pennsylvania.
Charles Shaw is an American brand of bargain-priced wine. Largely made from California grapes, Charles Shaw wines include Cabernet Sauvignon, White Zinfandel, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Valdiguié in the style of Beaujolais nouveau, and limited quantities of Pinot Grigio.
Jugos del Valle (Del Valle Juices) is a Mexican producer of fruit juices and beverages. Founded in 1947, today Jugos del Valle is one of the leading food, juice and beverage companies in Mexico producing popular brands such as Del Valle, Florida 7, Frutsi, Bebere, among others, also acting as a bottler for some Coca-Cola drinks such as Powerade, Energy Brands and Gladiator Energy Drink. Operations range from the US, to Brazil, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, and most parts of Central America. Since 2007 is a wholly owned subsidiary of Coca-Cola FEMSA, the main Mexican bottler of Coca-Cola.
The food industry of Russia is a branch of industry in Russia.
Fred Thomas Franzia was an American winemaker. He was a co-founder and CEO of the Bronco Wine Company, the producer of the Charles Shaw brand, better known as "Two-Buck Chuck".
Winery stakes claim to fame
In May 1953, Murch signed a contract with Wine Corporation of America of Chicago, which produced wines under the Morgan-David [sic] wine label. The contract called for a minimum of 400,000 gallons of juice a year, which was made with Concord grapes.
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(help)The Wine Corporation of America (Mogen David Wine) this week went on a $400,000 binge for the purchase of two shows, one radio and the other TV, for a 13-week period.
Chicago is the site of the world's largest winery producing the sweet, ruby wine known as Mogen David.
Firm Will Manufacture Two More Wines
Mogen David wines are the favorite ones among our military services abroad, and they have been introduced to the Japanese consumer with gratifying response.
The Mogen David Wine corporation has a new winery in New York, and now is able to add New York State wines to a line of 15 still and sparkling bottles.
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(help)Mogen David Wine Corp. was acquired by Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of New York yesterday. Mogen David will continue under its present management.
'The French wines have priced themselves up and out of the market,' says Jerry Adler, president of the Mogen David/Tribuno operation in Chicago, (a unit of Coca-Cola Bottling Company of New York) which recently began importing Italian wines under the Tribuno label.
Mogen David Wine Corp. recently averted a costly relocation mistake when it hired a commercial design firm to assess its space needs.
The latter firm's Mogen David Wine Corp. subsidiary (a Chicago firm) is its biggest profit maker.
In November of 1980, the Company began steps to purchase The Coca-Cola Bottling Company of New York, Inc. (Coca-Cola New York), the largest U.S. bottler of Coca-Cola.
The Wine Group, once a division of Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of New York, became a limited partnership to acquire Mogen David, Tribuno, and Franzia Bros. from Coca-Cola.
If your parents insist on Concord grape wine at this year's seder, take it from an objective gentile: serve them Mogen David.