Rochester Business Journal Leading source of business news and information in Rochester, N.Y.

The craft beer industry has so far weathered the challenges brought on by COVID-19, but industry experts and local brewers do not yet know what long-term effects may occur as a result of the virus. They do say, however, that ...

Before Paul “Pauly” Guglielmo closed on the purchase of his own manufacturing facility to make his marinara sauce in May, he was worried that the seller of Permac Enterprises was going to take him back to the negotiating table because ...

Coping with COVID-19 restrictions affecting all aspects of a food and beverage manufacturer’s business requires adapting business strategies to keep up with the challenges new laws, safety procedures and new practices require. The health of the workers and the business ...

As enhanced federal unemployment benefits expire, one private employment firm is working to fill some 250 jobs across the Rochester region for employers in a range of industries. Lindsay McCutchen, president and founder of Career Start Workforce Management Group, said ...

Matt Lester didn’t create a partnership with Donohoe Management to acquire the old cannery in downtown Fairport and then come up with a vision for how to use the landmark structure. Instead, there first was a vision for a mixed-use ...

Constellation Brands has acquired Empathy Wines and plans to use the digitally native wine brand to expand its own direct-to-consumer platform. The acquisition is part of Constellation’s vision to be a “bold and innovative, high-end portfolio of distinctive brands and ...

Jordan Harris has been hired as winemaker by Heron Hill Winery. Named to Wine Enthusiast’s Top 40 under 40 winemakers in 2013, Harris comes to Heron Hill from Tarara Winery in Leesburg, Va., where he was winemaker and general manager. ...

Recipe 21, a division of LiDestri Foods Inc., on Thursday rolled out its hand sanitizer line for the general public in direct response to COVID-19 relief efforts and the nationwide supply shortage. LiDestri previously had adjusted its spirits production at ...

Tagged with: children of restaurant employees covid hand sanitizer hold in the wall gang camp LiDestri palmer's recipe 21 Red Wings

Lester Eber, who worked for more than six decades in the wine and liquor industry, much of that time representing the former family-owned Eber Brothers Wine & Liquor distribution company in Rochester, died April 5 from complications of COVID-19. He ...

Tagged with: Eber Brothers Metropolitan Package Store Association New York Wine & Grape Foundation obituary Sam Filler Souther Glazer's Wine and Spirits

With restaurants and a hotel scheduled to open later this year, the Lake House on Canandaigua resort has scheduled a virtual job fair April 23 to fill out the ranks at the resort. At the same time, the resort on ...

Tagged with: Constellation Brands job fair Kevin Kenyon Lake House on Canandaigua Sands Family Simon Dewar

Beer is booming for Constellation Brands, particularly its Modello brands,the Victor-based company shared in an annual financial report Friday.  Gains over the previous year resulted in a dividend of 75 cents per Class A share and 68 cents per Class ...

Tagged with: beer Bill Newlands Constellations covid-19 Modello spirits wine

Fairport’s Iron Smoke Distillery is the latest craft distillery that is switching from making liquor to making alcohol-based hand sanitizer in this era of pandemic.  But Iron Smoke is partnering with Rochester Midland Corporation, a 140-year-old company specializing in sanitation, ...

Tagged with: hand sanitizer Iron Smoke Distillery Rochester Midland Corporation

Constellation Brands is committing $2.5 million in donations to help provide relief in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The international beverage company based in Victor announced Thursday that its donations, made in partnerships with some of its major brands, ...

Instead of grilling a gorgeous steak and creating a beautiful plate presentation late last week, restaurateur Tony Gullace  was alone in the kitchen at Max at Eastman Place, cutting raw steaks and sealing them by Cryovac so customers could cook ...

Tagged with: Aaron Lipp Antler Run Distilling Aunt Rosie's Black Button Distilling Co. com Finger Lakes Distilling Jason Barrett Max at Eastman Place Max's Chop House Sam Jividen Sandra Holloway ShopLocalli Steuben Brewing Co. Tasteful Connections Tony Gullace

Much as car makers were pressed into service to make tanks during World War II, today’s COVID-19 pandemic has led Black Button Distilling to turn over its operation from making spirits to manufacturing hand sanitizer.  “We are uniquely qualified to ...

Tagged with: black button distilling hand sanitizer Jason Barrett Monroe County Medical Society