French Bloom was founded in 2021 by husband-and-wife team, Rodolphe and Maggie Frerejean-Taittinger, who are involved in both Champagne and Cognac.

For those who want to pursue a healthy lifestyle while enjoying the charm of wine, how about French Bloom, a non-alcoholic sparkling wine that combines French tradition and innovation?

Cheetah Clean Auto Wash expands to Gallatin, Tennessee, marking its 12th location set to open in October 2024.

There are impressive and rare American whiskeys available to bid on now.

French Bloom is infusing new, booze-free energy into bubbly.

When cookbook author Meredith Erickson created an absurdly delicious cocktail, she knew she had to share more than just the recipe with the world.

It’s been four years in the making, but the founders of French Bloom have created the first £100+ alcohol-free sparkling wine – and it starts with a base that’s “almost undrinkable”.

French Bloom’s La Cuvée is the new alcohol-free sparkling wine that costs more than £100 a bottle. But who’s going to buy it and what does it taste like?

La Cuvée Vintage Blanc de Blanc 2022 is artfully crafted to pair with gastronomy, pulling cues from well-aged Champagnes and wines from Jura.

Bain & Company’s eighth annual review recognizes high-growth US consumer products brands.

Sparkling champagne-style chardonnay goes on sale after four years in the making.

Mezcal brand The Lost Explorer has partnered with maestro Tequilero Enrique de Colsa to create its first Tequila.

Take a trip to Mexico with GQ’s guide to the best tequila brands on the market right now, include the Lost Explorer Mezcal Salmiana.

Since French Bloom’s debut in France, the sparkling wine brand has expanded to 28 countries.

Launched in October 2021, alcohol-free sparkling wine French Bloom is now available in 28 countries worldwide.

Since launching in 2017, Komos has not only found success with consumers, but has also earned some of the highest accolades in the industry.

Even in the past six months, the non-alcoholic wine space has improved dramatically, with new offerings showing surprising complexity.

The Plug is one of those examples of a brand that has the X factor. In the crowded category of hangover cures and liver health, this brand has managed to grow 500% for 2 consecutive years and has recently become profitable.

Whether with Tuesday night dinner, in between glasses of wine, or simply because you’re currently cutting back—there’s a place for a great non-alcoholic option in your drinking plans.

From the most luscious caviar to impeccably delicate petit fours, this holiday’s gifts for gourmets will satisfy the most exacting epicure.

In an oversaturated marketplace, these agave expressions truly stand out.

Superbird Fuego Proves Spicy Tequila Can Be Insanely Delicious.

With a range of ideas that includes both budget-friendly and lavish, the gifts featured are products she likely wouldn’t buy for herself.

A Top Model and a Director of the Michelin Guide founded the World’s Best Alcohol-Free Sparkling.

The name XO takes a page from the Cognac maturation playbook.

See the cocktail soirée in honor of a collaboration between New York-based fashion label Hellessy and the alcohol-free sparkling wine brand French Bloom.

Cheetah Clean plans to refurbish and rebrand all units as Cheetah Clean Auto Wash in the coming months.

Cheetah Clean Auto Wash announced its continued expansion with the acquisition of WaterWorks Auto Wash.

Forget Cristalinos and embrace some real agave innovation.

The duo have turned their long friendship into a thriving business partnership.

From the essential spirit substitutes and how to mix them to the most striking glasses, everything you need to serve festive zero-proof cocktails.

For those who have only tried bright blancos and honeyed reposados, añejo tequilas can be a revelation. Think of these as sipping tequilas.

To keep your bar cart up to speed this summer, here’s the ultimate guide to the best blanco, reposado and anejo tequilas for slamming and sipping.

As the US firm tapa growing American interest in wine and spirits as an investment category, the group says its creation of retail site offers opportunities to purchase rare bottles.

If you’re planning a gathering, cocktails might be top of mind!

There are more non-alcoholic spirits, spritzers, and mixers than ever—and they’re worthy of display in a fancy home bar setup.

In the current boom of the ready-to-drink cocktail market, competition has never been more fierce.

Podcasting takes on the topic of the wine industry business with shows such as the Vint Podcast on wine investing.

Mocktails are no longer just on trend—they’ve become standard.

The ready-to-drink cocktail trend is still booming, and some celebrities have decided to get in on the action.

As if by magic, Spiritless delivers everything there is to love about whiskey, but without the booze or harsh burning sensation.

Komos has unveiled the latest addition to its lineup of ultra-luxury tequilas, Komos Añejo Reserva.

Cheetah Clean Auto Wash announced the acquisition of Nashville’s Wash Me Express Car Wash and Suds Up.

With these acquisitions, Cheetah Clean now owns and operates eight locations in Kentucky and Tennessee.

Two brothers have been taking the beverage industry by storm with their hard seltzer brand, Happy Dad.

Here are best non-alcoholic whiskeys according to Sporked.com.

The New Bar becomes the first nonalcoholic retail partner for the trendsetting event.

The beverage industry is placing increasing effort into developing suitable alternatives for customers who don’t drink booze, and it’s paying off.

French Bloom included among brands that supports feminism, children’s wellbeing, and equality for everyone.

Not only on Cinco de Mayo or on National Margarita Day, but any time there is a celebration, tequila is one of the best things to have on hand, adding some life to any party.

Cheetah Clean Auto Wash traces its origins back to 2007 when the Chairman and CEO of the company, Jeff Fields, opened the first location.

Making a sophisticated alcohol-free cocktail has never been easier, thanks to a growing number of complex non-alcoholic bottlings.

If you need a place to begin, here are some of the best sipping tequila bottles on the market.

Collaboration brings beverage alcohol delivery from Gopuff to the Drizly marketplace, expands network of BevMo! and Liquor Barn stores.

Cheetah Clean Auto Wash has officially opened the doors to its sixth branded location on Thursday, Jan 26.

Highlighting the venture industry’s newest fund managers as nominated by their LPs and founders they’ve backed.

In this episode of the Vint Podcast, Brady and Billy chat with Andrew Nelson, Partner and President of WarRoom Cellars.

In recent years, the non-alcoholic space has exploded in breadth and depth. Once restricted to a handful of botanical waters, alcohol-free options now arrive in a range of guises.

It’s official — Cheetah Clean Auto Wash is replacing Shoney’s on the south end of Frederica Street.

The shot-slamming image is gradually fading away. The chugging days have passed. Tequila is now to be enjoyed slowly. Tequila is to be discerned not simply downed.

Despite economic challenges, culture wars, and continuing congressional inaction, the industry remains a great place to work.

Whiskey connoisseur Fred Minnick reviews Spiritless Cinnamon Whiskey.

Not wanting to put all eggs in one basket is not a new impulse.

Mezcal is a traditional Mexican spirit and has been produced and beloved in the country for centuries. It’s a product of the agave or maguey plant. There are more than 14 agave species that can be used to produce mezcal, including Angustifolia (also known as Espadín), Cupreata, and Salmiana. 

The sister spirit of tequila is this season’s latest trend. We put 14 mezcals through two phases of rigorous testing by an expert panel. Each was sipped blind, then mixed with water to soften the alcohol and allow the underlying flavours to come through.

Do you invest in wine and spirits? Fintech startup Vint thinks everyone should, and is hoping to facilitate this. But don’t expect bottles to be shipped to you: Investments via Vint are fractional. Depending on how deep your pockets are, this is probably for the best.

The best gifts for men are well established by now: beer or spirits, ties or socks. But it’s unlikely that the best gift for dad is going to be the best gift for your boyfriend. Do gifts for grandads also work for husbands, brothers and sons? It’s trickier than it looks.

Fresh off of a tour of performances around the country, Chrissy is writing songs, spending time in Nashville, and charting a course for life after This Is Is, which recently ended its run on television.

Cheetah Clean Auto Wash recently had a brand facelift; the six locations are now part of Cheetah Clean Holding Company. With a new LLC and support from partners Blue Equity, its leadership has fresh motivation to take the chain to the next level.

You don’t need to spend a month’s rent to buy a flavorful bottle of vodka. You do need a little help from the pros though. That’s why we asked a few well-known spirits experts and distillers to tell us the best vodkas you can buy today.

Started by a leadership team of spirits industry experts in partnership with maestro mezcalero Don Fortino Ramos, The Lost Explorer Mezcal is beating those odds with mission focus, strategic clarity, operational excellence and digital savvy.

The brand has flourished thanks to a core foundation of sustainable practices and the roll out of its sales and marketing activations – which contributed towards the successful launch of the ultra-premium, handcrafted agave spirit.

The U.K. last year announced new policies pertaining to BNPL companies, while the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in September signaled it would subject BNPL vendors to stricter oversight.

The partnership announced Tuesday will initially be rolled out in New York, Los Angeles, Boston and three other US cities before arriving in hundreds of Gopuff locations across the country.

Goodnow’s initial products include over-the-counter medications for pain, allergy, cold, flu and sinus relief as well as first aid, sleep aids, diagnostic test kits and more, all manufactured in GMP-certified facilities.

Through an inspiring partnership devoted to raising awareness about the perils of deforestation, Annabel’s and The Caring Family Foundation are the UK’s largest donor to reforestation in the Brazilian Amazon.

Mezcal brand The Lost Explorer has collaborated with private member’s club Annabel’s to launch a bottle that will raise funds for the Amazon rainforest. The partnership sees the release of 1,000 limited edition bottles of The Lost Explorer Mezcal. Proceeds will go towards The Caring Family Foundation’s rainforest-saving commitments.

Cheetah Clean Auto Wash is expanding again after the company announced that it was buying a car wash on Campbell Lane. The company said it agreed to purchase the Campbell Lane Express Car Wash. With the purchase, Cheetah Clean will own and operate four Cheetah Clean car washes in the Bowling Green area.

Blue Equity, a Louisville-based private equity firm, is investing in Bowling Green-based Cheetah Clean Auto Wash. The investment by Blue Equity will provide Cheetah Clean additional growth capital, human capital and back-office support. The partnership will also provide marketing support and advisement on possible future expansion.

The singer and actress opens up about the end of This Is Us, the start of her City Winery music tour and the importance of being your most authentic self no matter what venture you’re pursuing. The tour has just begun, but fans of Metz may be surprised to hear she has been pursuing a career in music for quite some time.

As tequila sales continue to outpace all other traditional spirit categories*, Spirit of Gallo has announced a strategic investment in the Tequila Komos brand, the highest-rated tequila portfolio, assuming U.S. distribution rights effective immediately.

Blue Equity has formalized an investment and partnership with Cheetah Clean Auto Wash, a Bowling Green-based chain of car washes to provide additional growth capital, human capital, back-office support, advisement on geographic expansion, involvement in governmental affairs, marketing support, and more.

Blue Equity, an independent private equity firm, is pleased to announce that it has formalized an investment and partnership with Cheetah Clean Auto Wash. Cheetah Clean Auto Wash is Kentucky’s leading locally owned and operated chain of car washes with five sites in Bowling Green, Owensboro and Shepherdsville.

Gopuff, the go-to solution for immediate, everyday needs, has today announced that it has acquired Liquor Barn, one of Kentucky’s leading independent chains of beer, wine and liquor stores, from private equity firm Blue Equity. The deal cements Gopuff’s leadership in the Instant Needs category.

Liquor Barn-Party Mart-DEP’S, where “Kentuckians Go To Celebrate Life” with Kentucky’s best selection of spirits, wine, beer and cigars, announces the acquisition of longtime Kentucky retailer J’s Liquors Tasting Bar and Cheese Shop and J’s Liquors–West Parrish in Owensboro, Kentucky.

E.J. Welch said it has now acquired the Indiana, Western Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio territories—which also includes facilities—of Gilford-Johnson Flooring, effective Sept. 28, 2020. Gilford-Johnson ranked No. 19 on FCNews’ Top 20 Distributors’ 2019 list with projected sales of $92 million.

Jonathan Blue jumped on technology early, and he’s seen that move pay off exponentially as Covid-19 has drastically impacted customer purchasing habits. Blue is chairman and managing director of Blue Equity LLC, which owns 20 retail stores in Kentucky. Two years ago, shortly after the Kentucky General Assembly passed legislation allowing liquor stores to deliver…

Excerpted from prnewswire.com After enabling retailers to manage 700% growth in online sales during the Covid19 pandemic, City Hive prepared businesses with tools to maneuver phased re-entry protocols. NEW YORK, May 26, 2020 – City Hive (www.cityhive.net), an omni-channel digital commerce and data platform used by more than 1,500 beverage alcohol retailers in over 500…

Excerpted from BizJournals.com Amid the coronavirus being classified a pandemic by the World Health Organization on Wednesday, John Johnson, owner of The Wine Rack, said he saw Thursday alcohol sales increase 100%. Monday and Tuesday were slow as people were “shell shocked” with the news of COVID-19’s spread—with trips only from work to home, Johnson…

Excerpted from Insider Louisville.  Beer cheese may be one of mankind’s perfect food inventions. Cheese? Good. Beer? Arguably better. But now Liquor Barn has given us something else to ponder: bourbon cheese. That’s right, the Liquor Barn and Party Mart chain, which is well-known for stocking gourmet foods as well as plenty of tasty beverages,…

In the mood to discover an under-the-radar tropical vacation destination? Bypass the mega-resorts and crowded beaches and check out these 11 sublime Caribbean hideaways, all of which excel at relaxed luxury, discreet service, and a heavenly sense of seclusion. Mukan, Mexico Located 23 miles from the coastal hotspot of Tulum but a world away in…

For those who want to experience seclusion within an idyllic beach landscape, yet also enjoy luxe accommodations that make them completely forget they’re in a remote nature reserve, the Mukan Resort is where they need to be. Nestled between a pristine white sand beach and a lush, tropical jungle, Mukan is the first luxury ecoresort…

Excerpted from Insider Louisville Local chain Liquor Barn is poking at the competition with a strategically placed billboard advertisement. Maryland-based Total Wine & More posted a billboard advertisement along Interstate 71 downtown promoting its location across Shelbyville Road from Mall St. Matthews, touting it as “worth the drive.” The liquor, beer and wine superstore opened its…

Louisville, KY (February 1, 2019) – Liquor Barn, where Kentuckians go to celebrate life with Kentucky’s best selection of spirits, wine, beer and cigars, announces their 2019 private barrel selection series today. “We are thrilled to be offering this unique experience to our loyal customers,” says Jonathan Blue, Chairman and Managing Director of Blue Equity…

February 05, 2019, LOS ANGELES and LOUISVILLE, KY., – Blue Equity (blueequity.com) has announced the hiring of Mike Isenberg (mike@3kingsentertainment.net) as Vice President of Talent Development at 3 Kings Entertainment (www.3kingsentertainment.net) as it continues to expand its extensive platform in the representation, talent and entertainment businesses. 3 Kings Entertainment, based in Los Angeles, CA, is…

Many hotels cluster around these stunning destinations, but a select legion are close enough to capture them. The United States’ looming departure from UNESCO has the best of us clenching our fists. But instead of stamping our feet, there’s all the more reason to put one foot in front of the other and travel to international horizons that honor…

August 24, 2018, LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, USA – Liquor Barn-Party Mart, Kentucky’s largest locally owned and operated retail chain of beer, spirits and wine announces that Kentuckian Jason Lois, Liquor Barn-Party Mart’s cigar expert and buyer has qualified to compete at the 2018 Cigar Smoking World Championship (www.cswcworld.com). The global challenge will be held in Split,…

Excerpted from Louisville Business First The Springhurst Towne Center Liquor Barn will relocate, and it will add a bar and patio. But it’s not moving far. The Liquor Barn location will scoot a few doors down, from 42,000 square feet at 4301 Towne Center Drive to about 20,000 square feet at 4131 Towne Center Drive.…

Gilford•Johnson Flooring has been ranked #26 on Louisville Business First’s list of Largest Private companies, ranked by total revenue. To view the full list at Louisville Business First, click HERE. 

Liquor Barn-Party Mart, Kentucky’s largest locally owned and operated retail chain of beer, spirits and wine has launched a “Liquor Barn” app and an e-commerce component on their website (www.liquorbarn.com). In conjunction with the app and updated website, Liquor Barn now offers on- demand alcohol delivery in the Louisville and Lexington areas. Customers of legal…

Liquor Barn and Party Mart have given Louisville the news it needs on a Friday. The two locally owned wine, beer and spirits providers are now delivering alcoholic beverages to residences, offices and elsewhere in Louisville and Lexington, according to their owner, Blue Equity. The private equity firm bought the 15 Liquor Barn locations in…

Excerpted from www.Courier-Journal.com His blood smells like cologne and his hands feel like rich brown suede. His organ donation card includes his beard. Dicing onions doesn’t make him cry — it just makes him stronger. He is the life of the party he has never attended. And his business card says simply “I’ll call you.”…

If you’ve ever shopped for beer, wine, or spirits in Kentucky, chances are you’ve visited a Liquor Barn store. It’s the largest independent chain of alcohol retailers in the state and boasts some of the largest and most elaborate bourbon allocations in the world. Founded in 1984, the chain was family-owned until 2009, when it was acquired by…

Blue Equity is now a dominant force in the Bluegrass State’s retailing scene.  Blue Equity is heavily invested in Kentucky’s beverage alcohol retail industry after purchasing Party Mart in 2015 and Liquor Barn last year. Market Watch caught up with Jonathan Blue, chairman of Blue Equity, to discuss his plans for the future…. To read…

March 20, 2018, NEW YORK, NY and LOUISVILLE, KY – Two Twelve Management / BEST announced today the signing of three notable celebrity and globally recognized chefs as clients: Tyler Florence, Amanda Freitag and Grace Ramirez. Two Twelve Management is based in New York City and is one of the premier, full-service chef representation management,…

Excerpted from SVGEurope.org The autonomous production of sporting events, eliminating the need for an on-site production team, director or camera operator, is making serious headway among professional clubs, federations and leagues. The technology is gaining ground as a tactical and performance analysis tool and increasingly used to fully automate live streamed production. Spanish soccer league…

Napoli Management Group, the TV talent rep firm that is home to MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow and Chris Hayes, has sold a majority interest to Louisville, Ky.-based Blue Equity private investment firm. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Blue Equity already owns a portfolio of specialty talent rep firms such as Two Twelve Management,…

December 11, 2017, BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA and LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – Blue Equity (blueequity.com) has announced that it has acquired a majority stake in Napoli Management Group (www.tvtalent.com) as it continues to expand its extensive platform in the representation, talent and entertainment businesses. Napoli Management Group, based in Beverly Hills, CA, is one of the largest…

Sales of U.S. assets will place focus directly on core Alberta, B.C. and Alaska markets EDMONTON, ALBERTA, November 20, 2017 – Liquor Stores N.A. Ltd. (the “Company” or “Liquor Stores”) (TSX: LIQ) today announced that it has acted on the strategy endorsed by shareholders in June of refocussing on its core markets of Alberta, B.C.…

November 20, 2017, LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, USA – Private equity firm Blue Equity (blueequity.com) has announced that it has acquired Kentucky-based spirits, beer and wine retailer Liquor Barn (www.liquorbarn.com) from Liquor Stores N.A. Ltd., a publicly traded company based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. As a part of the transaction, the corporate offices and all operations of…

Gilford●Johnson Flooring, a portfolio company of Blue Equity, LLC (www.gilfordjohnson.com), announced today that it has purchased Mastercraft Flooring Distributors, one of South Florida’s leading floor covering distributors and a long-time fixture in the industry. Gilford●Johnson Flooring is one of the industry’s largest business-to-business residential, commercial, and architectural flooring wholesale distributors. Blue Equity, LLC, the majority…

September 19, 2017, LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – Blue Equity has announced that it has acquired Two Twelve Management (www.two12.com) as it continues to expand its representation and entertainment businesses. Two Twelve Management is based in New York City and is one of the premier, full-service chef representation management, advisory and consultancy companies in the industry, focused on…

Globecomm Systems Inc., a Hauppauge-based satellite communications company, has been sold to an investor group led by Manhattan-based HPS Investment Partners LLC and funds affiliated with Tennenbaum Capital Partners LLC, based in Santa Monica, California. Financial terms of the sale by Globecomm’s private equity owner, Manhattan-based Wasserstein & Co., were not disclosed. Wasserstein & Co.…

By Liz Mullen of SportsBusiness Journal The business of representing sports broadcasters, once made up of boutique firms in New York and scattered player agents representing a few clients in second-career broadcast work, has over the last five years become more specialized and more centralized. And that center is becoming Los Angeles, home to the…

A U.S. talent agency hopes to become the first American company to recruit Cubans on a ‘large scale’ in decades By Suzette Laboy Cuba, the largest island in the Caribbean, is ripe with the talented artists Jonathon Blue is looking for. “For that many people with that education level and literacy rate, we think it…

KanXuk Blue Maya Resort is the First Intimate Eco-Conscious Luxury Resort with Five Star Amenities Located on the Caribbean Coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula FEBRUARY 28, 2017, QUINTANA ROO, MEXICO – Today, KanXuk (pronounced kän shu̇k) Blue Maya Resort (www.bluemayaresort.com) is announcing the opening of its luxury resort located in the Sian Ka’an biosphere coastline…

JULY 22, 2016, LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – Blue Equity Publishing, LLC a division of Blue Equity, LLC, announced today that it has sold its publishing assets, including The Voice-Tribune, The Voice of Louisville and Modern Louisville publications to Lifestyle Media, LLC, the owner and publisher of LEO Weekly. Blue Equity Publishing, LLC is a premier, full…

[real3dflipbook id=”1″]   For Fullscreen Mode, click icon on far right above. To visit the KanXuk Luxury Resort website, click HERE.

May 25, 2016, LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – Blue Equity (blueequity.com) has announced that it has acquired 3 Kings Entertainment (www.3kingsentertainment.net) as it continues to add to its platform in the sports and entertainment industry. 3 Kings Entertainment is based in Washington, D.C. and is one of the premier, full-service broadcasting talent agencies in the industry, focused…

Excerpted from the USA Today story by Alan Gomez MIAMI — A U.S. talent agency signed a contract in Havana on Monday to work with a Cuban entrepreneur, a seemingly simple deal that marks a big change in the relationship between the two countries. Jonathan Blue, chairman and managing director of the Louisville-based investment firm Blue…

Jonathan Blue’s response to Private Funds Management’s Monthly Challenge was featured in the August issue and is excerpted below. The challenge: Following a half-century of hostility, relations between the US and Cuba are finally warming up. Last month, full diplomatic relations between the two sovereigns were restored, and in May, the US government removed Cuba from the…

Louisville, Kentucky, September 2, 2015– Blue Equity Publishing, LLC (www.blue-pub.com)announced the release and distribution of the inaugural issue of “Modern Louisville,” (www.modernlouisville.com) Louisville’s first and only LGBTQ lifestyle magazine. “Modern Louisville” will be published bi-monthly, beginning with the September/October 2015 issue. While the magazine will feature LGBTQ themes and stories, the content will also include…

Excerpted from the Sports Business Journal article By Liz Mullen, Staff Writer Jonathan Blue is looking to get back in the sports business five years after he sold BEST, the agency he created through several rollup acquisitions, to Lagardère Unlimited. Blue, chairman and managing director of Blue Equity, is in multiple acquisition talks with sports…

Excerpted from The Courier-Journal article by Jonathan Blue. When the startling announcement came from the White House on Dec. 17 that new rules for Americans traveling and engaging with Cuba and its people would be established, it set off a chain of events that has led many to consider doing business in a market from which Americans were…

Excerpted from Insider Louisville article by Stephen George. Seven years ago, Louisville investor Jonathan Blue started getting interested in Cuban art. Seven months ago, he had little more than a hunch it would become a major new investment opportunity for his private equity firm, Blue Equity. But that all changed in December, when President Barack…

Excerpted from The Washington Post article by Chuck Culpepper. LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Yes. In the aeronautical wonderland of 2015, a person might attend both the Kentucky Derby in Louisville on Saturday evening and the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight 1,618 miles away in Las Vegas on Saturday night. Yes. It could get dicey. In fact, a seasoned Louisvillian…

Excerpted from the CNBC article by Reem Nasr. Five months ago, Jonathan Blue made the decision to add a special team to his private investment firm, Blue Equity, in Louisville, Kentucky. Three people would research the Cuban market, looking for opportunities as relations ease between the two countries. “We think that it’s inevitable that one…

Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) (NASDAQ: CHDN) announced today it has launched a print and online publication that gives customers and fans a provocative and inside look into thoroughbred racing and its iconic events. Self-titled Churchill Downs, the magazine’s first edition hits homes April 16, and focuses on the most exciting two minutes in sports, the Kentucky…

Hamilton, Bermuda, March 30, 2015 — Family-owned Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, has expanded its portfolio of super-premium spirits with the acquisition of Louisville-based Angel’s Share Brands, its subsidiary, Louisville Distilling Co., and its ANGEL’S ENVY™ brand. This deal marks the Company’s entry into the bourbon category of the…

Excerpted from the CNN Money article by Patrick Gillespie. Buzz is building about the United States and Cuba rebuilding relations. No one seems more excited than American travelers. Cuba has been the “forbidden fruit” for U.S. tourism over the last 50 years and Americans are giddy to see their southern neighbor. But should Americans’ hunger…

Excerpted from the SvD Kultur article by Helena Gustavsson. In a garden in Louisville, Kentucky, is The Chrysler Building. Rather, a much smaller and curvier version of the iconic building in New York. The tower has namely been a basement extension in the form of a coiled fire hose that continues far down below street…

Excerpted from The Wall Street Journal article by Tripp Mickle. Bacardi Ltd. on Monday said it has acquired the company behind the Angel’s Envy bourbon brand, giving the family-owned rum and spirits company its first American whiskey. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. Bacardi was a minority investor in Angel’s Envy before the acquisition.…

Excerpted from The Courier-Journal article by Gregory Hall. The Louisville start-up Angel’s Envy whiskey brand that was the brainchild of the Henderson family is now the property of a Bermuda-based spirits industry giant under a deal announced Monday. But Wes Henderson — who started Angel’s Envy almost a decade ago to get his legendary master…

Excerpted from The New York Times article by Victoria Burnett.  HAVANA — Kadir López was working in his studio at his elegant home here when the doorbell rang. It was Will Smith and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. “I had no idea they were coming,” said Mr. López, whose work incorporates salvaged American signs and ads…

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — As a University of Louisville trustee, Jonathan Blue understands why the university, through its foundation, has become one of the biggest real estate developers in Louisville. As money from the state government shrinks, U of L has to generate its own funds to make up the difference, he said. But as…

Excerpted from Louisville Magazine: Not surprisingly, whoever is the current mayor has been number one each time except 1996 — when Jones edged out Abramson. Mayor Greg Fischer is in the top spot this go-round, as he was in 2011. If you narrow the time frame to the last 10 years, you fnd a few…

Phaidon, the world’s leading publisher and distributor of books and digital products in the creative arts, today announced a global partnership with Artspace Marketplace, Inc. (www.artspace.com), the leading online marketplace for discovering and collecting fine art. The acquisition establishes a global community for art enthusiasts and professionals, artists, collectors, non-profits, galleries, and cultural institutions. Artspace…

Leon D. Black is known for striking bold acquisitions through the private equity firm he runs, Apollo Global Management. But the deal-making extends to his extracurricular activities as well. Phaidon, a publisher of fine art books that Mr. Black owns personally, said on Thursday that it had agreed to buy Artspace Marketplace, a start-up that…

BellaNovus Development Co. LLC, maker of the Ouchless Needle, has been sold to Cleveland-based medical device firm Gebauer Co. The deal was finalized last week, according to BellaNovus chief operating officer Peter Resnik. Resnik also is managing director of consulting firm Tocqueville Ventures LLC and operating director at private-equity firm Blue Equity LLC.  Resnik…

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BUSINESS WIRE) Louisville Distilling Co. LLC, producers of the highly celebrated Angel’s Envy bourbon, announced today that it will construct a new state-of-the-art distillery and brand experience center in downtown Louisville. The company has concluded a deal with the State of Kentucky for the purchase of property on the corner of Main Street…

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BUSINESS WIRE) Industrial Services of America, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDSA), a company that buys, processes and markets ferrous and non-ferrous metals and other recyclable commodities for domestic users and export markets and offers programs and equipment to help businesses manage waste, today announced changes to the corporate governance structure and management of the Company.…

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BUSINESS WIRE) Industrial Services of America, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDSA), a company that buys, processes and markets ferrous and non-ferrous metals and other recyclable commodities for domestic users and export markets, and offers programs and equipment to help businesses manage waste, today announced that it has entered into a management agreement with Louisville-based Blue Equity,…

Louisville-based Blue Equity LLC has entered a management agreement with Louisville-based Industrial Services of America Inc. (NASDAQ: IDSA). Blue Equity will begin managing the company today, working with its existing team to review operations and identify opportunities for growth, a news release said. Industrial Services of America is a scrap-recycling company. It acquires, processes and…

Louisville-based Blue Equity, LLC announced today that Blue Equity has entered into a management agreement with Industrial Services of America, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDSA). Effective April 1, 2013, Blue Equity will commence management oversight of Industrial Services of America, Inc. (“ISA”) including working with ISA’s existing team to review operations and identify opportunities for growth and…

Industrial Services of America, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDSA), a company that buys, processes and markets ferrous and non-ferrous metals and other recyclable commodities for domestic users and export markets, and offers programs and equipment to help businesses manage waste, today announced that it has entered into a management agreement with Louisville-based Blue Equity, LLC (“Blue Equity”).…

The Rubis Group is in an advanced stage negotiation with Blue Equity, LLC for the purchase of its fuels distribution business in Jamaica. Blue Equity’s portfolio company, The Antilles Group Limited (TAG), supplies a network of 53 service stations currently operating under the Shell brand (the original shareholder), and has a broad customer base in the commercial and industrial…

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs has selected a site to serve as the location of a 21st century medical center in Louisville, Ky., replacing an existing 60-year-old facility. “This new hospital will provide state-of-the-art health care for the Veterans of Louisville and the surrounding 35-county region,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “At VA,…

North American investors, Jonathan Blue and Jay Yeo, are touting their positive investment experiences, in the Caribbean region. At the Invest Caribbean Now forum on June 6th in New York City, both institutional investors shared their experiences with over 150 delegates including over a dozen Caribbean ministers of government. Blue, chair of Blue Equity LLC, spoke…

Rudolph Reece, operator of the Shell Service Station along Spanish Town Road in Kingston, walked away with the Chairman’s Award at The Antilles Group’s (TAG) Chairman’s Award Dinner at Breezes Runaway Bay Resort & Golf Club in St Ann last Thursday night. The function, held to recognise outstanding contribution of Shell dealers to their community…

(Kingston, Jamaica) Blue Equity LLC is now focused on integrating new asset Shell gas operator Cool Petroleum Holdings into the group, and says it will be expanding the network of gas stations nationwide. The private equity firm also hinted at another acquisition later this year, saying it remains optimistic about Jamaica’s prospects as an investment destination.…

Local businessmen Jonathan Blue and Gant Hill plan to transform the aging Molee Building in downtown Louisville into apartments. Hill said the partners are working with local preservation and landmarks officials on the planned project, and details have not been finalized. The five-story Molee Building is located at 425 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd., between Fourth…

Artspace.com, one of a wave of online art dealers that is starting to change the way contemporary art is bought and sold, said on Monday that it had raised $2.5 million from a group of investors. Additionally, it said, it had signed up several prominent museums and galleries – among them the New Museum, the…

Joey Issa has sold a chunk of his stake in Cool Petroleum — the operator of Shell service stations in Jamaica — which along with Neal and Massy’s 40 per cent block has given Kentucky-based private equity firm Blue Equity a controlling interest. The purchase price was not disclosed, but Rodney Davis, the outgoing CEO…

There are some exciting changes taking place at the Shell gas stations islandwide, and much of that is due to Jonathan Blue, chairman of The Antilles Group (TAG), the owner of Shell Jamaica since December 2011. On his recent trip to Jamaica, Blue told The Gleaner that Shell’s success is because of a dedicated and…

Blue Equity, LLC and Cool Corp Limited announced today that Blue Equity has acquired a controlling interest in Cool Petroleum Holdings Limited (“Cool Petroleum”), the licensed user of Shell brands in the country of Jamaica. Blue Equity purchased controlling interest in Cool Petroleum pursuant to agreements through which Blue Equity acquired Neal and Massy Holdings,…

United States private equity firm Blue Equity has purchased a controlling interest in Cool Petroleum, the largest fuel retailer in Jamaica, according to a company release. Cool Petroleum is the licensed user of Shell brands in Jamaica, and the largest fuel retailer by volume in Jamaica, and has more than 50 Shell service stations on…

United States private equity firm Blue Equity has purchased a controlling interest in Cool Petroleum, the largest fuel retailer in Jamaica, according to a company release. Cool Petroleum is the licensed user of Shell brands in Jamaica, and the largest fuel retailer by volume in Jamaica, and has more than 50 Shell service stations on…

“The five or six people who run this town…” I’ve heard that phrase used dozens of times in about as many different contexts in the 12 years I’ve lived in Louisville. Sometimes the number of the anointed shrinks to two or three, and at other times it swells to 10 or 20… It’s not uncommon…

The entire sports agent and sports business community mourns the death of a respected individual who was at the top of Lagardere Unlimited’s  tennis division at the time of his passing.  Ken Meyerson, best known for his representation of tennis stars including Andy Roddick, Justine Henin, Fernando Gonzalez, Mardy Fish, and many others, passed away late last night…

Nurses Now International, a company backed by Louisville-based Blue Equity LLC, has earned accreditation from the Alliance for Ethical International Recruitment Practices, according to a news release. Nurses Now International is a Mexico-based nursing and human resources firm that trains nurses in English medical terminology and American culture. Nurses work on a temporary basis in…

Lagardere completes its empire: when the French media giant set up its own talent management agency in 2009, few could have predicted that it would acquire a burgeoning American agency BEST just over a year later. The process started in May 2009 with the French entity persuading BEST tennis chief Ken Meyerson to switch allegiance,…

Lagardère Unlimited may be looking to acquire agents representing athletes in sports it isn’t active in now — such as baseball, hockey and Olympic sports — but any deals will come only after it fully integrates new acquisition Blue Entertainment Sports Television, said Jonathan Blue, founder of BEST. Blue, chairman and managing director of Louisville, Ky.-based Blue Equity,…

He might be young, brash and wealthy. But Jonathan Blue also is misunderstood. On Tuesday, Blue, chairman and managing partner of Louisville-based private investment firm Blue Equity LLC, opened his presentation to the Association for Corporate Growth, Kentucky with a clarification rather than an introduction. “I’m not a sports agent. I never was,” he said. “And I…

Blue Equity, LLC and Lagardere SCA announced today that the newly branded Lagardere Unlimited (www.lagardere-unlimited.com) has acquired BEST (Blue Entertainment Sports Television), the sports and entertainment affiliate owned and operated as a portfolio company of Blue Equity, LLC. BEST is a unified, full-service sports and entertainment marketing, management and production firm. Since its initial acquisition…

Arnaud Lagardère has held a press conference about the business of sports after the acquisition of the American-based sports and entertainment agency Best. The CEO of Lagardère has announced the creation of a new division called Lagardère Unlimited, which is set to replace Lagardère Sports. With the purchasing of Best, Lagardère Unlimited establishes itself as…

Arnaud Lagardère is angling for a bigger piece of the more than $100 billion global sports industry. The chief executive officer of Lagardère SCA today unveiled a new sports division intended to move the biggest French publisher toward becoming a larger player in sports rights, marketing and athlete representation. The new Lagardere Unlimited unit will compete directly…

Eighteen Mexican nurses are in the process of getting jobs in U.S. hospitals, thanks to a training and placement business backed by Louisville-based Blue Equity, LLC. The Blue Equity division, Nurses Now International, trains nurses in English medical terminology and American culture, preparing them to work on a temporary basis in U.S. hospitals. After a…

It was not all that long ago that IMG was known for its Client Management division, which included many talented athletes not named Tiger Woods. Jonathan Blue was focused on investing in non-sports businesses and Creative Artists Agency (CAA) was known as one of the best Entertainment agencies in the world. Today, IMG only manages…

BEST agent Dan Fegan has signed NBA draft prospect John Wall “for contract representation,” according to sources cited by Liz Mullen of Sportsbusiness Journal. Sources indicated that BEST also is “finalizing a collaborative agreement for Wall’s marketing work.” Mullen notes Wall is “seen as having the potential of being an iconic NBA player and is said to be…

Blue Entertainment Sports Television, the fast-growing, Louisville-based sports and entertainment agency founded by local entrepreneur Jonathan Blue, might be sold soon to a French company looking to become a major player in the United States. Lagardère Unlimited, a Paris-based talent-management company, is said by industry sources to be in “advanced talks” to buy BEST, which is…

French sporting and publishing giant Lagardere SA is close to acquiring BEST, multiple sources said, which would introduce a player with significant financial wherewithal into the U.S. sports agency marketplace. A deal could be consummated as early as next week, the sources said. Lagardere is one of France’s largest and most influential companies, and has…

Lagardère, the Paris-based media and sports giant, is in negotiations to buy Blue Entertainment Sports Television (BEST), Tennis.com has learned. Lagardère, who represents Andy Roddick,Justine Henin and Fernando Gonzalez, among others, is headed by Ken Meyerson, who used to work as Tennis Division President at BEST. BEST currently represents Victoria Azarenka, Caroline Wozniacki, Melanie Oudin, Sam Querrey, John…

IF Management Inc., a company that represents radio and television personalities, has formed a partnership with Blue Entertainment Sports Television, a division of Blue Equity, LLC. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Geoff Garmhausen, director of marketing and communications for Louisville-based BEST, declined to say if BEST purchased IF Management or if the companies merged. IF Management…

Blue Entertainment Sports Television and GlowTouch Technologies have been named to the Inc. 500 list of fastest growing private companies. The ranking is based on year-over-year sales growth from the previous three years. BEST, a division of Louisville-based Blue Equity LLC, was ranked No. 21 on the list. The sports and entertainment management, marketing and…

Blue Equity’s acquisition of the business of Kenneth Crear, manager to musical artists including Janet Jackson, is only the beginning of the sports company’s plans to build an entertainer management business. “I am in talks with three powerful music managers,” said Crear, in a telephone interview last week. Crear would not name the music managers…

Local private-equity firm has exploded into sports marketing in past year. With 20 years of experience, Ken Meyerson is one of the most successful tennis agents in the industry. Based in Miami, the veteran player representative counts among his clients U.S. Open champion Justine Henin, the top-ranked women’s player in the world, and superstar Andy Roddick,…

Blue Equity, the Louisville, Ky.-based private equity firm that has built a sports agency through acquisitions over the last year, has bought sports events company Team Championship International. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In a brief interview, Jonathan Blue, chairman and managing director of Blue Equity, said that the acquisition of TCI…

Eric Crawford The Courier-Journal Jonathan Blue says his sports dreams were born while he was watching a dream come true at court level: “Ball boy, University of Louisville basketball team, 1980.” Outside of the Kentucky Derby, it was the first time many in Louisville had seen the city take center stage of the sports world.…

National Football League player agent Joel Segal has added his practice to the growing sports holdings of Blue Equity — a step that Managing Director Jonathan Blue says pushes the Louisville-based private investment company into the big leagues. “It puts us as one of the elite agencies of the world,” said Blue, who began building…

Blue Equity, which launched a sports agency business last year by buying the former SFX tennis, events and television divisions, has acquired the firm of top NFL player agent Joel Segal, who counts Reggie Bush and Michael Vick among his clients. The acquisition will bring 50 NFL player clients to Louisville, Ky.-based Blue Equity and…

There is a lot of competition in the world of agents these days. One of the new players is called Blackwave/SFX Sports/ProServ/Blue Equity. Actually, it’s not called that. Blackwave is the agency of Rasheed Wallace’s agent, Bill Strickland. Led by tennis agency legend and former top tennis player Donald Dell, ProServ was a leading agency…

Sports agency pioneer Donald Dell has an oral agreement to represent Joakim Noah, power forward on the NCAA championship Florida team who is projected to be one of the top NBA draft picks this year as well as one of the most marketable players entering the NBA. It may seem an odd pairing. Dell, group…

A zoning change that will allow a 38-acre development to be built on a longtime farm near Holiday Manor shopping center was approved by the Louisville Metro Council last night. The Midlands development, east of the Watterson Expressway and south of Ky. 22, will be built in phases over several years, with much of the…

Jonathan Blue’s private equity firm made a name for itself on the national scene earlier this year when it acquired the tennis, sports media and live sporting events divisions of the former SFX Sports Group from Live Nation Inc. At the same time, Louisville-based Blue Equity, LLC purchased the NBA and NFL player representation practice…

Louisville’s historic Landmark Building downtown at Third and Liberty streets is getting new ownership and a new tenant that will make a significant improvement in occupancy. A group called Liberty Landmark Group LLC purchased the property for $4 million in a deal that closed Nov. 21, according to partners in the group. The seller was…

Blue Equity, LLC and Telefonos de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (TELMEX) (BMV: TELMEX) (NYSE: TMX) (Nasdaq: TFONY) (LATIBEX: XTMXL) announced today that TELMEX has acquired an 80% controlling interest in the affiliate of Blue Equity, LLC that publishes Enlace Spanish Yellow Pages. In connection with the acquisition, such affiliate has changed its name to SECCION AMARILLA USA, LLC. TELMEX…

Teléfonos de México SA, or Telmex, is expected to announce the purchase of a group of Spanish-language phone directories based in the U.S. today, marking a notable foray into one of the country’s fastest-growing demographic markets. As the deal is currently designed, say people familiar with the matter, Telmex will assume an 80% interest in…

A private equity firm has acquired the former SFX Sports tennis representation firm, which counts Andy Roddick among its clients, and the practice of veteran basketball and football agent Bill Strickland as a base to build a larger sports agency. Blue Equity is also in final discussions to acquire SFX Television, which produces and distributes…

Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher has named Rebecca Jackson, Jonathan Blue and Ronald Butt to the University of Louisville board of trustees. Fletcher also reappointed Chester J. Porter to the board. Jackson, the former judge-executive and county clerk of Jefferson County, serves as CEO of the WHAS Crusade for Children. She received her bachelor’s and master’s…

Enlace Spanish Yellow Pages, the nation’s largest independent Spanish directory company (based on number of cities served), has acquired Las Super Paginas Amarillas, the premier independent New York City area Spanish Yellow Pages directory. This directory has grown exponentially over the last 7 years to meet the needs of the second largest Hispanic market in the United States, with over…

Blue is chairman and managing director of Blue Equity, LLC, a recently formed private equity firm with a wide-ranging portfolio of businesses, including financial services, media, real estate, and sports and entertainment concerns. He has an extensive list of civic activities and board memberships. And he’s married and the father of two young daughters. CLICK…

Stephen Fenley hopes dialogue with neighbors will ease their acceptance of mixed-use project. With his proposal for the redevelopment of the 36-acre Hildebrand farm at U.S. 42 and the Watterson Expressway, Stephen Fenley is trying to create “more of a signature front door” for the corridor. He’s hopeful that area residents will find his coming…

Having recently split with his brother and longtime business partner, Jonathan Blue has teamed up with two other young entrepreneurs who share his vision for real estate ventures and downtown development. Blue, 38, has joined forces with investors Gant Hill and Austin Musselman to form a new partnership called Blue Venterra LLC. The three plan…

Cobalt Publishing in Louisville has acquired its largest Spanish-language yellow pages directories yet, in South Florida. Miami En Sus Manos and Broward-Palm Beach En Sus Manos distribute about 250,000 copies a year, said Cobalt, which is headed by Louisville entrepreneur Jonathan Blue. CLICK HERE TO VIEW ORIGINAL ARTICLE BACK to News & Press

A developer who wants to transform a 36-acre farm at the Watterson Expressway and U.S. 42 into a mixed-use development intends to file for a rezoning in the next month. Stephen Fenley of Fenley Real Estate said construction of The Midlands – which would include a six-story hotel, offices, single-family homes, multifamily housing and a…

For the fourth time in a dozen years, Louisville Magazine has conducted its “Power 50” survey with the intention of answering this simple question: Who Runs This Town? The results are in. Answer 1: A mostly new cast of characters, if you go back 12 years and look at the list as whole. Of this…

Louisville has come a long way, but the city has no time to rest on past successes, according to a recent survey of local young professionals. Although the city of Louisville and Jefferson County government merger is one example of what the community can accomplish when it works together, it’s also a sign of other…

Officials from Louisville-based Cobalt Ventures LLC launched an expanded version of the Hispanic business directory they acquired earlier this year. The directory is called El Enlace Latino, which in Spanish means the Latin link, according to a news release. It replaces an earlier version called La Conexion. About 60,000 copies of the publication, which will…

Mike Tyson’s manager, Shelly Finkel, said yesterday that if the fighter returns to the ring, it could well be in Louisville. “I haven’t spoken to Mike about it, and I haven’t talked to Jonathan Blue,” Finkel said. “But I would like for Mike to come back here.” Blue is director of Cobalt Ventures LLC, which invests…

The 38-acre Hildebrand farm off Brownsboro Road at the Watterson Expressway survived virtually unchanged through decades of development around it. But no longer. Blue-Fenley-Blue Properties LLC bought the land May 27 for $4.96million from Margaret Hildebrand of St. Matthews, who’s in her late 80s, and her brother, Henry, who’s in his 90s and living in…

Cobalt Publishing LLC has moved its corporate offices from Shelbyville to downtown Louisville, according to co-director Jonathan Blue. The company, which publishes Spanish-language telephone directories in multiple cities, is owned by Blue and his brother, Todd Blue. Cobalt Publishing employs about 35 people, Blue said. Its headquarters now are located at 445 E. Market St.,…

User-Friendly Phone Book, LLC, a leading independent yellow page directory publisher based in Louisiana, announced that it has acquired the English-language version of the Blue Book Telephone Directory from Cobalt Publishing, LLC, an affiliate of Cobalt Ventures, LLC. The Blue Book Telephone Directory is based outside of Louisville in Shelby County, Kentucky. Approximately 126,000 copies…

Continuing its strategy of expanding into Spanish-language telephone books, Cobalt Publishing LLC has purchased Indianapolis-based El Directorio yellow pages. Cobalt Publishing completed the Indianapolis telephone directory purchase last week, said Jonathan Blue, a director of Louisville-based Cobalt Publishing LLC and its sister company Cobalt Ventures LLC, a development firm. Cobalt bought the business from Goins…

Cobalt Ventures in Louisville has acquired publishers of Spanish-language yellow-pages directories serving Nashville and the Golden Triangle region of Louisville, Lexington and Cincinnati. The deals, for an undisclosed sum, continue the investment and real estate development company’s venture into Hispanic media. Cobalt is also an investor in Heritage Radio Partners, a Tennessee company that owns…

The distinctive roofline, which slopes sharply from a spear-like apex, gives Preston Pointe an appearance unlike any other building in downtown Louisville. Primarily because of the roof, the seven-level office, retail and condominium project under construction just west of Louisville Slugger Field has already become something of a landmark. CLICK HERE TO VIEW ORIGINAL ARTICLE…