Costa Rican Rum Enters U.S. Market

WITH a shipment of 600 cases of Centenario rum, Costa Rica made its entrance into the U.S. rum market in July.The company expects to send another 1,800 cases this year, according to a recent statement from Ron Centenario.Johnny Castro, manager of the Centenario brand, said the company expects to ship some 5,000 cases in 2006.In 2007, that number would rise to 8,000, and then 12,000 the following year. Castro explained that Florida is the company’s point of entrance into the market, but that in the coming months, Centenario will be sold in other states.The brand had to change its label to meet U.S. requirements, but the look of the bottle will remain the same. The company also had to raise the alcohol content from to 40%, as U.S. regulations require, as opposed to 35% in Costa Rica.