The “Topo Chico Effect”: Following The Pathfinder’s Non-Alc Push Into Neighborhoods and Bars
With no- and low- alcohol now a $11 billion business and new brands jumping into the zero-proof movement, what’s the playbook to make a splash?
Ferron Salniker
Spirits Editor
Ferron Salniker is the Spirits Editor, guiding our coverage of the spirits and RTD cocktail space. She reports for BevNET.com and Brewbound.com on everything from new subcategories in established liquor types to the growth of the craft spirits business.
Posts by Ferron Salniker
How Brands Are Addressing Non-Alc’s Biggest Barriers
Despite non-alc’s momentum, only 26% of the U.S. consumers moderating their alcohol, say they are drinking no-alcohol alternatives to their favorite full-strength drinks, citing barriers around taste and lack of availability, according to a recent report from bev-alc data firm IWSR.
InvestBev Backs Celeb-Branded Thomas Ashbourne RTDs
Spirits-focused private equity firm InvestBev has backed Thomas Ashbourne Craft Spirits, the ready-to-drink brand crafted with the help of celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Distribution: Lawyers Weigh In On Contract Essentials, Red Flags
As a BevAlc business expands, how does an entrepreneur determine if a distributor relationship will be beneficial? That was the question poised during the Sovos Beverage Alcohol Summit last week, hosted by the beverage alcohol compliance shipment software company.
“A Spirits-Dominant Business:” 4 Questions With Total Wine CEO Troy Rice
Since launching in 1991, Total Wine & More has grown to over 250 stores in 28 states and $5.5 billion in revenue. But within a changing beverage alcohol market, the spirits, beer and wine retailer has also emerged as a retail platform for disruptive spirits categories and products, as well as a new class of RTDs.
Spirits Slowdown: Why Analysts Are Watching Tequila Downtrading, Home Consumption
As moderate and declining spirit trends in the U.S. continue in 2023, what are some of the factors of the slowdown and what does that mean for the evolution of certain categories and major portfolios?
Boisson: Non-Alc Retailer Lands Backing From Pernod Ricard’s Venture Arm, Adds New CEO
As the momentum behind zero-proof drinks shows no signs of abating, leading non-alc retailer Boisson is taking steps to secure its place within the expanding category, bringing on a new…
Casa Lumbre Debuts “Super Premium” Orange Liqueur
On the heels of launching its ready-to-drink tequila cocktail, Mexican spirits company Casa Lumbre is debuting a new product to compete with the orange liqueurs on the back bar.
Former Castle Brands Exec Launches New Spirits Venture, Acquires Whiskey Row
Avalon Spirits Corporation, a new venture from former Castle Brands COO John Glover, has made its first move by acquiring Whiskey Row Bourbon, the company announced late last week. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Diageo Turns to Former Clif Bar CEO To Lead North America
Diageo’s largest market is under new leadership. The global spirits company has appointed Sally Grimes, the former head of Clif Bar, as CEO of North America effective next month.
Ready to Run: Why RTD Cocktail Brands Are Betting Big On Rum
With tequila and vodka-based RTDs dominating the sales charts, is there room for rum to make a play?
Data: FMB & RTD Cocktail Sales Up, As BevAlc Steady Over Labor Day Weekend
Volume improved slightly on a sequential basis across wine, spirits and flavored malt beverage categories, while decelerating across hard seltzer in the two-week period ending September 9, according to an analysis of NielsenIQ data by Goldman Sachs Equity Research.
Heineken Acquires Stake in Ellie Goulding’s Served RTDs
Heineken UK has obtained a “significant minority” stake in Served, the ready-to-drink (RTD) brand backed by singer Ellie Goulding. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Six Questions with Jose “Pepe” Hermosillo, Founder and Master Tequilero of Casa Noble Tequila
We chat with the founder of Casa Noble about why innovation has anchored his business model, what beyond organic means, and how being part of the Constellation portfolio has changed the business.