RNDC Layoffs Continue Following Major Supplier Losses
After laying off more than 1,700 employees as it shuttered operations in California last year, Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) is making further cuts across the country.
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
DISCUS: RTDs Hit $3.8B as Spirits Sales Decline -2.2% in 2025
Spirits sales in the U.S. declined for a second consecutive year but maintained a slight market share lead over beer, largely due to ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails, the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. (DISCUS) reported Thursday in its annual economic briefing.
The Zero-Proof Playbook: The Future Of Non-Alc Hospitality, According to The Maze
The Maze, New York City’s first alcohol-free members club, opened this fall in Flatiron aiming to become a go-to destination for sober and sober-curious New Yorkers.
Uncle Nearest ‘Insolvent,’ Receiver Faces Barriers Selling Assets
The court-appointed receiver for Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey says the embattled whiskey company is insolvent – and warned the company needs a sale or complete refinancing by mid-2026 to survive.
As Non-Alc Cocktails Enter Their Craft Era, Will Alt-Spirits Get Left Behind?
The best New York bars for non-alc cocktails don’t heavily rely on non-alc spirits, according to the Inaugural NYC’s Best Bars for NA 2025 Awards.
Hiyo Leans Into Refinement, Not Expansion, After Breakout Growth Year
Hiyo Social Tonics is coming off a major growth year that welcomed investment from Constellation Brands and Live Nation, signs of confidence behind its relaxing “social tonics” positioning. Now, the brand is working to win over everyone else.
BeatBox Parent Company to Lay Off 158 Employees
The Austin-based parent company of BeatBox Beverages plans to lay off 158 employees following Anheuser-Busch InBev’s (A-B) majority share acquisition of the party punch maker.
From Lobby Bars to Minibars, Hotels Are Rethinking Beverage Programs
Adult non-alc cocktails are gaining momentum in luxury hotels, with one major chain reporting a 32% sales increase over the past three years. But functional ingredients and education still create challenges.
IWSR: Health Drives Alcohol Replacements, Curiosity Fuels “Alcohol Adjacent” Drinks
Both direct alcohol replacements and functional “alcohol adjacent” drinks are surging in popularity, but new data suggests the two categories are growing for different reasons – and are not necessarily competing.
Spirits and RTDs Lead Early-Year Rebound as Volumes Tick Up
After a sluggish Christmas season, bev-alc showed some signs of stabilization in early January, with spirits and ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails driving modest momentum, according to analysis of NIQ data from Goldman Sachs Equity Research.
With Big Sipz and Private Label, Patco Brands Readies for the Next Phase of RTD Competition
Patco Brands launched in 2012 with a margarita business and a family-run operation. More than a decade later, the company has quietly evolved into one of the largest producers in the agave wine and ready-to-drink (RTD) space, operating at a scale that rivals far larger beverage groups while maintaining the agility of an independent.
Non-Alc Wilderton Aperitivo to Shut Down Operations After Seven Years
Wilderton Aperitivo, a zero-proof spirits brand that opened the country’s first non-alc distillery, is winding down operations after nearly seven years in business, citing a challenging capital environment.
With $10M Raise, Spiked Ade Wants To Move Vodka Into the Sports Drink Aisle
Serial food and beverage entrepreneur Jason Cohen has a theory that sports drinks are the next frontier for spirits-based RTDs – and he’s got $10 million in investment and an expansion plan to test it.
Stoli Group USA Moves to Liquidate Following Failed Bankruptcy Exit
Stoli Group USA, the owner of Stoli vodka, will move into the liquidation phase after initially filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 2024.