Relaxation At The Center Of $300M Intoxicating Hemp Beverage Business
Relaxation and anxiety/stress release are the top reasons consumers say they’re drinking intoxicating hemp beverages, data analysts reported.
Justin Kendall
Editor, Brewbound
Justin Kendall provides daily coverage of the beer industry on Brewbound.com, conducts live-streamed interviews during Brewbound’s events and co-produces the Brewbound podcast. Kendall is a nearly 20-year career journalist who led alt-weekly newspapers in Kansas City, Missouri, and Des Moines, Iowa.
Posts by Justin Kendall
Hoplark Files for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Liquidation; Signals Potential Lawsuit Against Brooklyn Brewery
Hoplark’s parent company has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation and teased a “potential lawsuit against Brooklyn Brewery,” alleging the New York craft brewery violated a licensing agreement and its fiduciary duties.
Southern Glazer’s to Pay $12.5M to Resolve Federal Probe into Bribing Chain Retail Buyers
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits has entered into a non-prosecution agreement with the justice department and federal regulators to pay $12.5 million.
Athletic Brewing Adds Drake Maye and Dak Prescott as ‘Athlete-Owners’
Athletic Brewing Company is adding two QB1s to its roster as “athlete-owners” as the NFL season kicks off tonight. New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott struck multi-year partnerships with the dedicated non-alcoholic (NA) beer maker, along with stakes in the business.
Liquid Death Founder and Sazerac Launch Mr. Fancy Canned ‘American Bubbly’
Liquid Death founder Mike Cessario is partnering with Sazerac to launch Mr. Fancy, a new ready-to-drink (RTD) canned sparkling wine.
Martignetti to Acquire Red Network Distributor Girardi in Massachusetts
The beer, wine and spirits distributor has struck a definitive agreement to acquire Girardi Distributors, LLC, a Massachusetts-based, independent Anheuser-Busch InBev (A-B) and Constellation Brands distributor.
Athletic Brewing Appoints Dan Kleinman as CMO
Athletic co-founder and CEO Bill Shufelt said Kleinman’s addition to the company’s senior leadership team comes amid an evolution “from an industry pioneer into a transcendent global brand.”
Diageo Cut 1,900+ Jobs in FY26; 90% of Restructuring to Be Completed by September
Diageo CEO Sir Dave Lewis has refused to share publicly the number of jobs the company is cutting as part of its ongoing $1 billion restructuring effort. However, the company’s annual report released Tuesday revealed Diageo cut its workforce by more than 6% in its 2026 fiscal year (ending June 30).
Southwest Distributor Hensley Beverage Appoints New President; Andy McCain Remains CEO
The Phoenix, Arizona-headquartered, independent Anheuser-Busch InBev distributor has appointed chief operating officer Omar Perez as its new president.
Southern Glazer’s Closes Eagle Rock Colorado Deal
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (SGWS) has closed on its acquisition of independent red network distributor Eagle Rock Distributing Co.’s Colorado operations.
Anheuser-Busch InBev Says Cutwater Is on Track for $1B as Spirits Gain Share
Anheuser-Busch InBev may be the top beer manufacturer in the world, but it has a way to go in spirits.
Sazerac Moves Spirits, RTD Portfolio to Reyes in Colorado
Reyes announced Tuesday that Sazerac had selected the multistate distributor’s recently acquired RBG Spirits & Wine of Colorado branch as its new distribution partner.
M&A Activity For Scaled RTD Brands Expected to Ramp Up
"It's going to be an M&A musical chair game," Arlington Capital Advisors managing director Townsend Ziebold said earlier this month at Beer Marketer's Insights conference, as too many strategic buyers are chasing too few scaled ready-to-drink (RTD) brands.
Licensing Deal Brings Nine Loko Intoxicating Hemp Beverages to Market
Four Loko-maker Phusion Projects has licensed some of its brand assets to Chuck It LLC for use on intoxicating hemp beverages.