Wholesalers Dish on Non-Alc, SKU (and Supplier) Rationalization and PepsiCo’s Blue Cloud
The state of middle-tier operations was among the focus areas of Beer Business Daily’s 2023 Beer Industry Summit this week in West Palm Beach, Florida.
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
Sazerac to Move Portfolio From RNDC in Several States Including California, Texas & Florida
On the heels of moving its portfolio of brands to beer wholesalers in Washington state and Colorado last August, Sazerac Company announced last week a major change to its route-to-market in several states.
Keurig Dr Pepper Invests $50 Million in Athletic Brewing Company, Takes Minority Stake in Non-Alc Beer Maker
Non-alcoholic beer maker Athletic Brewing Company has received a $50 million investment from Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) that will make the publicly-traded CPG giant a minority equity stakeholder in the business.
Tilray to Acquire Montauk Brewing
Global cannabis firm Tilray is adding an East Coast craft brewery to its growing brewery portfolio, with the acquisition of Montauk Brewing Company. Financial terms of the transaction were not immediately disclosed, but the deal is for 100% of the New York craft brewery.
Sesh Hard Seltzer Maker XED Beverages Acquired by Next Century Spirits
Spirits portfolio company Next Century Spirits has acquired XED Beverages, the maker of cocktail-inspired hard seltzer brand Sesh. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Jarritos Maker Novamex Partners with Anheuser-Busch on Cantaritos Hard Sodas
Another soda company is testing the beverage-alcohol market – this time with the world’s largest beer manufacturer. Novamex, the maker of Mexican soda brand Jarritos, is partnering with Anheuser-Busch InBev (A-B) to launch Cantaritos Hard Sodas in California and Texas markets next spring.
Boston Beer Rolls Out First Tequila-Based RTD: Loma Vista Tequila Soda in 4 Markets
Boston Beer Company is expanding its ready-to-drink canned cocktail portfolio with the addition of Loma Vista Tequila Soda, the company’s first tequila-based RTD.
Topo Chico: Spirit-Based Offering Coming From Molson Coors in 2023
Molson Coors will launch a spirit-based version of Topo Chico in key markets, such as the southwest and southeast and parts of the Midwest.
Tentative Deal Reached to Avert Railroad Strike
A tentative deal between the remaining two railroad worker unions and the rail carriers has been reached. Early Thursday morning, U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh tweeted that ”a tentative agreement that balances the needs of workers, businesses, and our nation’s economy” had been agreed upon by the rail companies and union negotiators.
Columbia Distributing and Scout Distribution to Launch Joint Venture in Idaho
The largest total beverage wholesaler in the Pacific Northwest and a Southern California-focused independent distributor are linking up to start a distribution operation in Idaho this fall.
Ball to Close Can Manufacturing Plants in Phoenix, St. Paul; Delays Construction in North Las Vegas; Questions Customer Pricing Strategies
Ball Corp. plans to permanently close can manufacturing facilities in Phoenix, Arizona, and St. Paul, Minnesota, and delay construction of a new plant in North Las Vegas, Nevada, the Westminster, Colorado-headquartered company announced today during its second quarter financial results.
Boston Beer to Launch Cannabis-Infused Iced Tea Line TeaPot in Canada
Boston Beer Company’s plans in the non-alcoholic cannabis-infused beverage space are beginning to play out, as the brewer will launch a cannabis-infused iced tea line TeaPot in select Canadian provinces starting in July.
JuneShine Launches RTD Canned Cocktails In Next Step Toward Becoming Lifestyle Brand
Ready-to-drink canned cocktails from JuneShine began quietly hitting store shelves in Southern California last week and officially launched March 1. The release of the spirits-based canned cocktails marks the first non-hard kombucha product launch from the San Diego-headquartered company.
Report: Monster, Constellation Merger Talks Move Forward, Could Strike Deal ‘In Weeks’
The rumored tie up between Constellation Brands and energy drink maker Monster Beverage is progressing and a deal could be completed in the coming weeks, according to report from Bloomberg.