Lukas Southard

Lukas Southard

Senior Reporter, BevNET & NOSH

Lukas Southard is a Reporter covering the food and beverage industries across BevNET and NOSH.

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Posts by Lukas Southard

Soda, Energy Drinks Dropped From Nebraska SNAP

Nebraska has successfully petitioned the USDA to remove soda and energy drinks from the state’s SNAP benefits, signaling a broader change happening in MAHA policy and its impact on the beverage industry.

Daily Briefing (Insiders Only): Coffee Prices By The Numbers

That morning cup-a-joe burning a hole in your pocket? You’re not the only one. The average price of ground roast coffee hit a peak last month, topping $7.50 per pound, representing a nearly 25% increase year-over-year, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED).

Beer Run: Can THC Brands Find Safety in Three-Tier System?

Having leveraged DTC distribution to meet the unique needs of the category, hemp brands are now facing a massive question: how to marry steady online sales with the larger opportunity within beverage-alcohol retail.

Web Weed: THC Drinks Crush It Online – But For How Long?

After successfully building a strong consumer base online with DTC, the hemp-derived THC drink category is weighing whether ecommerce is a viable long-term channel for success or a familiar first step to broader retail goals.

Basemakers Founder To Launch AI-Guided VC Fund

CPG industry veteran Max Baumann is launching a new VC firm, Back to Back VC, that will pair merchandising and strategy firm Basemakers' data with AI technology to guide investment opportunities.

Amid Cost Crunch, CPG Founders Seek Assistance From Overseas

Outsourcing CPG industry positions can be polarizing at a time when tariffs have become a touchpoint for reshoring jobs to the U.S., but creating efficiencies in a startup business could be the difference between success and failure.

Nixie Nets Nearly $27M Investment

Nixie Beverage Company has landed a $26.9 million investment as it scales deeper into the zero-sugar soda set.