It’s high times for hemp beverages. Powered by a new set of brands that use delta-9 THC derived from hemp as an intoxicating ingredient, demand has steadily ticked up in the last year among consumers, while distribution has expanded beyond small, independent retailers and into national retailer and distribution operations.
The annual BevNET Supplier & Services Guide.
Craft breweries are quickly flocking back to the comforts of what is debatably the most traditional beer stateside: light lagers. Yes, the style previously decried by the craft community and labeled “fizzy yellow water” by the movement’s vocal leaders.
It’s a good thing that powder drink products don’t take up too much space on the shelf — the category needs all the room it can get. In this golden age of functional beverages, the driest format may finally be getting its due.
There’s been no shortage of hydration beverages on the market, as Gatorade’s home set in the sports drink category has seen rising competition from brands like Electrolit and PRIME, while the bottled water category has become a go-to space for consumers seeking healthy hydration to flock to.
The 2024 Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) and BrewExpo America will take place from April 21-24 in Las Vegas, Nevada, hosted by the Brewers Association (BA).
New Hope Network’s Natural Products Expo West returned to the Anaheim Convention Center in March with a plethora of new product innovations in the beverage set, including freshly brewed products from La Colombe and Super Coffee, new line extensions from Uncle Matt’s and Minor Figures and much, much more.
In craft beer news: Shakeups At Boston Beer, Including a CEO Swap and Hard MTN Dew Distro Changes; Boston Beer Depletions -6%, Shipments -6% in 2023; and Hard MTN Dew Moves to Beer Network, Going to All 50 Markets as Blue Cloud Changes Course.
In beverage news: BlueTriton Grows Water Offerings with Hawaii Volcanic Distro Deal; Westrock, Select Milk Partner To Produce Milk-Based Coffee RTDs; Celsius: Energy Co. Passes $1B In Full-Year Revenue For First Time; Liquid Death Closes $67M Funding Round; and Jones Soda Co Crosses Over into BevAlc with New Spiked Sodas.
In our lives there are a few truly special days. On March 5th, my second granddaughter came into our lives. My son David and his wife Michelle gave us the best gift one can ever ask for: Andie Nathanson.
The Winter Fancy Food Show, hosted at the Las Vegas Convention Center from January 21-23, saw numerous new products on display that tapped into consumer demand for culinary convenience, ranging from premium frozen items and chef-crafted pantry staples.
Premixed cocktails by sales and growth.
In food industry news: Kroger/Albertsons vs The FTC: What Happens Next?; Meati: New CEO to Prioritize ‘Right Sizing’ Workforce Amidst New Round of Layoffs; BFG Continues ‘Patient’ Approach With Fund III Launch; Organic Chocolatier Alter Eco Announces Acquisition By Trek One Capital; and RIND Snacks Acquires Granola Producer.
“If you’ve got it, flaunt it,” goes the old expression. Hey, that worked for Madonna! But maybe not so much in beverages, where the path to success often seems to point to downplaying your most distinctive attributes rather than playing them up.
So, again we’ve found a situation where the big brands plead ignorance to something awful happening in the world. Last issue, it was a hate-mongering UFC fighter working for Monster. This issue, it’s something much worse: big soda companies’ use of sugar sourced from a region of India that is rife with worker abuses.
