Headlines

Taste Radio: Big Deals, Big Impact? Plus, Hilton’s Top F&B Exec Tells All.

Amid a spate of high-profile investments and acquisitions, the hosts assessed Brooklyn Brewery’s alignment with Hoplark and what it means for the emerging segment of hop-centric beverages and also discussed the timing of Smuckers’ $5.6 billion purchase of Hostess Brands. This episode also features an expansive interview with Adam Crocini, the SVP and global head for food and beverage brands at Hilton.

Distribution Roundup: Nguyen, SANG Score Wins for Vietnamese Coffee

Vietnamese coffee makers Nguyen Coffee Supply and Sang both increased their respective footprints in retail, Positive Beverage brings its energy variety packs to select Costco locations, Yesly makes strides in Texas and the Midwest, and Four Sigmatic finds more distribution in Albertsons.

GURU Touts 15% Q3 Growth, Chief Revenue Officer Grar Exits

GURU’s Theanine Fruit Punch flavor helped drive sales according to the Canadian energy drink company’s Q3 2023 earnings report released today, setting the stage for a U.S. launch this winter. Quarterly net revenue for the brand was up 15% year-over-year to $8.9 million, with gross profit of $4.5 million thanks to sustained strong margins, the company reported.

Health-Ade Takes To The Airwaves With iHeartMedia

Audio media giant iHeartMedia has invested an undisclosed amount in kombucha company Health-Ade in a deal that will leverage the media company's reach with consumers and bring the gut health beverage brand to new audiences.

Taste Radio: The Secret To Winning At Target, Whole Foods & Costco? It Starts With ‘Honey.’

Christy Goldsby, the founder of fast-growing refrigerated snack brand Honey Mama's, explained why demoing is the foundation of its marketing strategy, leaning on a ‘truth radar’ at every step during a package revamp, how the company navigated a high profile retailer’s devastating decision to discontinue the brand and why handing over day-to-day operations was the right move for its future.

Campari Announces CEO Transition Plan

Concluding an 18 year-run with the company in which he helped revive the Aperol Spritz, Bob Kunze-Concewitz, CEO of Campari Group, announced on Tuesday he will be stepping down from the Italian spirits company in April 2024.

Data: Non-Alc Beverage Sales Accelerate in Late August

Non-alcoholic beverage sales accelerated slightly over the two-week period ending August 26, with volume sales picking up pace against slowing pricing increases, according to the latest analysis of NielsenIQ data by Goldman Sachs Equity Research. Dollar sales in U.S. retail rose 7.9% in the two-week period, compared to +7.3% in the four-weeks and +7.8% in the 12-weeks.

Bacardi Acquires Ilegal Mezcal

Bacardi Limited has jumped fully into the mezcal game and acquired Ilegal Mezcal, the company announced today.

Molson Coors Ups Its Stake in ZOA with New Investment

Molson Coors Beverage Company’s faith in Dwayne Johnson-backed energy drink brand ZOA is rock solid. The beverage conglomerate “will strengthen its investment” in ZOA as part of its overall Beyond Beer non-alcoholic beverage growth strategy.