Instacart Files IPO on Nasdaq
Instacart filed for its initial public offering (IPO) on Friday, as the grocery delivery leader aims to create a "truly omni-channel experience" across physical and online stores.
Headlines
Pronghorn Backs Three More Black-Owned Brands
Investment firm Pronghorn, an initiative focused on boosting Black entrepreneurship in spirits, announced yesterday new investments in three more spirit companies: Abisola Whiskey, Los Hermanos Tequila 1978, and Alexander James Whiskey. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Taste Radio: It’s Controversial… Till It Makes Money. Plus, A Sip Of Slane And Eggo Cream.
Is it groundbreaking or headed for infamy? The hosts sample several new products made with controversial (or, perhaps, objectionable) ingredients and flavors and assess the mainstream potential for each. This episode also features an interview with Alex Conyngham, the co-founder of Slane Irish Whiskey, who discussed the duality of building a modern brand that’s rooted in tradition.
Data: Luxury Spirits Decline; RTDs Up On-Premise
Moderate and declining spirit trends continued over the first half of 2023, leaving the category slightly down against the backdrop of inflation-weary consumers looking for high quality deals, according to a new report.
Analysis: Inside the Waterloo Tidal Wave
Waterloo has not yet met its Waterloo. In fact, it’s making more like early season Napoleon, conquering territory and building the empire.
This Week’s New Products: ‘Witcher’ Potion, waterdrop, La Colombe, Electrolit
In this week’s new products roundup, G Fuel recruits The Witcher to create a fruity new caffeine-packed potion, Onyx Coffee seeks to take the guesswork out of brewing an “exceptional” cup of coffee and waterdrop enters the iced tea space.
Distribution Roundup: Whole Foods Takes RISE Global, Chamberlain Hits Target
Nitro coffee brand RISE Brewing Co. has gone global in Whole Foods with four SKUs of its ready-to-drink coffee line; Chamberlain Coffee is growing its dry shelf presence with over 375 Target stores nationwide.
Design: Mayawell’s Makeover Aims To Meet Category Evolution
When Mayawell began building the identity for its prebiotic better-for-you soda in 2019, the category was still fairly nascent. Now, only four years later, consumer familiarity and well-established category leaders have inspired the brand to lean into its product’s more compelling attributes.
Data: Dollar Sales Up for RTDs & FMBs As Overall BevAlc Vol Slows
Volume growth decelerated on a sequential basis across beer, wine, spirits and flavored malt beverage categories, while holding relatively steady across hard seltzer in the two-week period ending August 12, according to an analysis of NielsenIQ data by Goldman Sachs Equity Research.
Elevator Talk: Blackbird Botanica, Soldadera, The BAD Tea Co., Narra
Watch founders and CEOs introduce their brands and provide a recap of recent news and updates. This week's special co-host is Alex Sonageri, a consumer investor with Blackstone Growth, who shared his thoughts, questions and feedback with the participants.
“If The Liquid is Not Good, They’re Not Coming Back”: Brown-Forman RTD Director on Jack & Coke
In bringing together two of the biggest names in beverage – Jack Daniel’s & Coca-Cola – for a ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail, Dallas Cheatham, Brown Forman’s ready-to-drink portfolio director, knew the consumer buy-in was there.
NielsenIQ: Non-Alc Beverage Sales Decelerate in Early August
Non-alcoholic beverage sales decelerated in the two-week period ending August 12, according to the latest analysis of NielsenIQ data by Goldman Sachs Equity Research. Total retail dollar sales in tracked channels was up 6.7% in the two-week period, compared to +7.4% in the four-weeks and +8.3% in the 12-weeks.
Taste Radio: Dan Aykroyd Is (Probably) A Better Salesman Than You
Sketch comedian. Ghostbuster. Vodka entrepreneur. It’s all in a life’s work for Dan Aykroyd. The co-founder of iconic spirit brand Crystal Head Vodka, Aykroyd spoke about the company’s adherence to business fundamentals and premium positioning, what makes him an effective salesman and the limited impact of his celebrity on the brand’s success. He also explained what postal work has to do with the ownership team’s harmonious relationship and answered an infamous question with a “little g.”
Yerbaé Raises $4M, Leans Into Sports & Entertainment
Yerbaé has raised over $4 million in the “first tranche” of a new funding round backed by a variety of athletes and entertainers, the Arizona-based plant-based beverage brand announced yesterday.