New York Governor Passes DTC for Hard Cider and Spirits
Spirits, hard cider, mead and braggot producers can now ship their products directly to New York consumers.
Headlines
BevAlc: Total Sales Show Slight Improvement
The latest data set from NIQ showed a modest improvement in sales growth for total BevAlc in the two-week period before August 10, according to analysis from Goldman Sachs Equity Research.
NielsenIQ: Non-Alc Beverages See Modest Acceleration in Early August
Non-alcoholic beverage sales saw modest acceleration in the two-week period ending August 10, according to an analysis of NielsenIQ retail scanner data by Goldman Sachs Equity Research.
Beyonce Partners With Moët Hennessy on American Whiskey
Queen B has stepped onto the spirits stage. Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has joined forces with Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits subsidiary of luxury group LVMH, to launch a new whiskey venture, announced today.
Taste Radio: From $1M To $500M In Five Years, Olipop’s Explosive Growth Is No Accident
Ben Goodwin and David Lester, the co-founders of leading better-for-you soda brand Olipop, explain why marketing strategy doesn’t lean heavily into education about the products’ functional benefit, why the company’s mission and economic outcome “will forever be entwined,” and why they strive to be “experts in the leadership” of their business.
Distribution Roundup: Pecana Heads Southwest, Green Cola Grows in Garden State
Pecana Nut Milk is trekking out across the Southwest with new retail expansion in Texas, New Mexico and California; Natural soda brand Green Cola has partnered with New Jersey management and sales company Cascadia Managing Brands; Microdrink maker Waterdrop is taking to the skies as a partner of German airline Lufthansa.
Gallery: New RTD Cocktails From Tip Top, WeldWerks, The Finnish Long Drink & More
A wide array of ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail makers have rolled out new products this summer with the goal of shaking up the saturated category. In this gallery, major players like Tip Top and The Finnish Long Drink drop new flavors, newcomer New York Cocktail Company launches a negroni collection and WeldWerks Brewing Co. makes its first foray into the space.
Ready to Brew: Westrock Kicks Off New Era In Conway
Westrock’s facility is a high-stakes gamble for the family owned company, which went public via a SPAC merger in 2022. Its recent Q2 earnings report underlined the urgency of making this experiment work: a $17.8 million loss on the back of a 7.3% sales decline.
A Drink With… Sneaky Spirits’ Rachel Kiley
Rachel Kiley discusses the nuances between craft beer and craft spirits, the relationship between Monday Night and Sneaky Spirits and how entrepreneurs can shrug off the doubters.
Survival of the Craftiest: How Distillers Are Battling Distribution and Regulation Roadblocks
Earlier this month, an article in Food & Wine proclaimed craft spirits in crisis, kicking off a tense debate between wholesalers and craft spirit representatives about the root causes of the challenges facing distillers.
Taste Radio: Is Another Massive M&A Deal Right Around The Corner?
Prior to the announcement of Mars’ $36 billion acquisition of Kellanova, the hosts discussed the possibility of a major M&A deal, one that could create a domino effect for some CPG brands. They also opined on the future of NA bottle shops, munch on ramen-flavored snacks and sip on banana cream soda.
New Products: Liquid Death’s Dessert-Inspired Sparkling Water, Plus Black Rifle, Califia, AriZona & More
In this week’s new products roundup, Califia announces the release of four new fall and winter seasonal products, Liquid Death joins forces with Van Leeuwen Ice Cream to launch a decadent sparkling water flavor and Black Rifle Coffee Company ventures into the $20 billion energy drink market.
BeatBox National Sales Meeting: Shaquille O’Neal Invests, New Product Reveals and a $38M Marketing Spend for 2025
Party punch maker BeatBox hosted its first national sales meeting in Houston, which had the feel of a Meow Wolf, with a faux convenience store decked out in neon, a trippy giant mushroom-covered hard tea garden, a Las Vegas-themed area with casino games, a lab for new innovations with “scientists” that looked strikingly like Rick of Rick and Morty Adult Swim fame and the usual presentations about the coming year.
Chamberlain Coffee’s Influencer Founder Emma Chamberlain Takes Co-CEO Mantle
Emma Chamberlain is getting a big promotion at her namesake coffee brand. Chamberlain Coffee announced today that she has been named co-CEO of the company, to serve alongside the brand’s former COO Gustav Hossy. The duo are replacing Christopher Gallant in the chief executive role.