Pernod Ricard Acquires Stake in Skrewball Whiskey
Pernod Ricard has made a play for flavored whiskey by acquiring a majority stake in peanut butter flavored Skrewball whiskey, the company announced today.
Headlines
Expo West 2023: Betty Buzz CEO Talks Retail, On-Premise Growth for Mixer Brand
Since launching in 2021, sparkling mixer maker Betty Buzz’s business has been humming along, reporting four-digit year-over-year retail sales growth as it establishes itself in retail accounts nationwide. Founded by actress Blake Lively, the brand is now launching new flavors and expanding into the on-premise channel.
Spirits Distribution: Southern Extends Travel Sector Reach, Takes ICONIC; Lalo Tequila on the Move
Just in time for spring break, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits announced plans to acquire Miami-based WEBB Banks, extending its footprint to the Caribbean, Central America and South America. The distributor will also now service WEBB Banks’ travel retail and cruise sector clients.
CircleUp Breakup: Lending Fund Sold, VC Fund in Transit, AI Play Fate Unknown
Big changes are afoot at CircleUp, a former equity crowdfunding platform that had transformed itself into a significant source of investment and lending capital to early-stage CPG brands.
Expo West 2023 Gallery: Liquid Death Does Tea; Health-Ade, Brew Dr. Revamp
Sparkling or still, real dairy or plant, sweetened or not – however you take your iced tea, there was something for your taste at this year’s Expo West. Meanwhile in kombucha, the shift away from glass bottles continued to pick up pace. In this gallery, we highlight some of the notable new releases and updates from leading brands in both categories, including Health-Ade, Brew Dr., and the just-arrived Liquid Death.
U.S. Online Alcohol Sales Normalize After Covid-19 Lockdown Surge
Growth will continue, with particularly strong prospects for beer and spirits. March 16, 2023 IWSR findings show that the long-term outlook for beverage alcohol ecommerce in the US is positive.
Expo West 2023: Califia CEO Talks Organic Plant Milks
In this interview recorded at Expo West 2023, Califia Farms CEO Dave Ritterbush spoke with BevNET about the development of the new organic products, why the company is all-in on the barista-at-home movement, and his outlook on trends within plant-based CPG.
Taste Radio: Expo Bits, Bites… And A Ban. Plus, A Next-Gen Leader On Lessons Learned.
Back home and in the studio, the hosts shared additional highlights — and unexpected sights – from Expo West 2023, including introductions to several innovative and early-stage brands. Also, Mason Dixie Foods founder/CEO Ayeshah Abuelhiga discussed lessons learned as an entrepreneur, including those about raising capital, customer service, and sexism and bias in the food industry, among other topics.
Expo West 2023 Gallery: Soda and Sparkling Water Innovations Feature Far More Than Prebiotics
Whether they’re functional, zero calorie or hard, Natural Products Expo West 2023 last week had no shortage of new sodas and sparkling waters. While wariness around sugar may have pushed consumers away from full-calorie sodas in the recent past, the natural products industry is continuing to roll out new innovations in the category with a plethora of better-for-you options. Here’s a sampling of what launched last week at the trade show.
BevNET Industry Meetup: Connect with the Boston Food, Beverage & Beer Communities on April 13
We’re inviting the local Boston CPG community to our HQ office on Thursday, April 13th for a food, beverage and beer industry meetup. Join our BevNET, NOSH, Brewbound and Taste Radio teams from 6 PM to 8 PM ET for networking, beverages and light appetizers. We also encourage you to BYOS a.k.a. “bring your own samples” for others to try!
Black Rifle: Net Revenue +30% in Q4, Though 2023 Outlook Softens
Off the back of announcing an over 30% year-over-year increase in net revenue in Q4, veteran-owned coffee company Black Rifle outlined its “deliberate” growth strategy primarily focused on RTDs and the Food, Drug and Mass (FDM) market.
Flavored Whiskey Makes a Sweet Comeback
Cookie dough with your bourbon? Over the past decade, flavored whiskey has evolved from a handful of value-priced cinnamon or apple flavored bottles to a hot segment driven by innovative flavors from craft and emerging brands. As the diversity of flavors expands, suppliers have lured in new whiskey drinkers and found a niche for their sweet, and sometimes savory, spirits.
Laird: Company Emphasizes Turnaround Efforts After $15.6M Q4 Net Loss
Facing a net loss of $15.6 million in Q4 2022 – up 126% year-over-year – plant-based food and powdered drink brand Laird Superfood said it is emphasizing turnaround efforts in the new year during an earnings call this week.
Expo West 2023: Confidence Rebrands as Emotional Utility Beverage; Hawaiian Soda Co. Debuts
In this report from Natural Products Expo West 2023 we look at functional drink maker Confidence's rebrand as Emotional Utility Beverage, the launch of Hawaiian Soda Co., New Barn Organic's new claim to Regenerative Organic Almond Milk, and the emergence of lychee flavored drinks.