Reviews: Strive Hydration Soda, Birdie Sparkling Tea & Mateína’s Energy Brews
To sparkle or not to sparkle? Whatever you fancy, we've got it this week with Mateina's yerba mate brews, Strive's take on hydration soda, and Birdie sparkling tea.
Headlines
Waku Tea Raising $1.5M Seed, As Brand Hits Retail ‘Inflection Point’
Prebiotic drink brand Waku Tea is closing a $1.5 million seed round by the end of the year, backed by the venture arm of Beckett Industries.
Delta Beverages Unveils Refresh, Targets C-Stores for Hemp THC Growth
Delta Beverages unveiled a new visual identity and a marketing campaign that seek to “humanize” the brand while eliminating the stigma often associated with cannabis use.
Judge Allows Class-Action Lawsuit Over Sazerac’s Fireball to Proceed
Sazerac is facing legal heat again for selling malt-based versions of Fireball and Parrot Bay that allegedly misled consumers who believed they were spirits-based products.
Ben Stiller Launches New ‘Nostalgic’ BFY Soda Brand Stiller’s
Actor Ben Stiller is joining the likes of beverage heavyweights Coca-Cola and PepsiCo in the modern soda stakes, launching his new low-sugar CSD line.
Tito’s Handmade Vodka to Acquire Majority Stake in LALO Tequila
Tito’s Handmade Vodka has struck a deal to acquire a majority stake in LALO Tequila, a fast-growing tequila brand often dubbed the “Tito’s of tequila.”
Taste Radio: ‘Whisper’ Success Into Existence. An Industry Icon Shows The Way.
What separates beverage brands that break out from those that burn out? In this episode, industry veteran Ken Sadowsky – often known by his sobriquet, the “Beverage Whisperer” – offers a behind-the-scenes look at what’s working (and what’s not) in the fiercely competitive drinks industry.
Chick-fil-A Will Open Coffee & Beverages-Focused Concept as Daybright
The Georgia-based quick service chain quietly confirmed the existence of a spin-off restaurant concept, Daybreak, that places it amidst a growing field of national food service operations leaning into specialty drinks.
Milwaukee Craft Distillery Central Standard Launches THC-Infused Drinks
Are THC-infused beverages the next stage of evolution for craft distillers? The leaders of one Milwaukee distillery believe so.
Charlie Sheen’s Wild AF Non-Alc Beer Coming Soon with Co-Stars Harpoon and The Silent Group
The Hollywood star has teamed up with Barrel One Collective’s Harpoon Brewery and “innovation brand shop” The Silent Group to create non-alcoholic (NA) beer Wild AF Brewing.
Former White Claw Exec Launches ‘Grown-Up’ Energy Drink
Mōcean is a new energy drink from former White Claw executive Tony Vieira that is targeting a young professional demographic.
Molson Coors Appoints Rahul Goyal as Next President and CEO
Molson Coors named long-time chief strategy officer Rahul Goyal as the company’s new president and CEO, succeeding Gavin Hattersley who announced in April plans to retire at the end of the year.
Taste Radio: Protein Is Everywhere. But Does It Belong Everywhere?
The hosts dive into the sustained wave of protein-infused consumer products – from popcorn to mashed potatoes – and debate whether the market is approaching “protein fatigue” or merely scratching the surface of a macro trend driven more by marketing than science. They also recap Taste Radio’s high-energy meetup in San Diego, spotlighting several new and innovative brands showcased at the event
New Products: Poppi Cream Soda Returns; Mingle Mocktails Is In the ‘Mood’
Soda’s comeback is still in full swing this week, in the guise of Poppi’s (now permanent) revival of one of its best-selling LTOs and AriZona’s philanthropic take on a Brooklyn classic. Plus protein cold brew from Wandering Bear, Mingle Mocktails’ new mood-boosting drinks and much more.