As RNDC Exits California, What’s Next For Suppliers?
While former RNDC suppliers plot their next move, what will be the impact of the distributor’s exit on independent spirits and ready-to-drink (RTD) brands in California, and beyond?
Headlines
Distribution: Starbucks Picks Up Sol-ti Wellness Shots
The coffee giant announced last week the arrival of Sol-ti’s refrigerated wellness shots in 2.1 oz. glass bottles, a move that brings the SoCal-based organic beverage brand into over 10,000 locations nationwide.
New Products: Throne Gets A Fresh Look, Gorgie Puts On Blush, Plus Four Sigmatic’s Triple Play
This week’s new product gallery includes a new look for Throne Sport Coffee, Gorgie’s exclusive flavor launch in Target and 5-Hour Energy’s (literally) glowing new flavor addition.
Koia CFO Michael Woolard Exits, Starts New Advisory Business
Koia president and CFO Michael Woolard is on to his next venture, leaving the plant-based protein beverage company to start his own consulting business. After more than six years with the brand, he has founded his own contract business, tentatively called Foundational CPG.
With Sales Down, Brown-Forman Aims to Expand Its RTD Reach
Soft consumer spending on bev-alc and tariff uncertainty weighed on whiskey giant Brown-Forman’s fourth quarter fiscal year 2025 earnings and outlook for next year, triggering shares to plunge 15% Thursday morning.
Reviews: Rise Has Us Shaken, Beckett’s Has Us (Good) Burning
This week's beverage reviews feature plenty of zip (from cold brew specialists Rise), a pleasant burn (see Beckett's fiery mocktails), some tang (courtesy of Jabin) and a healthy serving of natural sweetness (via Coaqua Coconut Water).
CPG Week: A Spirits Distributor Exits California. Plus, AG1 Hits Costco
This week, the podcast team discusses the merger of two legacy cheesemakers and the exit of a major beverage alcohol distributor from a key spirits market. Next, the hosts dig into the debut of digitally-native supplement brand AG1 in physical retail and explore why the news of an energy drink startup’s new investor brings fresh opportunities for its growth goals.
Reddy Family Expands Manufacturing With Trillium Foods, Backed by Bain Capital
There’s a new-ish manufacturer in town. After Flavor Reddy Foods grew its food manufacturing footprint via M&A in the past two years, the company is bringing the combined businesses together under one new entity, Trillium Foods.
DRY Soda Founder Debuts Low-ABV Gin Second Sip
DRY Soda founder Sharelle Klaus Azeroual is moving into the spirits business with a low-ABV gin, Second Sip, cofounded with spirits industry veterans Leo Robitschek and Nick Strangeway.
Tilray CEO on Why He Believes in Bev-Alc, Intoxicating Hemp’s Potential
Tilray Brands chairman and CEO Irwin Simon doesn’t believe the narrative that drinkers – including the youngest legal-drinking-age consumers – are giving up alcohol.
Can A ‘Big Tobacco’ Giant Be the New Face of Better-For-You Beverages?
As it works to wean itself off of the combustible tobacco products that made it a multi-billion dollar behemoth, British American Tobacco (BAT), the 123-year-old multinational nicotine producer, has been placing bets on the better-for-you, functional food and beverage sector
Going Green: THC Brands Line Up Investments Amid Regulatory Storm Clouds
Three hemp-derived THC brands have lined up new financing rounds of less than $2 million each, even as regulatory challenges mount state-by-state.
Blake Lively’s Betty Booze Expands Cocktail Range With First Vodka RTDs
The brand’s first-ever vodka cocktails -- Vodka Iced Tea + Meyer Lemonade and Vodka Iced Tea + Passion Fruit -- promise to be “bright, juicy and sippable,” per a press release this morning, and are each made with real black tea and fruit juice.
Fed Policies That Drag On Retail Could Be eGrocery’s Gain, Report Suggests
New government policies liable to drag down retail growth could be to the benefit of online grocers, with U.S. online grocery sales expected to outpace brick-and-mortar by 5.2x through 2029, according to a new report from ecommerce data and consulting firm Brick Meets Click.