No Deal (Yet): Kroger-Albertsons Merger Denied
The proposed $24.6 billion Kroger/Albertsons mega-merger was temporarily blocked today by a federal judge, who ruled in favor of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) suing to block the deal.
Headlines
KeHE Onboards New Fee Consolidation Program
KeHE has introduced a new opt-in fee structuring program that allows emerging brands to trade associated, first-year onboarding fees for a consistent 2% flat rate, a move intended to make the distribution powerhouse “easier and more cost effective” to work with.
Six Finalists Advance in New Beverage Showdown 28
Six beverage startups emerged from a field of 12 contestants to secure a spot in tomorrow’s final round of New Beverage Showdown 28 at BevNET Live Winter 2024, presented by Coca-Cola North America New Revenue Streams.
BevNET Live Day One: Emotional Innovation and TikTok Shop 101
BevNET Live Day One brought discussions on the true meaning of category disrupting innovations, a temperature check on the investment and M&A market, a lesson for emerging brands on how to utilize TikTok Shop and more.
BevNET Best of 2024 Award Winners Announced
At the conclusion of each year, BevNET honors the companies, brands, individuals, products, ideas and trends that have helped drive positive growth across the industry over the last 12 months. The winners of BevNET’s Best of 2024 Awards embody that spirit and drive, combining inspiration with effort, style, dynamism and personality.
BevNET Live Spirits Sunday Recap; Yoju Wins Cocktail Showdown
BevNET Live Winter 2024 kicked off with a spirits-themed Sunday afternoon featuring panels on the state of the RTD cocktail category and a new victor in BevNET’s annual Cocktail Showdown.
Taste Radio: You Got Into Erewhon. Now What? Plus, The ‘Madre’ Of Kefir.
When in Los Angeles, you know the hosts are making an Erewhon run. As they sift through bags of new, innovative and unusual beverages and snacks purchased at the high-end retailer, the hosts discuss Erewhon’s reputation as a launching pad for emerging brands. We also sit down with Nicola Hart and Leon Pullin of Agua De Madre, a London-based brand of water kefir and other functional beverages.
Q Mixers Names Betsy Frost as CEO
Premium cocktail mixer brand Q Mixers has named Betsy Frost as its new CEO, taking over the role from outgoing chief executive Bob Arnold.
Brown-Forman Beats Expectations; CEO Warns of “Painful” Tariffs
Brown-Forman, the leading exporter of U.S. spirits to the world, beat analysts’ expectations in its latest quarterly earnings report, thanks to a jump in demand from its more premium whiskies. But the president and CEO of the Jack Daniels Whiskey maker cautioned that with potential tariffs looming it was facing “so many potential scenarios and unknowns.”
Call Her Thirsty: Podcaster Alex Cooper Enters Beverage with Unwell Hydration
Alex Cooper, host and creator of Call Her Daddy, is jumping into beverages with the launch of Unwell Hydration, a functional drinks line made in collaboration with Nestlé.
Spritz Without The Spirits: Wilderton Rebrands With Aperitivo Focus
The craft spirit veterans behind Adult Non-Alc (ANA) spirit brand Wilderton are taking the bittersweet lessons learned since debuting four years ago and channeling them into a new identity: Wilderton Aperitivo Co.
Better Booch Maker Sees ‘Future’ in More Manufacturing
Under the auspices of a new business division, called FutureBev, Future Beverage Group has acquired a 100,000 square foot facility in Ventura, Calif. in which it plans to manufacture its canned products as well as co-pack for others when it goes online in January.
Report: Spindrift Close to $650M Sale to Private Equity
Spindrift is in advanced talks to be acquired by a private equity firm for a price north of $650 million, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.
Shaka Tea Shuts Down Two Years After Acquisition
Hawaiian beverage brand Shaka Tea is shutting down, according to a message the company posted to its website and sent out to email list subscribers this afternoon.