Yerbaé Raises $4M, Leans Into Sports & Entertainment
Yerbaé has raised over $4 million in the “first tranche” of a new funding round backed by a variety of athletes and entertainers, the Arizona-based plant-based beverage brand announced yesterday.
Headlines
Jove Launches New Formats, Brand Partnerships To Build Distribution
Functional alkaline water brand Jovē has been building retail partnerships in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic and is preparing for a national push on the back of new format innovation, a hybrid distribution model and brand sponsorships.
“It Has Never Been a Celebrity Tequila”: Five Questions with Casamigos Co-Founder Rande Gerber
It’s likely you’ve heard of Casamigos, the tequila brand founded by actor George Clooney, Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman in 2013, which later sold to Diageo for nearly a billion dollars.
Ex-Pressed Juicery Chief Kalra Joins Sol-ti as President and CEO
Organic juice brand Sol-ti has named former Pressed Juicery chief Pawan Kalra as its new president and CEO, who steps into the role as Sol-ti founder Ryne O’Donnell shifts to the role of chairman and “Chief Vitality Advocate.”
Taste Radio: Do Gen Z Consumers Shop The Way We Think They Do?
They talk the talk, but does Gen Z walk the walk? The hosts discuss the generation’s complicated relationship with food and whether their values actually impact purchasing decisions. This episode also features an interview with Jorge Antonio Salles, the third-generation master distiller for iconic tequila brand El Tequileño.
Distribution Roundup: Thomas Ashbourne Hits Kroger, Waterford Whisky Expands
In spirits distribution news, SJP’s cosmo is hitting Kroger’s shelves and one importer is ditching a major distributor to focus on reaching the Hispanic consumer
This Week’s New Products: Blue Beetle Energy Powder, Plus Blue Bottle, Laird and Chobani
In this week’s new products roundup, Genius Juice gets a brain boost with the launch of wellness shots, Laird and Chobani summon The Great Pumpkin and Indeed Brewing splashes into the THC-infused beverage space.
Analysis: Where Are The Opportunities in a Slow Cannabis Beverage Market?
We spoke with Brendan Mitchel-Chesebro, industry analyst at market research group BDSA, to unpack some of their latest insights, which showed beverages as the fourth-largest edible subcategory (6%) in Q1 2023.
Analysis: Is Campari’s Voting Shift a Prelude to a U.S. Acquisition?
Campari is set to increase shareholders’ voting rights this month, a move which may carve a path toward making a big acquisition as the Italian spirits group seeks to compete against larger rivals like Pernod Ricard and Diageo.
After “Forbidden,” Will More Female Bourbon Distillers Follow Marianne Eaves?
Master Distiller Marianne Eaves has carved out a career in the often male-dominated whiskey industry as not only a commodity for blending innovative spirits but as a tastemaker for craft distillers.
Distribution: Recess’ 5K Store Expansion Deepens Platform Strategy
Recess’ move to the mainstream is big on Mood. On Wednesday, the relaxation platform brand announced its largest expansion into conventional retail to-date, bringing its non-CBD Mood line, new Mocktail offerings and Mood stick packs to 5,000 new doors across the country.
Beam Suntory: Sales Up in H1 2023; Slowdown in U.S.
Beam Suntory reported a 10% rise in net sales for the first half of 2023, driven by ready-to-drink (RTD) brands and the company’s premiumization strategy, but nevertheless did face performance struggles in North America.
It’s 8:20 Somewhere: Cannabis Industry Groups Promote THC Bevs Holiday
In a push to grow awareness for the infused beverage category, the Cannabis Beverage Association (CBA) and the Cannabis Media Council (CMC) are ringing in what they hope will become an annual THC tradition: “820”, aka National Drink Cannabis Day.
Taste Radio: Build A Great Business, Champion A Social Mission. In That Order.
Hakki Akendiz, an immigrant who became a successful entrepreneur and lauded philanthropist, is living the American Dream. He also for years experienced the plight of living without housing. His business, Champion Pizza, gives a voice to both.