Headlines

ELIQS Closes $5.7M Seed Round, Extends Platform to Web3, Brand Incubation

Barrel Labs, the newly formed parent company of DTC customizable beverage brand ELIQS, announced on Wednesday it has closed a $5.7 million seed round that will support its expansion into three business platforms intended to help it become a “customization platform for the entire beverage industry.”

Taste Radio: What Does It Take To Lead A Revolution? If You’re ‘Good,’ A Star And Lots Of Farms.

Heather Terry, the founder and CEO of ambitious platform brand GoodSam Foods and the co-founder of trailblazing chocolate company NibMor, spoke about why acknowledging a lack of business acumen is important for early-stage founders, why adhering to brand mission is paramount to an operational strategy and how GoodSam aligns with consumers and retailers that embrace its vision.

Haus To Shut Down, Seeks Buyer After Investor Pulls Out

Haus, a California-based maker of low-ABV aperitifs, is winding down its business and seeking a buyer after the lead investor in its Series A round dropped out during the closing process, leaving the company without the necessary cash on hand to continue operations.

RISE, CoreBev Plot Shared Growth in RTD Cocktails

Spirits company The CoreBev Group has partnered with cold brew coffee brand RISE Brewing Co. for its latest canned cocktail launch, Moonlight Barista. Made with CoreBev’s Cylinder Vodka and RISE coffee, Moonlight Barista (15.5% ABV) is a nitro espresso martini available in 6.8 oz. cans.

Inflation and COVID Mean More Drinking at Home, Says IRI

At-home drinking is here to stay, according to a new report from IRI Beverage Alcohol Research. With inflation concerns and on-premise challenges, consumers are opting to indulge at home – and these conditions are impacting growth opportunities, putting a premium on innovation and affecting everything from e-commerce strategy to packaging and premiumization.

Monster: Q2 Earnings Garners Gross Margins Miss

Monster Beverage Company reported a steep decrease in margins for Q2 2022 as the cost of materials and logistics weighed down record sales of $1.66 billion, a 13% increase from the same period last year. Yet those results were dampened by the soaring cost of sales, which jumped around 40% to $875.3 million.

Monster To Launch Flavored Malt Beverage “The Beast Unleashed”

Monster Beverage Company confirmed its long-rumored entrance into beverage alcohol during its Q2 2022 earnings call on Thursday, announcing that Monster Beast Unleashed, a four-SKU line of flavored malt beverages (6% ABV), will launch in late Q4 2022 with the goal of being nationally distributed by the end of 2023.