The “beyond beer” or "malternatives" space looks similar to a bowl of jelly beans these days. At one time there were just a handful of choices that were simple to understand, like cherry, green apple and orange – or, in bev-alc’s case, hard cider, wine coolers and malt-based hard lemonade. Now, in the continued era of “everything can be an alcoholic beverage,” what you pull from the bowl has become harder to define.
BevNET's annual Alcohol & Alternatives Showcase.
Protein is no longer strictly a pre- or post-workout recovery fuel; it has become one of the most – if not the most – influential forces reshaping the modern beverage landscape. From creamy shakes crafted with ultrafiltered milk to “modern sodas” to lighter functional drinks, brands are working to redefine what protein means as the category both grows and diversifies rapidly across numerous usage occasions.
As brands born in fitness and nutrition channels migrate to the mainstream, they’re literally bringing a new mentality to the energy category. Within energy drinks, rising interest in biohacking, nootropics and optimized supplement “stacking” has inevitably moved the conversation beyond just workout-boosting ingredients or more caffeine and towards things that can help users dominate outside of the gym.
The Specialty Food Association’s Summer Fancy Food Show, the largest U.S. food show devoted exclusively to foods and beverages, is set to return to New York City in late June.
In craft beer news: Stone Brewing Sold to Firestone Walker and Duvel USA; Brewers Association: Craft 2025 Production Volume -5.1%; 1,072 Brewery Closures in Last 2 Years; Mark Anthony Brands to Acquire Finnish Long Drink; and Molson Coors Acquires Monaco Maker Atomic Brands for $275M.
At those new-bev contests like BevNET’s own New Beverage Showdown, you rarely see refrigerated beverage brands in the mix. Even newcomers to our business seem to recognize the cold chain’s special challenges.
There’s sales, and there’s capturing the “Diet Zeitgeist,” and that’s what’s happened with Diet Coke. In fact, the silver can has only become more of an object of desire as the ongoing war in Iran has compressed Persian Gulf aluminum exports.
Protein by sales and growth.
In beverage news: Beyond CEO: Protein Drink Pivot Hopes to Flip the Script for Brand; Monster Tallies Highest Q1 Sales Over $2B; Target Expanding Hemp Beverage Sales to Fla., Tex., Ill.; and Nutrabolt Names Former KDP Exec Archambault as President, COO.
As most of you who know me know, I’m an in-person person. I thrive on face to face contact, which allows my hair to exert its magical charms. There is nothing I like more than mingling with the industry, seeing old friends, meeting new ones.
In food industry news: Harken Snags New Capital Ahead of Costco Rollout; Mooski Goes Big on Bite-Sized Snacking With New Target Expansion; Brami Raises $33M To Scale Lupini Bean Supply Chain; and Oishii Raises $150M To Scale Strawberry Farms.
