News

Here Come the Mezcal RTDs, But Not So Fast

With more drinkers reaching for tequila-based ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails, mezcal versions could seem like a natural next step considering the spirit’s recent rise. Madre Mezcal, a brand with a foothold in the mezcal market is the most recent to launch their version, a 5% ABV can called Desert Water that comes in four flavors. Meanwhile, Elenita, which launched as the first mezcal RTD in 2020, has been steadily growing their distribution. But unlike other agave spirit RTDs, they might not get much competition for a while – the supply chain challenges are just that big.

Monster: Pricing +6% In September; FMBs In the Works and Spirits-Based RTDs Under Consideration

Speaking just a few weeks after the energy drink maker’s Q2 earnings report, Monster president and chairman Rodney Sacks said the price increase will kick in on September 1, coming on the heels of incremental hikes in late 2021 and early 2022. The move will put Monster in line with chief rival Red Bull, which communicated to retailers that it will raise pricing by 7.6% (about 10 cents per can) on the same date.

Taste Radio: How Kin’s ‘Big Bold Bet’ Is Changing The Way People Think About Social Drinking

Jen Batchelor, the co-founder and CEO of Kin Euphorics, a pioneering brand of non-alcoholic social tonics, joined the podcast for an expansive conversation about the inspiration for and development of Kin, how Soylent provided a rough template for the company’s business strategy and D2C success and how she applied learnings from success at upscale retailer Erewhon to other chains.

SkinTe Expands Retail Offering into Walmart Stores

SkinTe, the first ever collagen-infused and mood-boosting sparkling wellness soda, is excited to announce its retail expansion into 1,289 Walmart stores across the country offering three of their most popular light and refreshing collagen sodas to consumers: Green Tea Grapefruit, White Tea Ginger, and Hibiscus Vanilla.

MTN DEW + Casey’s Partner to Release New MTN DEW OVERDRIVE

After much anticipation, MTN DEW and Casey’s – the third largest convenience retailer and fifth largest pizza chain in the U.S. – are joining forces to unveil a first-ever collaboration with the newest addition to the MTN DEW flavor line-up, MTN DEW OVERDRIVE.

NielsenIQ: Non-Alc Beverage Sales Slow Down As Volume Pressures Rise

Volume fluctuations are creating a turbulent economic environment in non-alcoholic beverages, as higher volume growth pressures contributed to depressed sales during the two-week period ending June 4, according to an analysis of Nielsen data by Goldman Sachs Equity Research.

Koe Organic Kombucha Earns Massive Distribution Wins Following Rebrand

Koe Organic Kombucha — fruit-forward, probiotic-packed, and refreshingly delicious kombucha – announces expanded distribution in conventional grocery, natural grocery, and convenience stores across the U.S including select Target, Rite Aid, 7-Eleven, Extra Mile, Woodman’s, and Food City stores. This expanded distribution is fueling Koe sales, which according to IRI Reporting are growing over 16 times faster than the Kombucha category. Koe also has the number one fastest velocity growth in the kombucha category, which indicates loyalty as new consumers become repeat purchasers. Koe is the first or only kombucha in many new accounts, making the healthy fermented brew more accessible to consumers nationwide.

Perfect Hydration Alkaline Water Expands National Distribution and Gains Velocity Across Channels

Perfect Hydration Alkaline Water – the brand elevating the water industry with 9x purified, domestically sourced, refreshing alkaline water in sustainable packaging – announces explosive distribution gains nationally and in key regional markets. Perfect Hydration is now available at Kroger, Sprouts Farmers Market, Rite Aid, Extra Mile, Smart & Final, and more. As distribution increases, Perfect Hydration’s sales velocity continues to rise – according to May 2022 52-week IRI Reporting, Perfect Hydration is growing four times faster than the bottled water category as a whole, and 24% faster than the alkaline water category.

buzzbox Premium Cocktails Continues to Drive Innovation in RTD Category With Sustainability Focused Package Redesign

buzzbox premium cocktails announced new packaging across its portfolio of ready-to-drink, all natural ingredient cocktails. The new packaging and exclusive agreement with Blue Ridge Spirits & Wine Marketing for distribution management and customer sales elevate buzzbox’s ongoing efforts to lead the ready-to-drink cocktail category in quality and sustainability.

Brody’s Crafted Cocktails Coming Soon to Total Wine & More Stores in New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Florida and California

Brody's Crafted Cocktails, a line of ready-to-serve craft-style bottled cocktails, has announced product availability coming soon to Total Wine & More locations across NJ, NJ, DE, FL and CA . This mission-based beverage brand offers a unique line of ready-to-serve premium spirits based bottled cocktails — perfect for home entertaining, vacationing or serving at your weekend tailgate.