Daily Briefing (Insiders Only): Hint Water Adds New Leadership, Capital
San Francisco-based flavored water brand Hint announced it has landed two seasoned beverage executives as new leaders for the company.
Finances in Focus at BevNET Live Winter 2024: Piper Sandler, Rocana, Willow, Barrel, Life Aid discuss Investing and Capital Strategies
Finding investors and lenders is always a concern for beverage entrepreneurs, but the past two years have been incredibly difficult, particularly at the seed and series A rounds. For more established brands it hasn’t been a picnic, either: as strategic activity has slowed, fundraising for institutional investors has taken longer and that means founders have been faced with tough terms and valuations – if there are any entreaties at all.
New Products: PKN Finds JOY, Plus Lifeway & Little Saints
In this week’s NPG, we settle in for a hot cup of “Death,” call up Three Spirit for botanical drink, and highlight a new set of collagen-packed kefirs from Lifeway.
Taste Radio: How A ‘Better’ Brand Did A Deal With Disney. Plus, Pro Hugs & Pizza Wine.
Collaborations – including a tomato-based wine co-created by Pizza Hut, a marketing campaign featuring a partnership between sex workers and a non-alcoholic spirit brand, and a partnership between candy startup Better Sour and Disney – anchor this episode.
Daily Briefing (Insiders Only): Soccer Superstar Swerves Into Supplements
If, amidst an onslaught of celebrity wellness brand launches, you’ve been wondering to yourself ‘I wonder what David Beckham is doing right now?,’ then we have your answer.
Mela Enlists NBA Star Josh Hart Amidst Push For Wide Appeal
With the help of new brand ambassador NBA star Josh Hart, watermelon water brand Mela is taking a broad distribution approach targeting independent convenience and mass retailers.
Daily Briefing (Insiders Only): Lifeway Rejects Second Danone Purchase Offer
Lifeway Foods spent little time weighing a second acquisition offer from Danone North America, and the answer is still “no.” The kefir producer officially rejected Danone’s proposal this morning, which included acquiring all remaining Lifeway shares for $27 per share – around $307 million total.
Bawi Closes $3.5M To Scale Operations
Agua fresca maker Bawi has raised a $3.5 million seed round led by a $1.5 million infusion from Brand Foundry as the Austin-based brand scales operations for a distribution push in 2025.
BellRing Brands: Premier Protein Growth Leads to Strong Q4, Full Year Results
BellRing Brands finished its 2024 fiscal year on a high, with strong volume growth for its Premier Protein brand driving net sales to the high end of expectations in its Q4 and full year earnings report..
BevNET 2024 Spirits Awards: Submit Your Nominations by Friday 11/22
This is the last week to submit your nominations for BevNET's 2024 Spirits Awards. Nominations close this Friday, November 22.
Vanishing Spirits: ‘Sophisticated’ Tequila Heist Highlights Hard Liquor Hijacking
If you’re looking for Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagar's Santo Tequila, you might be out of luck thanks to an Oceans 13-level heist that disappeared two truckloads of tequila last week.
Taste Radio: The Keys To Building An Iconic Brand? A Bit Of ‘Luck’ & And A Long-Term Vision.
Luke Boase, the founder of Lucky Saint, a fast-growing brand of non-alcoholic beer from the U.K., talks about why the brand’s potential for an iconic future has always been top of mind. He also explains how the company incorporates consumer insights and data into its retail pitches and how he thinks about competing with beer companies owned by or aligned with large strategics.
Nestlé Moves Bottled Water, Premium Bevs to Standalone Business
Nestlé is creating a new business to house its bottled water and premium beverage brands, as the Swiss conglomerate seeks to recalibrate its portfolio in the wake of anemic growth.
Start to Exit In Three Years: A Drink With… Kat Hantas, Co-Founder of 21Seeds
“Moms don't discover brands on-premise.” Created by three women in 2019, flavored tequila 21Seeds found a niche in a crowded category by catering to an underserved demographic and to the at-home drinking occasion – fortuitously right before the COVID-19 lockdowns.