He’s been a founder, advisor, investor, and more, but for Tom First, the label that fits best is “Beverage Guy.” From helping launch the first great wave of New Age Beverages with Nantucket Nectars to ushering in the Modern Soda category at Culture Pop, First has always been at the forefront of beverage innovation, and he’ll share advice and experience from almost 40 years in the business when he speaks at BevNET Live NYC 2026.
Major spirits groups are approaching moderation trends in different ways – for the Milan-based parent company of Fernet-Branca, that means investing in new technology.
Celebrity might open the door, but execution is what blows it wide open – and Khloud is proving it. Jeff Rubenstein, a seasoned CPG operator who co-founded the brand with Khloé Kardashian, shares lessons on execution, early missteps, and why star power alone doesn’t build a lasting brand. He also explains how balancing broad visibility with grassroots community is key to long-term success.
Non-alc beverage platform Boisson is serving as the exclusive launch partner for Gut Feeling, a new botanical herbal drink brand developed by Austrian natural wine estate Gut Oggau.
More than half a year after Pacific Northwest-based brand Kombucha Town filed for bankruptcy protection, the brand has been acquired by Boom Chaga owner The Better For You Company (BFYC).
Kylie Jenner's RTD cocktail brand has launched an ingestible beauty platform, k2o by Sprinter, with its first Advanced Skin Hydration product.
As energy drink makers look to expand under the general umbrella of "performance"-based functionality, electrolytes are increasingly the logical next place to look.
PLTFRM has consolidated all of its subsidiaries, including Team Direct, VENDO, AMPD, Cities and Presence, under a single identity to cement its position as “a fully integrated omnichannel growth powerhouse.”
The latest NIQ on premise update highlights a continued shift in the beverage alcohol landscape, with spirits reinforcing their leadership position. Over the past year, spirits grew value by just over 2% despite declining volumes, indicating that price and premiumization are driving performance rather than consumption growth.
After seeing some slowdown at the beginning of last month, non-alcoholic beverage sales remained “healthy and stable” with light acceleration in the two-week period ending March 21, 2026. according to the latest analysis of NielsenIQ data by Goldman Sachs Equity Research.
In this week's new products gallery, Swoon takes its zero-sugar lemonade into functional territory, Fairlife rebrands its milks and protein shakes, and De La Calle drops its latest modern Mexican soda SKU.
The hosts break down the latest wave of CPG deals, including HOP WTR’s sale to Constellation Brands and So Good So You’s acquisition by a private investment group – just two of several recent moves. They explore what’s fueling continued buyer activity and why non-alcoholic, functional, and better-for-you beverage brands remain especially attractive targets.
Sporting legends David Beckham and Tom Brady are both the leading faces and equity stakeholders in their respective wellness brands, and are helping combine health and lifestyle elements into differentiated online business models that have room to expand.
What impact could the consolidation of two spirits industry titans have on smaller, independent suppliers?
