Spirits Gallery: August RTDs

In this gallery, we showcase a handful of notable new RTDs from the past month, highlighted by flavor extensions from Lifted Libations and Cutwater, Austin Cocktails making the move into cans and a category debut from Boston's Bully Boy Distillers.

Awaiting New Financing, Joyride Pauses Operations

As the COVID-19 pandemic has effectively shuttered the office channel for beverage providers, Joyride Coffee Distributors has temporarily ceased operations as it finalizes a deal to secure new financing, the company told BevNET this week.

Office Hours: Lead Your Squad to Growth with John Maggio

If there’s one CPG product type that has managed to explode during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s Ready-to-Drink Cocktails (RTDs). According to Nielsen, sales of RTDs grew more than 90 percent in the month of June, with more growth expected throughout the summer as Americans searched for ways to entertain — or keep themselves entertained — with limited, inconsistent access to restaurants, bars, or each other.

Taste Radio Insider Ep. 96: How SkinnyDipped Made Millions At Target… After Sneaking Into Google

Breezy Griffith, co-founder and CEO of fast-growing coated nut brand Skinny Dipped, spoke about why persistence was critical in landing the brand’s first retail accounts, how guts and guile got the products into the office pantries of Google and Microsoft, how she orchestrated national distribution of the brand at Target and why she’s turned to an industry veteran to manage day-to-day operations.

Review: Free Rain

Free Rain is a line of sparkling waters that are enhanced with functional ingredients and feature a unique flavor profile. The current lineup includes three SKUs: Tart Cherry & Siberian Ginseng for Energy, Blood Orange Ginger and Ashwagandha for Focus, and Blackberry & Passionflower for Calm.

Distribution Roundup: Kaló Hemp Seltzer Partners with Pepsi New York

Kaló Hemp Seltzer Partners with PepsiNY; EBOOST Expands to Over 2,500 Locations; CellDration Water Partners with Kroger, Adds 1,100 Doors; Liquid I.V. Launches Energy Multiplier in Costco; KÖE Kombucha Builds on Immunity Trend; Better Booch Expands in Whole Foods; Pop & Bottle Enters Walmart, 7-Eleven; Play Mode Enters UNFI; Natalie’s Rolls Out to Target

Cascadia Managing Brands Takes Equity Stake in Krisp Drinks

Food and beverage consulting firm Cascadia Managing Brands has taken an equity stake in Pennsylvania-based enhanced water startup Krisp Drinks, a Black-owned brand founded by a former convenience store manager.

LifeAID Launches Call to Action to Support People Displaced by California Fires

After one of the company’s co-founders lost his home to the wildfires currently ravaging California, LifeAID Beverage Company is now calling on the business community to support the Santa Cruz community impacted by the blaze, which has now displaced roughly 100,000 people throughout the state.

Good Karma Announces Buyout of Majority Ownership from Dean Foods

As the assets of dairy conglomerate Dean Foods continued to be divided up following the company’s bankruptcy filing, plant-based dairy brand Good Karma announced today that it has repurchased the majority of the company once owned by Dean and also closed a “significant” amount of capital through new strategic partners.

Review: Sap Sucker

Sap Sucker is a new line of organic sparkling tree water beverages that are made in Canada. The product is launching three flavors: Lime, Lemon and Original.