Daily Briefing (Insiders Only): Big Weed Bets on Bevs
If beverage entrepreneurs somehow thought the THC drink business would be more “chill” than the non-infused side, they might soon learn a hard lesson.
Investment
Dive into the latest stories, interviews, and discussions relating to investment, funding, and mergers and acquisitions throughout the beverage industry. Explore what the financial future looks like for beverage entrepreneurs in terms of capital availability, deal terms, lending, and the strategic marketplace in order to help shape your planning strategy for the short and medium term.
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Featured Investment Content
Uncle Arnie’s Raises $7.5M, Targets ‘Category Leadership’ in THC Drinks
Cannabis beverage brand Uncle Arnie’s is planning to nearly double its team from 40 to 75 employees after closing a $7.5 million investment round co-led by Mindset Capital and Delta Emerald Ventures.
The Pathfinder Lands $3.6M to Fuel National Expansion
A spirits group known for its vodka is pouring more money into its adult non-alc (ANA) business. The Pathfinder, a fermented and distilled non-alcoholic amaro, closed a $3.6 million raise this month led by the Stoli Group, aimed at fueling expanded distribution.
Additional Content
Gorgie Nets Glamorous $24.5M Round, Target Rollout Up Next
Working to go from TikTok and DTC to IRL brick-and-mortar, better-for-you energy drink brand Gorgie announced today that it has closed a $24.5 million funding round led by Notable Capital. According to the company, the new capital brings Gorgie’s lifetime funding to $37 million since its launch in 2023.
Basemakers Founder To Launch AI-Guided VC Fund
CPG industry veteran Max Baumann is launching a new VC firm, Back to Back VC, that will pair merchandising and strategy firm Basemakers' data with AI technology to guide investment opportunities.
Cash Crunch or Comeback? Q1 Food & Beverage Financing Trends – a FABID Exclusive Report
Is the food and beverage funding freeze finally thawing? FABID’s Q1 2025 Report reveals a surprising rebound in deal size and investor appetite—just not where you might expect.
Ryl Tea Plans for 4X ‘Hyper-Growth’ Fueled By $15M Funding Round
The Ryl Company, maker of functional canned beverage brand Ryl Tea, has closed a $15 million funding round as it looks to accelerate into “hyper-growth” and increase its retail footprint 4x this year.
Culture Pop Lands $15M To ‘Close The Gap’ In Modern Soda
Culture Pop has raised over $15 million, boosting marketing and expanding distribution as competition in the modern soda category heats up.
Diageo Strikes Deal With LeBron James-Backed Lobos 1707, Cîroc via Joint Venture
Diageo is teaming up with consulting and investment firm Main Street Advisors for a strategic joint venture that swaps out the spirits giant’s majority ownership of Cîroc Vodka in North America for a majority stake in basketball legend Lebron James-backed Lobos 1707 Tequila.
As Spirits M&A Slows, Founders Urged to Get Creative
With softer sales and shifting trade policy rocking the spirit industry, founders searching for a buyer will need to get creative, according to a panel discussion at the annual Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. (DISCUS) conference in Washington D.C. last week.
SunnyD Maker Harvest Hill Acquired by Castillo Hermanos
Harvest Hill Beverage Company, best known as the maker of kids drink brands SunnyD and Juicy Juice, has agreed terms for its acquisition by Guatemalan business group Castillo Hermanos, in partnership with private investment firm Centerview Capital.
Calypso Acquires Mela Watermelon Water
King Juice, the parent company of Calypso Lemonades, is expanding its beverage portfolio with the acquisition of plant-based hydration brand Mela Water, producers of a premium watermelon water in cans.
Wet Hydration Closes $4.5M Round, Former Celsius EVP Joins
Functional beverage startup Wet Hydration has closed a $4.5 million funding round, backed exclusively by private investors, as the brand looks to amp up its market presence this year with new innovation and key new personnel hires, including a former Celsius sales executive.
Nixie Nets Nearly $27M Investment
Nixie Beverage Company has landed a $26.9 million investment as it scales deeper into the zero-sugar soda set.
Lucky Energy Nets $14.2 Million in Fresh Funding
Clean ingredient energy drink maker Lucky Energy has secured a new tranche of growth capital as it looks to double down in key markets while broadening its team.
Daily Briefing (Insiders Only): Is The Insurgency Winning?
Some of the top names in Bain & Company’s annual insurgent CPG brands list should seem more than a little familiar: Alani Nu, Ghost, Poppi. Do you sense a theme?
Diageo’s Shift: What the Distill Ventures Decision Signals For The Spirits Industry
After over a decade of investing in emerging spirits and adult non-alc brands, last week Diageo confirmed that its venture arm Distill Ventures will cease bringing new brands into its portfolio. What does the wind-down signal for the spirits group and does it say something about the larger spirits industry?