Lukas Southard

Lukas Southard

Senior Reporter, BevNET & NOSH

Lukas Southard is a Reporter covering the food and beverage industries across BevNET and NOSH.

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Posts by Lukas Southard

Goodness of Hemp Act Proposes Federal Framework for Hemp Beverages

Goodness of Hemp Act Proposes Federal Framework for Hemp Beverages

A collective of hemp beverage stakeholders and interest groups is attempting to unite the fractured industry under a new bill that could stave off the restrictions set to take effect in November and bring clarity to future regulation.

Owl’s Brew Adds Functional Non-Alc Mixers

Owl’s Brew Adds Functional Non-Alc Mixers

Fresh off its launch into the hard soda set with Spiked Pop, Owl’s Brew is shaking up its approach to the mixer category. The brand’s Functional Non-Alcoholic Mixers launched on Amazon this week, blending fruit juice, tea and botanicals with ingredients like L-theanine and vitamin C.

BRĒZ Seeks Balance Amid Regulatory and Financial Headwinds

BRĒZ Seeks Balance Amid Regulatory and Financial Headwinds

Despite functional ingredients that can get consumers high, BRĒZ is a prime example of a company with lofty growth hopes getting dragged down by the financial realities of scaling efficiently. But they’re working on it.

Restaurant Owners Try To Keep Hemp On The Menu

Restaurant Owners Try To Keep Hemp On The Menu

Restaurant owners have thrown their weight behind the hemp beverage debate, asking Congress to enact a two-year delay on an impending Nov. 12 ban on intoxicating hemp usage in food and beverage products.

Can Better Pricing, More Variety Spark Growth In Non-Alc Wine?

Can Better Pricing, More Variety Spark Growth In Non-Alc Wine?

Winemaking is a slow process, requiring years devoted to growing, harvesting, fermenting and aging before a bottle is uncorked.

Much to the frustration of its producers, the adoption of adult non-alcoholic (ANA) wine is taking a similar pace. Long dominated by sparkling varieties, still varieties of ANA wine are populating the category as mainstream wine brands enter the set, with an ability to scale and open the door to a broader addressable market with less expensive options.

Minnesota Grants Target 72 Licenses for Expanded THC Sales

Minnesota Grants Target 72 Licenses for Expanded THC Sales

THC drinks will have an expanded potential retail set in Minnesota. Despite an existential timeline ticking on the category’s future, beverage retailers continue to add intoxicating hemp drinks to store shelves. Target is the latest to go deeper in the set…at least in its home state.