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With more drinkers reaching for tequila-based ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails, mezcal versions could seem like a natural next step considering the spirit’s recent rise. Madre Mezcal, a brand with a foothold in the mezcal market is the most recent to launch their version, a 5% ABV can called Desert Water that comes in four flavors. Meanwhile, Elenita, which launched as the first mezcal RTD in 2020, has been steadily growing their distribution. But unlike other agave spirit RTDs, they might not get much competition for a while – the supply chain challenges are just that big

NielsenIQ veteran Mary Mills has departed the data giant to join Chicago-based 3 Tier Beverages as a consultant. During her 14 years at NielsenIQ, Mills worked with clients in the food, beverage and consumer goods industries in a variety of roles, including innovation insights, client management and business development. She brings nearly a decade of experience with beverage-alcohol brands to 3 Tier. Salt Lake City-headquartered Uinta Brewing has tapped Ian Fuller as director of brewing operations.

IRI-defined ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages (RTDs) have recorded nearly $9 billion in sales over the last 52 weeks (ending June 5) in IRI tracked off-premise channels (multi-outlet plus convenience), according to the market research firm.

Monster Beverage Corp. plans to introduce three to four alcoholic beverage brands over the next few quarters, some of which will use brand names acquired from CANarchy and some that will be developed in-house. That slate may not include hard seltzer, as the company playing in the broader FMB space and, potentially, spirit-based RTD canned cocktails.

Since a jury awarded Stone Brewing a $56 million verdict on March 25 in its trademark infringement lawsuit against Molson Coors over a 2017 Keystone Light rebrand that separated “Key” and “Stone” on cans and packaging, the two companies have buried one another in post-trial filings and motions.