America Cider Association Elects 2 New Members to Board of Directors
Two new members have been elected to the American Cider Associations (ACA) board of directors, the hard cider industry trade group announced last week.
Beyond Beer
Read the latest beyond beer news relating to companies involved with RTD cocktails, hard cider, hard seltzer, hard kombucha, spirits, cannabis, and non-alcoholic products. Take a comprehensive look at developments in these evolving sectors, offering valuable insights into the innovations, trends, and market forces shaping the world of beer and beyond.
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Hard Cider in a Chapter Primed for Growth, But Needs to ‘Claim the Throne’
The 15th annual CiderCon took place in Chicago earlier this month, drawing about 850 attendees and cider industry members to the Windy City for the American Cider Association’s (ACA) annual industry conference and trade show.
Non-Alcoholic Beer Grabs 4.2% Share of Beer Grocery Sales in January; Sales +23.5%, Volume +20%
Non-alcoholic (NA) beer claimed a record 4.2% share of beer category grocery sales during Dry January, according to an analysis by Bump Williams Consulting chief strategy officer Dan Wandel. NA beer recorded double-digit year-over-year (YoY) increases in dollar sales (+23.5%) and volume (+20.2%) in U.S. food stores tracked by market research firm NIQ for the four-week period ending February 1.
Additional Content
Diageo Reports First Full-Year Losses Since Pandemic
Marking its first annual sales loss since 2020, Diageo reported a -1.4% decline in net sales for fiscal year 2024 during its earnings call Tuesday morning.
Bernstein: Twisted Tea is ‘Only Meaningful Source of Growth’ for Boston Beer; Predicts +9% Growth in Next 5 Years
Twisted Tea accounts for the majority of Boston Beer’s volume and has become the company’s “only meaningful source of growth,” Bernstein analyst Nadine Sarwat wrote in a report focusing on the brand’s sustainability.
THC-Infused Beverage Maker Climbing Kites Pushes Forward Amid Murky Iowa Law; Distribution Expansion On Tap
After being stuck in limbo for much of July following the passage of regulations on THC-infused beverages in Iowa, Iowa City-based Climbing Kites is pushing new products into retailers this week.
Legal Updates: Crossover Beverage Guidance Takes Shape, DTC Laws Advance
With crossover products gaining shelf space, more guidance is emerging from trade associations and states to steer how brands, retailers and regulators define and treat these offerings.
Uncle Nearest Launches Mentorship Program to Support Bartenders and Cultivate Brand Advocacy
Fast-growing whiskey company Uncle Nearest has launched a unique trade mentorship program, leveraging a brand advocacy strategy its creator said is centered on investing in bartenders and building long-term relationships.
Star Power? How Influencer and Celebrity Brands Are Faring In a Saturated Spirits Market
Ever since Diageo’s acquisition of Casamigos made George Clooney an overnight billionaire, there’s been a race to the shelf from celebrity-backed brands. But with the wider spirits downturn, how have these business models evolved and where do they have an edge, if at all?
BWC: Flavor at the Forefront of Beer Category Growth; Imports and FMBs Adding the Most Dollar Sales
Flavor-forward innovations are driving beer category growth and this trend is accelerating, according to the most recent report from Bump Williams Consulting (BWC). Of the top 25 growth brands at total U.S. off-premise outlets year-to-date (YTD) through June 15, 13 were “flavor-centric” or ready-to-drink (RTD) offerings, BWC founder Bump Williams noted, citing data from market research firm NIQ.
Talkhouse Encore: How a Hamptons Bar is Making a Play for the RTD Market
There were many ways entertainment venues aimed to keep the lights on during the pandemic— for a Hamptons bar that regularly hosted musical acts, creating a ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail was one solution.
TikTok Opens Ad Platform to Beverage-Alcohol Brands in the US
Popular and controversial social media platform TikTok recently opened advertising on its platform to beverage-alcohol brands in the United States, due in part to its user base aging up.
North Carolina Eases Restrictions on Spirits-Based RTDs, Pennsylvania Bill Moves Ahead
The state-by-state battle to expand sales of ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails continues as spirits advocates celebrated a win in North Carolina this week.
Betting Big on RTDs, Suntory Names New U.S. RTD Director
Suntory Global Spirits is continuing to bet big on ready-to-drink (RTD), announcing today Carol Robert, previously COO of Suntory Beverage and Food Great Britain & Ireland (SBF GB&I), as its new managing director of U.S. RTD.
Ryan Burk Joins Blake’s Beverage as VP of Quality & Innovation
Former Angry Orchard head cider maker Ryan Burk has joined Blake’s Beverage Company as VP of quality and innovation. Burk has been advising Blake’s and its portfolio of brands – Blake’s Hard Cider, Austin Eastciders and AVID Cider Co. – for a couple years, including through the launch of its most recent innovations.
A Round With Yonder Cider Founder and CEO Caitlin Braam
The latest installment of Brewbound’s A Round With – a weekly Insider-exclusive Q&A series with industry leaders – features Caitlin Braam, founder and owner of Yonder Cider and The Source.
BuzzBallz Files Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Beverage Ranch
BuzzBallz has made its spherical bottles an essential part of the brand – and it’s not eager to share. The wine-, spirit- and malt-based cocktail brand filed a lawsuit against The Beverage Ranch last week, alleging the rival company copied its patented packaging for its new SlamZees line.