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Bump Williams Consulting: FMB, Spirits-Based RTD Volume Gains Slowing; Imports Remain ‘Beacon of Consistent Volume’ Growth

Bump Williams Consulting: FMB, Spirits-Based RTD Volume Gains Slowing; Imports Remain ‘Beacon of Consistent Volume’ Growth

The once-booming flavored malt beverage (FMB) segment is “showing some concerning declarations over recent weeks,” Bump Williams Consulting (BWC) founder Bump Williams noted in a recent report. FMB volume gains dropped by half – from +2.2%, to +1.1% – from the four-week period to the one-week period ending May 18, according to NIQ retail measurement data cited by BWC.

Additional Content

3 Tier Beverages: Spirits-based RTDs Becoming Bigger Thorn in Beer’s Side, Despite Slowed Growth

3 Tier Beverages: Spirits-based RTDs Becoming Bigger Thorn in Beer’s Side, Despite Slowed Growth

The growth of spirits-based ready-to-drink cocktails (RTDs) may be slowing. However, the segment’s impact on the beer category is far from abating, according to bev-alc consulting and data firm 3 Tier Beverages.

Spirits-based RTD growth peaked in 2020, with dollar sales growth of more than 150% in NIQ-tracked off-premise channels (total U.S. xAOC plus liquor plus convenience), 3 Tier Beverages consultant Erin McVickers shared in a webinar last week. Growth then progressively slowed, but the segment was still able to more than double dollar sales from 2021 (nearly $1.53 billion) to 2024 (nearly $3.19 billion).

Mark Anthony Brewing to Eliminate 143 Jobs in N.J.

Mark Anthony Brewing to Eliminate 143 Jobs in N.J.

Could Mark Anthony Brands be shuttering its first-ever owned production facility for White Claw, Mike’s Hard Lemonade and Cayman Jack? The future of Mark Anthony Brewing’s production facility in Hillside, New Jersey, is unclear as the company has filed notice that 143 workers will be affected by job cuts this fall.

RTD Growth Not Slowing, Causing ‘Alarming Downturn’ in FMBs

RTD Growth Not Slowing, Causing ‘Alarming Downturn’ in FMBs

“Flavored alcohol” across categories has become a lonely bright spot for the bev-alc industry, which is finding itself particularly pessimistic in 2025, according to the latest monthly report from Bump Williams of Bump Williams Consulting (BWC).

Benchmark Invests in Blake’s Beverage Co.; National Sales and Distribution Partnership Rolling Out

Benchmark Invests in Blake’s Beverage Co.; National Sales and Distribution Partnership Rolling Out

Michigan-based beverage-alcohol platform Benchmark Beverages has taken a minority investment in Blake’s Beverage Co. and the two companies have launched a commercial partnership. Benchmark (Dark Horse, Roak, Brew Detroit, Great America) and Blake’s Beverage Co. (Blake’s Hard Cider, Austin Eastciders, Avid Cider) aim to “accelerate growth and shake up the beyond-beer category with fresh innovation and national scale,” according to a press release.

3 Up 3 Down: NA On the Rise Across Off- and On-Premise; High ABV Losing Steam

3 Up 3 Down: NA On the Rise Across Off- and On-Premise; High ABV Losing Steam

Editor’s Note: 3 Up, 3 Down with 3 Tier Beverages is a quarterly insights series available exclusively to Brewbound Insiders, via the Chicago-headquartered, bev-alc-focused consulting and data firm. In this latest installment of 3 Up, 3 Down, 3 Tier consultant Danelle Kosmal analyzes data trends in flavor-forward bev-alc, high ABV offerings, pricing and more.

‘Flavor is Forever,’ Craft’s Resurgence and More Soundbites from BMI’s Spring Conference

‘Flavor is Forever,’ Craft’s Resurgence and More Soundbites from BMI’s Spring Conference

Beverage-alcohol’s embrace of flavor and craft beer’s shifting distribution trends were among spotlighted issues during last week’s Beer Marketer’s Insights Spring Conference in Chicago. Leaders from BeatBox Beverages, Boston Beer Company, Atomic Brands, Columbia Distributing and Anheuser-Busch InBev (A-B) shared where their business and the beer category is heading. Here are a few soundbites from the conference.