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.
Ninety-five percent of bev-alc brand launches fail, according to Gustavo Aguirre, VP of brand innovation at investment firm InvestBev. Aguirre spoke during BevNET’s Spirits Sunday event in Marina del Rey, California. Aguirre was joined by GHJ advisory partner Maria Pearman and 5:30 Somewhere founder Dale LeFlam.
Light lager brand Montucky Cold Snacks is “a big anchor” within Gallo’s total beverage alcohol strategy moving forward, as the wine and spirits giant enters the beer category, Gallo EVP and general manager Britt West told Brewbound.
Rémy Cointreau has acquired a minority stake in French non-alc spirits company JNPR, joining other major spirit groups with bids on the growing category.
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.
Anheuser-Busch InBev (A-B) continues to reshuffle its craft brewing operations. The world’s largest beer manufacturer announced a $1 million investment in Wicked Weed’s Asheville, North Carolina-based operations that coincides with the winding down of operations at its 104,000 sq. ft. production facility in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, “over the next few months.”
Diageo will cease bringing new brands into its Distill Ventures accelerator program for startup drink entrepreneurs, a Diageo spokesperson confirmed Wednesday.
SipMARGS, a ready-to-drink (RTD) sparkling margarita brand has revamped its liquid and landed $3 million from new investors, including powerhouse social media influencer Alix Earle.
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is taking a minority stake in Hulk Hogan’s Real American Beer as part of a multi-year partnership announced today.
Patco Brands, the manufacturer of one of the leading wine-based ready-to-drink products and other private label brands, has made a strategic investment in Farfield, California-based Frank-Lin Distillers Products, the companies announced Monday.
Spindrift is in advanced talks to be acquired by a private equity firm for north of $650 million, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.
Keurig Dr Pepper has agreed terms to acquire energy drink and sports nutrition business GHOST, bringing one of the category’s fastest growing brands into its expanding energy portfolio.
Non-alcoholic (NA) beer brand Best Day Brewing has added another $12.5 million in investment as part of a Series B round, bringing its total fundraising to $22.5 million this year.
Spirit of Gallo is adding mezcal into its expanding super premium portfolio, while returning to top-end rum with an investment in Ron del Barrilito.
Fast-rising non-alcoholic beer maker Athletic Brewing Company has closed a $50 million “equity financing round” led by private equity firm General Atlantic, with several key investors from previous fundraising rounds also participating.
Five years ago, hard kombucha was expected to become the next big “fourth category” product, building off the initial momentum of hard seltzer, but promising bolder flavors and potential gut health benefits.
The mystery surrounding who would take over the now former Ballast Point production facility in San Diego is officially over. When Ballast Point owners Kings and Convicts announced in April that they had ceased production at the Miramar facility, whispers pointed to dedicated non-alcoholic (NA) beer maker Athletic Brewing Company taking over the space. The speculation proved true.
