Hard Tea’s $2.1 Billion Market Is Highly Concentrated
Just ten vendors account for about 97% of hard tea ready-to-drink (RTD) dollars, according to a new analysis from Bump Williams Consulting (BWC).
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Featured RTD Content
Molson Coors to Acquire Monaco Maker Atomic Brands
Molson Coors has struck a deal to acquire spirits-based, ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail pioneer Atomic Brands, whose Monaco Cocktails entered the then-nascent space in 2012. The deal should come as no surprise, as it aligns with Molson Coors’ goals to expand its beyond beer portfolio, part of the Horizon 2030 plan CEO Rahul Goyal outlined earlier this year.
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
A Round With… Chandra Richter, Head of Product Development at Sprinter
The latest installment of Brewbound’s A Round With – a weekly Insider-exclusive Q&A series with industry leaders – features Chandra Richter, head of product development at Sprinter, the Kylie Jenner-backed line of ready-to-drink (RTD) vodka sodas.
Jinx Drinx Aims to Promote Safer Drinking With Punch in a Pouch
Jinx Drinx is a new ready-to-drink cocktail that that comes in a pouch with patent-pending packaging that includes a sealed-in straw to mitigate drink tampering and drink and drug-facilitated sexual assault.
Beam Suntory Rebrands to Suntory Global Spirits
Beam Suntory is rebranding to Suntory Global Spirits, a move that both reflects back on the decade since the Japanese spirit giant acquired the maker of Jim Beam, as well as the company’s continued evolution into a global premium spirits and ready-to-drink competitor.
FX Matt Acquires ’Merican Mule Canned Cocktails
FX Matt Brewing Company has made another strategic acquisition, this time in the spirits category.
Surfside Rides Hard Tea Wave With National Distribution, New Flavors
Surfside, a fast-growing line of canned iced tea and vodka cocktails, is getting the summer par-tea started with five new SKUs and a distribution expansion putting the brand in over 40 states, the company announced today.
Pernod Ricard’s Ace Beverage Group Acquires Canadian RTD Nude
Pernod Ricard-owned Corby Spirit and Wine, Canada’s second largest marketer and distributor of spirits and wines, has agreed to purchase RTD brand Nude for $8 million ($11 million CAD).
Ready Or Not: RTDs Detracting From Spirits’ Growth?
Last week in existential musings on the spirit industry, analysts asked the question: What if growth doesn’t return after destocking is done?
Spirits Distribution: Mom Water Hits New England; Heritage Grows with Beer Wholesalers
In this latest round of distribution news, we check in with new coconut vodka water, Mother’s Milk and another fruit-infused vodka cocktail named after the same parent, Mom Water, as well as craft distillers Heritage Distilling and Frey Ranch, plus news from rum Coconut Cartel.
Jones Soda Crosses Over into Bev-Alc with New Spiked Sodas
Seattle-based craft soda producer Jones Soda Co. is crossing over into beverage-alcohol with the launch of Spiked Jones Hard Craft Soda, announced Wednesday.
For The Folks: Black-Owned Brands Take on Hard Seltzer
Two brands are positioning themselves as the “first” Black-owned hard seltzer brands hyper-focused on carving out a niche among the Black community.
Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre Launch Gin & Juice RTD
West Coast rap legends and business moguls Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg announced they are back at it, but the drop isn’t a new track. Announced today, a ready-to-drink collaboration inspired by the duo’s iconic “Gin & Juice” song is now available across the U.S.
Two Robbers Enters Spirits RTD Game, Launches and Prioritizes Vodka Soda
If you frequented the Two Robbers’ website or Instagram in the past month, you’d notice a significant change. The website’s homepage now says “Two Robbers Spirits Company” with a “Website Coming Soon!” banner. And the Philadelphia-based hard seltzer company’s Instagram has been completely cleansed, with previous posts deleted and a handful of new photos in their place.
Bump Williams: ‘Retailers Are Going to Change the Way of the Bev-Alc World in 2024’
Retailers will have an increased “intense scrutiny” of new product launches and bev-alc shelf sets in 2024, according to Bump Williams in his monthly report for Bump Williams Consulting (BWC).
Two Roads Rolls Out Flavortown Spiked Variety Pack with Hard New Punch, Teas
The population of Flavortown just increased by three. Stratford, Connecticut-based Two Roads Brewing has added three new iterations of the Flavortown Spiked flavored malt beverage (FMB) line it brews in collaboration with celebrity chef Guy Fieri.