RTD

Leapfrogging was the theme across beverage-alcohol last week, as several upstarts jumped over their stalwart peers in dollar sales, according to the latest weekly report from market research firm Circana. In the beer category, Mark Anthony Brands’ White Claw out-earned Molson Coors’ Miller Lite by $218,720 during the week ending May 10. In spirits, Anheuser-Busch… Read more »

While off-premise bev-alc scans have been on a rollercoaster this year (one with admittedly mild drops compared to 2025), the on-premise has been more steady, trending between flat and up 1% over the last few months.

The alleged drains on beverage-alcohol in recent years have been well-documented: health and wellness, legal cannabis, consumers’ propensity for the couch instead of the bar, Generation’s Z disinterest, GLP-1 drugs. But one other driver – consumers’ perceived value for price – may not be mentioned as much as the others, and suppliers can learn from… Read more »

As RNDC continues to sell its operations across the country, this month’s distribution moves see independent and major brands scattering to new partnerships. Meanwhile, a wave of ready-to-drink (RTD) brands are pushing into new markets from Wisconsin to Southern California.

Sazerac will acquire an equity interest in SIPMARGS, the ready-to-drink (RTD) sparkling margarita brand backed by social media personality Alix Earle and Palm Tree Crew, the company announced today. It will also enter into an exclusive distribution relationship with the brand.

Yacht Water was co-founded by Lil Yachty alongside entertainment and music mogul Kevin ‘Coach K’ Lee, along with bev-alc industry veterans Rachel and Peter Kiley of Atlanta-based Sneaky Pete Spirits and Monday Night Brewing. The founders have been building a regional following in Atlanta before pushing to wider markets.

Ready-to-drink hard lemonade has surged to $1.5 billion in sales, but new styles are squeezing out the segment’s mainstays. 

This month’s distribution moves see Carbliss push into two major new markets, Mark Anthony’s Canadian ready-to-drink (RTD) tequila cocktail expand in the U.S., and ShakeUp transitions to a beer house.

Suntory’s On The Rocks is expanding its margarita lineup as the RTD style continues to outpace other trends. 

In the latest RTD news, SunnyD brings back “purple stuff,” Chandon takes a six-year swing at reinventing the spritz and espresso martinis go decaf.

With recent warmer weather comes an uptick in bev-alc dollar sales, which flipped to positive (+0.5%) in the two-week period ending April 4 – a sequential improvement from -0.8% in the four-week window and -1.2% in the 12-weeks, according to the latest analysis of NIQ data from Goldman Sachs Equity Research.

Mark Anthony Brands announced it has struck a deal to acquire the Finnish Long Drink, the popular gin-based, ready-to-drink (RTD) canned cocktail. The company expects the transaction to close in the coming weeks.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a lawsuit against Mark D. Anderson, the founder and former CEO of shuttered Drake’s Organic Spirits, alleging he orchestrated a years-long investor fraud scheme that raised $2.4 million.

PepsiCo’s Blue Cloud is leaning into a new model: developing crossover alcohol brands and licensing them to producers such as Boston Beer and FIFCO USA with Lipton Hard Iced Tea.