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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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
Lil Yachty’s Yacht Water Builds on Atlanta’s Music Scene with Former Beer Leaders
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.
Spirit, Wine RTDs Drive Nearly All Growth as Hard Lemonade Hits $1.5B
Ready-to-drink hard lemonade has surged to $1.5 billion in sales, but new styles are squeezing out the segment’s mainstays.
Spirits Distribution: Carbliss Hits New York, Olé Goes National
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 Expands Margarita Lineup
Suntory’s On The Rocks is expanding its margarita lineup as the RTD style continues to outpace other trends.
New on Shelves: RTDs from SunnyD, Post Meridiem, Vodkade and Rancho La Gloria
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.
Cutwater and Surfside’s Triple-Digit Growth Boost Spirits Sales
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 to Acquire Finnish Long Drink
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.
SEC Sues Drake’s Organic Spirits For $2.4M In Investor Fraud
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 Charts New Path in Bev-Alc, Adds Bubly Wine Refresher, Lipton Hard Zero Sugar
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.
Wisconsin’s Eagle Park Acquires SoulBoxer Cocktail Co. to Accelerate RTD, Hemp Ambitions
Wisconsin’s Eagle Park Brewing & Distilling has acquired SoulBoxer Cocktail Co., setting the stage for Eagle Park’s further expansion into canned cocktails spanning alcoholic, non-alcoholic and THC-infused formats.
New Diageo CEO Dave Lewis Sets His Sights On RTDs
Diageo’s new CEO Dave Lewis is reframing ready-to-drink offerings as an opportunity for the spirits giant, but after years of focus on the top end of the shelf, the group has ground to make up.
Press Clips: Stone Steps Up to the Plate at Petco Park; Plus, Monaco’s Value Positioning; JP Morgan’s Beverage Team on State of M&A
In time for Opening Day and to mark the brewery’s 30th anniversary, Stone Brewing (Escondido, California) has unveiled a new branded bar next to Section 309 at Petco Park, home of MLB’s San Diego Padres.
Blake’s Beverage Finds Synergy Among House of Brands, ‘Actively Looking’ for Strategic M&A
More than two years after Blake’s Hard Cider, Austin Eastciders and Avid Cider Co. merged under the Blake’s Beverage Co. banner, the companies have found a rhythm that helped make Blake’s the “fastest growing” independent cidery in the U.S.
Carbliss Targets C-Store with New Malt Tallboy Format
Carbliss, the ready-to-drink (RTD) vodka-based cocktail that has become one of the breakout independents in its category, is rolling out a malt-based tallboy across seven Midwestern states.