Black Momma Beverage Industry

Riboli Family Wines introduces portfolio of ultra-premium, luxury wine brands

Los Angeles-based Riboli Family Wines, a family-owned company founded in 1917, announced the creation of AVANTI, a new division dedicated to a portfolio of ultra-premium and luxury wine brands from France, Italy, New Zealand and other regions.

Boston Beer Company enters cannabis market with TeaPot

Boston-based The Boston Beer Co. Inc., maker of brands such as Samuel Adams, Truly Hard Seltzer and Twisted Tea, announced the launch of TeaPot, a new line of cannabis-infused iced teas. TeaPot is the company’s first infused beverage offering and will be available in select Canadian provinces beginning in July, the company says.

POM Wonderful begins transition to 100% recycled plastic, renewable energy

Los Angeles-based POM Wonderful, grower and producer of fresh pomegranates and pomegranate juice in the United States, announced it is furthering its commitment to a sustainable future with the transition to 100% recycled plastic (rPET) bottles and shifting more than 90% of its electricity needs to renewable energy.

Coca-Cola Freestyle 8100 brings beverage variety, quality and speed to drive-thrus

The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, announced the launch of Coca-Cola Freestyle 8100, a new back-of-house dispenser developed specifically for the crew-serve occasion. The new dispenser’s advanced technology streamlines drink pouring for foodservice crews, helping reduce drive-thru wait times for diners while providing the beverage quality and variety they crave, according to the company. 

Spindrift Spiked expands lineup with 4 new flavors

Spindrift Spiked, a brand of Spindrift Beverage Co., Newton, Mass., added four new varieties to its real fruit lineup including long-time Spindrift favorites and one entirely new flavor. In addition to sparkling fan favorites Grapefruit, Lemon and Blood Orange Tangerine, Spindrift is debuting a new, Spiked-exclusive flavor: Passion Orange Guava.

Lifeway Foods expands humanitarian relief efforts in response to crisis in Ukraine

Morton Grove, Ill.-based Lifeway Foods Inc. continues to stand with the people of Ukraine by expanding humanitarian relief efforts to support those in need, it says. Building on its ongoing efforts, Lifeway announced its specially marked charity relief bottle with 100% of profits going toward Ukrainian humanitarian aid with a commitment of up to $1 million.

BeerBoard announces partnership with Molson Coors for on-premise insights

Syracuse, N.Y.-based BeerBoard, a leader in technology, insights and automated intelligence for the on-premise hospitality industry, announced it has partnered with Chicago-based Molson Coors Beverage Co., to provide insights and data for on-premise retail locations. 

Pepsi, Billboard and MRC Live & Alternative embrace NFT experience

Pepsi, a brand of Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo, announced an innovative second screen NFT experience in partnership with Billboard and MRC Live & Alternative to provide a new way for consumers to engage with live entertainment. The Pepsi Mic Drop x Billboard Music Awards “Winners’ Club” NFT Collection, available through the Billboard ChartStars platform, is a limited-edition digital collectible collection created for the “2022 Billboard Music Awards” (BBMAs), which gives fans the opportunity to claim NFTs in real-time as awards are announced throughout the show. 

Calexo launches line of cannabis-infused sparkling waters

Los Angeles-based Calexo announced the launch of Watercolors, a new collection of cannabis-infused sparkling waters and an accompanying streetwear apparel line. 

Molson Coors debuts Simply Spiked Lemonade

Chicago-based Molson Coors Beverage Co. announced its Simply Spiked Lemonade, the new lineup of full-flavor alcohol beverages inspired by the Simply juice brand, will arrive on shelves this June. Simply Spiked Lemonade marks the latest product line in the agreement between Molson Coors and Atlanta-based The Coca Cola Co., and will bring real fruit juice credentials to the ready-to-drink (RTD) alcohol beverage space, it says.

Cheribundi releases Immunity and Sleep Concentrates

Cheribundi, Portland, Ore., announced the launch of two new tart cherry-based products to their extensive recovery portfolio: Immunity and Sleep Concentrates. These premium products feature tart cherries carefully blended through Cheribundi’s proprietary juice extraction process. The grab-and-go concentrates contain new ingredients for maximum recovery: ginger and vitamin C in Immunity and melatonin and magnesium in Sleep. 

Essentia Water’s Stop for Nothing campaign promotes sense of renewal

Essentia Water, Bothell, Wash., launched a new campaign featuring NBA basketball star Jimmy Butler, NFL quarterback Justin Fields, and multi-platinum singer-songwriter Tate McRae. A continuation of its Stop for Nothing campaign, which launched in 2021, this new creative focuses on maintaining resilience by taking a moment to pause and hydrate, the company says.

Truly taps Dua Lipa for new variety pack

Truly Hard Seltzer, a brand of The Boston Beer Co., Boston, announced the launch of its new, limited-edition Truly Poolside Variety Pack inspired by Grammy award-winning pop star Dua Lipa. The limited-edition pack from Truly features four new summer cocktail-inspired flavors including Strawberry Melon Fizz, Orange Peach Fizz, Piña Colada Style and Kiwi Mojito Style.

Muscle Milk, Candace Parker partner for Own Your Strength campaign

Muscle Milk announced its first cause-based initiative, the Lifting Project to help make fitness more accessible to individuals in underserved communities. With the launch of the Lifting Project, Muscle Milk also is announcing the next iteration of its consumer engagement campaign Own Your Strength.

Lone River Beverage releases Margarita-style variety

Lone River Beverage Co. announced the launch of its new Margarita style beverage, Lone River Ranch Rita. Ranch Rita, made with agave nectar and a taste of lime, is a premium take on the canned Margarita style beverage, with quality ingredients, full flavor and a 6% ABV. 

Operations, fleet professionals gather for BevOps Fleet Summit
The BevOps Fleet Summit welcomed attendees to its return to in-person with the 15th annual conference, which took place March 22-24 at the M Resort in Henderson, Nev.

Consumer demand for premium spirits soars in the US on-premise

Consumers in the United States are opting to spend more on their drinks in bars and restaurants as premiumization drives the recovery of the on-premise channel after COVID-19. A trend that was paused during the pandemic now is accelerating again, CGA’s exclusive On Premise Measurement (OPM) service shows. The premium price tier of the spirits market took a 40% share of sales by value in February 2022, while super-premium took 18%.

Budweiser launches The Energy Collective to connect the world with renewable electricity

Budweiser, a global brand of AB InBev, Leuven, Belgium, unveiled the global launch of The Energy Collective to help provide renewable electricity to bars, music venues and stadiums around the world. This launch follows and contributes to Budweiser parent company AB InBev's recently announced ambition to achieve net zero emissions across its value chain by 2040.

Beverage industry trends premiere at drinktec 2022
The question of personal well-being is becoming more and more of an everyday topic. These changes in consumers’ desires can also be seen by the beverage and liquid food industry.

ZenWTR announces initial 1% For the Oceans donation

ZenWTR, Los Angeles, is celebrating Earth Day by announcing the initial distribution of its 1% For the Oceans donation that will go to numerous organizations with missions to protect and preserve our oceans and advance recycling in the United States. As part of the company's 1% For the Oceans initiative, 1% of total sales is committed to ocean conservation and recycling education and advocacy.

Talking Rain Beverage Co. appoints Ken Sylvia as CEO

Seattle-based Talking Rain Beverage Co., the maker of Sparkling Ice beverages, appointed Ken Sylvia to CEO, effective April 12. As a driven leader, Sylvia will continue to fulfill Talking Rain’s mission of “Creating Connections with Every Sip” by prioritizing employee development, community engagement, product innovation and corporate responsibility, the company says.

Michael Bublé, bubly ask consumers to ‘see the bubly side’

Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo’s bubly sparkling water launched a new campaign to show consumers that everyday bummer moments have a silver lining ― or to “see the bubly side.” To help kick off the year-long campaign, bubly is joining forces once again with Michael Bublé, whose serenades bring smiles to people around the world.

AriZona Red Tea delivers ready-to-drink rooibos tea

AriZona Beverages, Woodbury, N.Y., launched Red Tea in 20-ounce tall boys, bringing the national drink of South Africa to the mainstream market in the United States. AriZona Red Tea is naturally caffeine free, made with real sugar, and only 70 calories in each serving. 

MTN DEW GAME FUEL, Dr Disrespect partner for limited-edition beverage launch

MTN DEW GAME FUEL, a brand of Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo, and Dr Disrespect are taking their relationship to the next level with the release of Championship Citrus Cherry. The fan favorite is finally back and bolder than ever, including a limited-edition can while supplies last on GameFuel.com.

Natural Products Expo West returns to in-person with Anaheim tradeshow
Informa Markets’ Natural Products Expo West, part of the New Hope Network family of brands, hosted the in-person return of the industry’s largest trade show March 8-12 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif. The event gathered more than 2,700 exhibitors and more than 57,000 registered attendees, the company says.

Sergiño Dest Signs with BioSteel

BioSteel Sports Nutrition Inc. announced its athlete partnership with Sergiño Dest, defender for the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team (USMNT). Dest joins the brand’s team of elite athlete ambassadors that includes fellow soccer star Christen Press, as well as Patrick Mahomes and Luka Dončić.

Happi launches Pomegranate Hibiscus variety

Happi, Birmingham, Mich., launched its newest flavor ― Pomegranate Hibiscus ― in select provisioning centers. Made with organic pomegranate, lemon, agave nectar and hibiscus, the new flavor is light and fruity, it says. 

Aqua ViTea launches Aqua Seltzers

Middlebury, Vt.-based kombucha brand Aqua ViTea introduced Aqua Seltzers, a bubbly beverage packed with probiotics for immune and gut health. Like all of Aqua ViTea's beverages, the new Aqua Seltzers are USDA Organic, GMO-free, gluten-free, vegan, and always low in calories and sugar.

Ocean Spray announces collaboration with Atlantic Sea Farms

Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc., Boston, announced a collaboration with Atlantic Sea Farms, a women-run regenerative kelp aquaculture company, also local to New England, based in Maine, for ingredient use in Atlantic Sea Farms’ Cranberry Kelp Cubes. The sustainably grown kelp product further expands Ocean Spray's functional product and ingredients portfolio. 

Beverage-makers share expertise to develop new products with familiar brands
In the U.S. beverage market, consumers are seeing more of their favorite brands and companies partner to cross figurative lines by entering new categories through collaboration efforts.