Black Momma Beverage Industry

Lonerider Spirits releases monthly subscription box

Lonerider Spirits, Holly Springs, N.C., launched a monthly subscription box named the “Bundled Bourbon Box” that focuses exclusively on cocktails made with bourbon.

G FUEL, FaZe Clan launch Sour FaZeberry for gaming community

G FUEL, The Official Energy Drink of Esports, announced its new Sour FaZeberry flavor, which is developed in collaboration with gaming organization FaZe Clan, now is available to buy at gfuel.com.

Vanderpump Wines adds Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon to portfolio

Vanderpump Wines and U.S. wine & spirits importer Palm Bay International, Port Washington, N.Y., introduced two new wines from Sonoma County to their collection.

Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum honors military with packaging

Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, a brand of William Grant & Sons, continues its ongoing partnership with the United Service Organizations (USO) with the release of a limited-edition commemorative bottle, in conjunction with their partnership and military appreciation month. To show support of the USO efforts, Sailor Jerry and Anchor Media are donating $150,000, adding to Sailor Jerry's total contribution of $1 million supporting the USO and other military organizations since 2016.

Califia Farms debuts Protein Oat beverage line

Califia Farms, Los Angeles, celebrated National Oat Milk Day (May 16) with the launch of Protein Oat, an enhanced line of plant milks made from pea, oat and sunflower proteins that deliver a blend of nine essential amino acids.

Black Eyed Peas kick-off ‘Budweiser Rewind’ concert series

Budweiser, a brand of St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch, launched a new interactive live music and storytelling series called “Budweiser Rewind.” On May 16, the domestic beer brand kicks off this new series starting with Black Eyed Peas performing live from its hometown of Los Angeles. Fans can tune in to watch on YouTube.

Dunkin’ completes global transition to paper cups

As Canton, Mass.-based Dunkin’ continues to navigate the COVID-19 health crisis, the brand has simultaneously continued to advance key sustainability initiatives to responsibly serve both people and the planet. Dunkin’ announced that 100 percent of its restaurants globally have transitioned from polystyrene foam cups to paper cups, meeting the timetable established by the brand two years ago.

Ocean Spray’s new herbal beverage available direct-to-consumers

Lakeville-Middleboro, Mass.-based Ocean Spray, the cranberry cooperative owned by more than 700 farmer-families, has announced that Atoka, a new line of herbalist crafted, plant-based functional beverages, is now available for direct-to-consumer purchase online at AtokaWellness.com. 

PepsiCo launches direct-to-consumer food, beverage platform

As consumers increasingly turn online for their food and beverage needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, PepsiCo Inc., Purchase, N.Y., announced the launch of PantryShop.com and Snacks.com, two direct-to-consumer websites where shoppers can order an assortment of PepsiCo's food and beverage brands.

Collaborative shifts, events, research impacts ingredient suppliers
Acquisitions, happenings, and new hires amidst ingredient findings keep industry on its toes

Spirits manufacturers continues to address hand sanitizer shortage
With so much difficult news to digest, it can be hard to find something to inspire a smile. However, the response from the spirits community not only got my chin up, but continues to amaze me each passing day.

IRI launches CPG Inflation Tracker to track weekly changes

Chicago-based Information Resources Inc. (IRI) announced the launch of the IRI CPG Inflation Tracker on its free, online COVID-19 Data Dashboard. The new tool provides a standard metric for tracking weekly price-per-unit changes for consumer packaged goods compared with the year-ago period across departments, including fixed and random weight products, grocery aisles and retail formats.

Consumer shopping trips remain up, IRI data shows

For the United States, sales trends remain slightly elevated as total store sales are up 4.1 percent, according to IRI data. Total non-edible sale are relatively flat (up 0.8 percent), while total edible sales are up 5.1 percent.

Kombucha Brewers International unveils give back program

Kombucha Brewers International (KBI), Los Angeles, has rallied the industry for a giveback program to help healthcare workers and food banks throughout the United States. The Kombucha Heal-In is a week-long initiative from May 5-11, with the goal of providing 100,000 bottles of kombucha to those on the frontlines as a way to protect and provide resilience for these most vulnerable populations, it says.

Events are rescheduled for fall 2020, spring 2021
BNP Media, the parent company to Beverage Industry, has been monitoring the evolving situation around COVID-19/Coronavirus, which is rapidly changing. The health and safety of its attendees, sponsors, vendors and staff at its events remains a top priority.

High Noon Hard Seltzer adds flavors, teams with Barstool Sports

Modesto, Calif.-based E. & J. Gallo's High Noon Hard Seltzer announced the addition of two new flavors to their portfolio: Lime and Peach. As the brand prepares for summer, High Noon also announced a media partnership with Barstool Sports, a next-generation sports media company.

Chlorophyll Water provides donations, hydration for COVID-19 relief
At a time when it’s needed most, beverage brands are becoming part of a collective effort to spread care and kindness during this global pandemic to healthcare workers, the elderly, and at-risk children and communities.

Reed’s donates wellness shots to local hospitals
Due to the cancellation of Natural Products Expo West (NPEW), Reed’s Inc. was left with “extra” product on-hand. In response, the company converted its consumer sampling truck into a beverage delivery truck.

Natalie’s Juice donates juice to New York hospital workers
Natalie’s Juice recently extended a helping hand to New York with a donation of 5,000 bottles of fresh-squeezed, minimally processed fruit juice to healthcare workers at NYU Langone Hospital.

Dixie Vodka 400 becomes “virtual” race, raises money for COVID-19 relief
This year, NASCAR’s Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway became the first “virtual” race televised live on FS1. With 903,000 viewers, the eNASCAR iRacing Dixie Vodka 150 was the most watched e-sports event in America, the company says.

So Good So You donates functional juice shots to essential workers
So Good So You is donating its functional juice shots to fuel medical professionals on the frontlines of hospital care. The products are packed with all-natural nutritious ingredients to support hospital workers who are putting in extra hours caring for an influx of patients, the company says.

VitaCoco pays it forward
With an upsurge in sales for its coconut water, VitaCoco is donating $1 million to COVID-19 Response Funds of Feeding America and No Kid Hungry.

Brockman Gin launches program to support bartenders

New York-based Brockmans Gin and its team understands the restaurant and bar community in the United States and around the world is struggling through the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Survey shows how food, beverage manufacturers are adjusting to coronavirus

The COVID-19 outbreak has forced business leaders globally into uncharted territory as together we face the challenges surrounding the pandemic. In new research, Clear Seas Research, a BNP Media company, examines some of the different aspects.

Food, beverage access concerns declining, study finds

New results released today by the Consumer Brands Association, Arlington, Va., show that in the survey’s eighth week, Americans have settled into pandemic life, feeling less concerned about the coronavirus but believing that the government will move to reopen the country sooner than it should.

Keurig Dr Pepper posts solid financial results for Q1

Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) Burlington, Mass., and Plano, Texas, announced its first quarter results, which ended March 31, reporting a 4.4 percent net sales growth to $2.61 billion, compared with $2.5 billion a year ago. 

Readers name their favorite beverage of March

In the Readers’ Choice: New Product of the Month for March, the visitors to bevindustry.com have shown that they are taking comfort in healthy solutions. 

PepsiCo, VPX reach distribution agreement

Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo and Vital Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VPX), Weston, Fla., the manufacturer of Bang Energy drinks, announced that they have entered into an exclusive alliance for PepsiCo to distribute the portfolio of Bang Energy beverages in the United States. This alliance is effective immediately and is set to significantly increase distribution of the Bang beverage lineup, it says

IRI data shows alcohol sales remain up

IRI updated the report “Consumer Spending Tracker: COVID-19 Impact” to capture the most recent insights. The most recent report sources sales data from the IRI POS Data ending April 12. For the United States, sales trends remain elevated but are down significantly from its peak. Total store sales were up 14.3 percent for that time period. For edible, sales were up 18.8 percent; however, for the week timeframe, non-edible sales were down 0.8 percent.

Brewers Association, Bottleshare create Believe in Beer Fund

The Brewers Association (BA), Boulder, Colo., partnered with Bottleshare, a fundraising nonprofit dedicated to the craft beverage community, to create the Believe in Beer Fund to support breweries and state brewers guilds impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The fund is open for breweries and guilds from across the country to apply for immediate financial assistance for operational expenses such as payroll, rent and utilities.