Fizzing-Up Carbonates

Hard seltzer products made up 20% of all online beer sales through Drizly on Super Bowl Sunday. Pic: Getty/Davizro

Beer and seltzer dominate ads and consumption for Super Bowl LIV

By Beth Newhart

Million-dollar commercials, glitzy halftime performances and a championship football game all come together in one of alcohol’s biggest holidays of the year. Every year, Americans prepare for Super Bowl Sunday with more than $2bn in booze sales.

“We’re doing so much more in DC than we were four years ago. We’re speaking up for common sense labeling regulations, lobbying for legislation to lower excise taxes.

Cider association rebrands and highlights dry offerings

By Beth Newhart

The United States Association of Cider Makers (USACM) was officially renamed to the American Cider Association (ACA) on December 31. It called 2019 ‘a year of resilience’ for cider in the face of flavored malt beverage (FMB) popularity.

The Sans Bar x DRY 2020 National Pop Up Tour kicks off on January 10 in Seattle.

Dry Soda and Sans Bar partner for sober bar pop-up tour across the US

By Beth Newhart

A sober bar from Texas will take its alcohol-free drink partners and signature mocktails on tour to 15 cities across the US this year. It’s joined forces with ‘botanical bubbly’ Dry Soda in a shared mission to help people connect without alcohol.

Consumer appetite for hard seltzer is based on occasion and flavored refreshment, which has given the category year-round success. Pic: Getty/hiro-y

No end in sight for US hard seltzer domination

By Beth Newhart

US hard seltzer consumption is set to triple by 2023. But will consumers be able to support the stream of new launches? And can other global markets mimic the success of seltzer in the US?

A growing population, competition for resources and environmental pressures are changing the Indian consumer. Pic: Getty/Arindam Ghosh

Familiar Western megatrends drive India's beverage industry

By Beth Newhart

India’s economy is shifting to a strong middle class, giving rise to more premium, ethical and personalized products. Beverage brands are adapting to these trends similar to what’s popular in Western markets.

Truly says the new formula makes the beverages more drinkable without any lingering bitterness.

Truly Hard Seltzer reformulates for fall

By Beth Newhart

Truly has reformulated its 13 flavors of hard seltzer to make them ‘crisper and more refreshing,’ and will add four new SKUs with a flavored lemonade line.

C-store beverages: What’s new at NACS?

C-store beverages: What’s new at NACS?

By Beth Newhart

The National Association of Convenience Stores has been meeting since 1961, and today the expo covers more than 400,000 square feet. The 2019 show was held in Atlanta October 2-4, bringing together retailers, wholesalers, suppliers and exhibitors from...

Pic: Getty/NikiLitov

Gen X holds more potential in alcohol than millennials

By Beth Newhart

Most food and beverage categories direct their marketing strategy toward millennials and the upcoming Gen Z generations, largely disregarding everyone older than 40. Experts say it’s the wrong move.

There are still around 35 drinking occasions over the course of a week, but beverage categories are changing. Pic: Getty/Kwangmoozaa

The last 30 years in beverages: How have consumers changed?

By Beth Newhart

While soda may have dominated shelves in the 1990s, today’s shoppers are seeking increasingly sophisticated functional beverages. Data company Kantar has analyzed consumer behavior in a new report that highlights the last three decades in the US beverage...

Gen Z wants to consume and share beverages online that are in line with their own personal brand. Pic: Getty/Astarot

How does Gen Z respond to seasonal alcohol favorites?

By Beth Newhart

Gen Z-ers of drinking age are more traditional than they are given credit for, showing strong interest in IPA craft beers and wine moving into the autumn season, despite the noise and popularity of flavored malt beverages (FMBs) and CBD products.

Carbonated soft drinks, water, coffee, energy drinks and sports drinks are the top beverages in c-stores. Pic: Getty/Sarah Casillas

Convenience store beverage purchases rise in the US

By Beth Newhart

Convenience store and gas station shopping habits for US consumers are analysed in GasBuddy’s 2019 C-Store Beverage Study, showing more impulse buys and higher demand for bottled water.

Mingle drinks are less carbonated than soda, and an ideal alternative for someone seeking an ‘upscale’ non-alcoholic beverage.

Mingle Mocktails wants to make drinking occasions 'fun for everyone'

By Beth Newhart

At the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City, Philadelphia-based Mingle Mocktails expanded its range of upscale alcohol alternatives with the launch of Blood Orange Elderflower. Founder Laura Taylor said the time is ripe for mocktails brands like hers...

What’s new in beverage at the Fancy Food Show?

What’s new in beverage at the Fancy Food Show?

By Beth Newhart

The Specialty Food Association’s (SFA) Summer Fancy Food Show took place in New York City last week. Some top specialty beverage categories in the US are tea, coffee, hot cocoa and plant-based milks, with overall specialty sales making up 16.1% of the...

Bartek displays brand relaunch at IFT

By Beth Newhart

On its 50th anniversary in business, Bartek Ingredients debuted a brand relaunch at the 2019 Institute of Food Technologists show (IFT) in New Orleans. The Canada-based company manufactures malic and fumaric acid for use in beverages and confectionery.

Coca-Cola's bubbler dispensers put an emphasis on 'craft, elevated' beverages with low sugar options. Pic: BeverageDaily

Coca-Cola cuts back on sugar with bubbler beverages

By Beth Newhart

Shifting consumer taste is causing major beverage companies to adapt, make ‘healthy’ drinks taste better and be more accessible. Coca-Cola is using its Freestyle machines and new bubbler dispensers to highlight its ‘craft, elevated’ drinks in the market.

The machines are currently available to preorder online and retail for $399.

Drinkworks Home Bar expands beyond St. Louis

By Beth Newhart

A collaboration between AB InBev and Keurig Dr Pepper is bringing its Drinkworks pilot program to new markets this spring. The Drinkworks Home Bar by Keurig is now available statewide in Missouri and Florida.

Re-positioning soda and co-locating CPG divisions are just some of big brands' strategies. Pic: Getty/jonnysek

BEVERAGE FORUM 2019

How big soda is taking an ‘honest’ approach to consumer health habits

By Beth Newhart

PepsiCo, Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) and other major soda brands are still learning to grapple with the health and wellness wave that’s causing consumers to drop their sugary drinks for something ‘better-for-you’. Executives spoke at the 2019 Beverage Forum...

What’s next for brand Coke? Coffee, energy and beyond

What’s next for brand Coke?

By Rachel Arthur

Coca-Cola Coffee and Coca-Cola Energy could spearhead the evolution of brand Coca-Cola, as beverage categories continue to blur and Coca-Cola looks to maintain momentum for its flagship brand.

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