• Danone Decision Day Looms For Lifeway
• Hard Tea OGs Owl's Brew Keeps its Edge With Innovation
• Not Beer Is Buzzing (While Staying Booze-Free)

New regulations and rising demand for clean, quality packaging have made glass a key advantage in spirits-based RTDs. This free guide offers expert insights from the Glass Packaging Institute, Via Carota Craft Cocktails, and Sandstrom Partners to help you assess glass’s role in your beverage company’s future. Learn more

Third time’s the charm? Danone sure hopes so.

The French dairy giant is pressuring kefir category leader Lifeway to accept its acquisition bid…a move that’s already been attempted twice in the past year. In an August 1 SEC filing, Danone stated that if an agreement to acquire Lifeway isn’t reached by September 15, it will vote in favor of a proposal to replace Lifeway’s board of directors put forth by Ludmila and Edward Smolyansky, the mother and brother of current CEO Julie Smolyansky. And those three aren’t on great terms.

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This latest roundup of summer ready-to-drink releases includes a 16th BeatBox flavor, malty collaborations from Tip Top, a soju cocktail refresh, and more. 

🍇 Mystic Grape has joined the BeatBox flavor multiverse. The new flavor is equal parts nostalgic and future-focused with its juicy 11.1% abv and resealable carton. 

👻 Tip Top Proper Cocktail’s Kindred Spirits Series – a first-of-its-kind brewery collaboration project that reimagines classic cocktails through the lens of craft beer – has launched the third release in the series: Naked & Famous Fizz, in partnership with Orange, California’s Green Cheek Beer Co.

🍐 After closing a $6.8 million funding round earlier this year, Hello Soju has begun rolling out its official nationwide relaunch. The sparkling soju RTD’s return includes a refreshed look, California-based production and five flavors: Asian Pear, Lemon Yuzu, Green Grape, Peach and Lychee. 

Catch the full list free on BevNET

The Nosh Notables list might be a recognition of stakeholders, trailblazers and tastemakers in the food industry, but that’s not to say there isn’t a lot of crossover into beverages. This year’s crop of Notables includes many recognizable faces and important contributors who have shaped the drinks industry.

• Founder Kyle Fitzpatrick’s platform Paperboy Ventures has helped give voice to beverage entrepreneurs seeking new investment partners.
• Santatera Capital managing partner Alejandro Gonzalez helped steer new investment disruptive brands like hiyo across CPG food and beverage.
• BelliWelli might have launched as a nutritional bar brand but its pivot to high-fiber powders was led by CEO and cofounder Katie Wilson. 

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