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Botanic Tonics, the maker of Feel Free kratom and kava shots, is no stranger to the courtroom. Since its 2020 founding the brand has repeatedly been on both sides of court complaints, including one brought by the FDA that was dismissed earlier this year.

Now, the Attorney General of Arizona is joining the ranks of the brand’s legal opponents as the office has sued the company this week claiming it illegally sold its products without disclosing the potential risk of addiction and withdrawal.

Botanic Tonics, however, is simultaneously fighting back against states seeking to reel in or ban kratom products altogether with some recent court filings of its own.

Read the full story on BevNET.

This week we raise a glass to a pair of beer-flavored innovations from C4 and olive oil maker Graza, plus highlight oHHo's move into energy, MET-Rx's shift into (more) protein, and Califia's coconut creamers. Check out the full gallery.

💪 MET-Rx is making the leap into RTD with the launch of its MET-Rx 44g High Protein Shake line. Read more.

🍺 Nutrabolt’s C4 Energy is launching an electrifying twist on the non-alc alternative craze with All Hopped Up, a beer-flavored energy drink that the company says is “trading in the ‘buzz’ for an energy boost.” Read more.

Read the story.

Read the story.

Every year, BevNET CPG Media recognizes the brands, people and products that stood out across beverage, packaged food, beer and spirits. That might be a brand that redefined its category, a leader whose work moved the industry forward, or a marketing campaign that built real momentum.

Nominations are currently open across four 2026 awards programs, and anyone can submit, whether for their own company, a client or someone else in the industry.

Get all of the details.

Looking to make more data-based decisions for your business? The Nombase Data Hub is your centralized resource for food, beverage, and beer industry reports, available exclusively to Insiders.

📊 Gain access to reports built from consumer insights, social listening, scan data, and on-premise surveys.

Unlock the full archive here.

Kroger is drawing a line on pricing – and some of the biggest brands in CPG are finding themselves on the wrong side of it. 

We dig into the retailer’s standoff with Red Bull and Boar’s Head and what Kroger’s growing embrace of private label could mean for brands negotiating with major retailers. We also discuss HopLark’s recent bankruptcy filing and recap our spirited San Francisco meetup.

Listen to the episode now. 

Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

That's all for today's Daily Briefing: Lite Edition. We'll be back in your inbox on Monday.

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