Brewbound Insiders are diving into what on-premise operators are prioritizing at their businesses, including draft handles that drive profitability. Brewbound reporter Zoe Licata has the insights from Levy Restaurants director of beverage analytics and strategy Scott Brown and BeerBoard chief strategy officer Brandy Rand, shared earlier this month at the Beer Institute’s Annual Membership Meeting.

Insiders are also:

• Getting details on new regulations in Pennsylvania following the expansion of where ready-to-drink cocktails can be sold;
• Learning about a c-suite change at Paulaner and the next stop for the American Cider Association’s CEO;
• Watching Flavorman’s announcement video for its 2025 beverage trend predictions.

Insiders also have access to the Brewbound Newsletter Archive, including previous newsletter-exclusive Insider content.

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The on-premise channel is primed to provide growth for beer. The key for suppliers and distributors to capitalize on that opportunity is to understand what retail operators are prioritizing, including profitability and efficiency, according to Levy Restaurants director of beverage analytics and strategy Scott Brown and BeerBoard chief strategy officer Brandy Rand. 

The duo spoke at the Beer Institute's (BI) Annual Membership Meeting earlier this month in New York City. The conversation was moderated by BI chief economist Andrew Heritage.

Insiders can read more, including what trends are happening at venues, what bar owners want on their tap handles and the creation of a “frictionless” transaction.

Ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails are now allowed at more retailers and restaurants in Pennsylvania, but that doesn’t mean drinkers in the Keystone State are cracking open an array of canned cocktails.

Starting in mid-September, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) allowed restaurants, bars, beer distributors, grocery stores, convenience stores, and other outlets to sell alcoholic RTDs with ABVs not exceeding 12.5%. Under the previous law, only the state-owned wine and liquor stores were allowed to sell products in a category that has surpassed $13 billion in off-premise sales.

But as many control states evolve liquor regulation to align with market innovations, suppliers and retail buyers can often get caught in new complex and costly processes. For some, the new regulations represent a myriad of rules to navigate through for minimal sales rewards so far, while for others they present unique sales opportunities.

Insiders can go deeper on how the changes are affecting retailers and suppliers. 

BevNET’s Community Call will host the team from CGA, NIQ’s on-premise division, to share the latest insights about ready-to-drink (RTD) offerings and how they factor into on-premise occasions at 1p.m. ET on Thursday, November 14. 

The call is free to join, and participants can submit questions for the panelists in advance.

Register here to attend. 

Leaders from New Belgium Brewing, BeatBox Beverages and Not Your Hobby Marketing Solutions will share marketing strategies for reaching consumers on their turf and creating memorable experiences in real life during the 2024 Brewbound Live business conference December 11 +12 in Marina del Rey, California.

New Belgium CMO Rebecca Dye Yonushonis will share how the brewery has transcended craft beer with the Voodoo Ranger brand, tapping into popular culture while also leveraging an in-house art house to connect with consumers via social media.

BeatBox SVP of global marketing Zech Francis will explain how the party punch maker’s bold strategy of interacting consumers at concerts and festivals has brought more drinkers to the party. He’ll also share how the company’s celebrity partnerships, including a new relationship with Shaquille O’Neal, have also broken down barriers for the brand, and how its on-the-ground teams have contributed to speedy content creation.

Julie Rhodes, a strategic consultant with Not Your Hobby Marketing Solutions, will break it all down for smaller producers and share strategies for connecting with consumers on a budget.

The conversation will take place during Brewbound Live business conference at the Marina del Rey Marriott. The two-day conference will bring together leaders from all three tiers for business-focused conversations on driving the bev-alc industry forward, data presentations, networking and brand building.

Brewbound Live tickets are available now.

Check out the 2024 Brewbound Live speaker roster.

Brewbound Live will feature opportunities for one-to-one conversations between brewers and bev-alc brands and retail buyers from chains such as Whole Foods Market and ExtraMile Convenience Stores and distributors such as Breakthru Beverage California, Reyes Beer Division and California Beverage Solution (Stone Distributing, Markstein Sales and Heimark Distributing). Registered attendees will be considered for meetings with buyers, as space is limited. 

Find out more details here.

Brewbound Live Gold Sponsors include John I. Haas, Abstrax Hops and Suntory. Silver Sponsors include NIQ, Crafted ERP, Strike Visuals, Fast Track Packaging, Foundry, Firestone Walker and JuneShine.

Highland Brewing owner and CEO Leah Wong Ashburn provides an update on how Asheville, one of the country’s great craft beer cities, is recovering in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. 

Plus, Jess and Justin touch on several headlines, including a craft brewery deal in Iowa, the vibes at the Massachusetts Craft Brewers Guild’s annual meeting, a leadership change at the American Cider Association and the pending closure of Revolution Brewing's Logan Square brewpub after 15 years.

Listen here or on your preferred podcast platform.