Grab your drinks folks: BevNET Live Winter 2025 is finally here. As Nosh Live goes into Day Two today, the rest of the BevNET team is on the way to Marina Del Rey for our annual winter conference. Apologies to the person next to me on the plane, but I’m buzzing. Here’s why, besides the espresso: No Sunday Scaries here: Beverage School is our low-pressure, high-insight kickoff for new entrepreneurs and brand leaders on Sunday afternoon. You’ll get an impactful introduction to key concepts from experts in ingredients, branding, distribution and more, plus a chance to personally connect with those speakers (and fellow newcomers) at roundtables afterward. Sunday also features our deep dive into cannabis beverages and RTD cocktails. The conversation starts with two founders – Ben Starmer of Dad Grass and Brandon Hanson of Goodmellow – talking through the emerging-brand-perspective as the category enters a critical year. - Luckily, Sahar Ayinhsazian of A.Y. Strauss will be on hand to provide a map for the road ahead.
Things ramp up on Monday with the opening round of the New Beverage Showdown, lifting the curtain on two days of panels and presentations (and networking and parties) that explore some of the biggest opportunities and challenges in the current market: Nearly a decade after winning the Showdown in 2016, Poppi founders Allison and Stephen Ellsworth reflect on the journey that’s taken them from industry outsiders to leading voices shaping the “modern soda” movement – and delivered them a massive exit to PepsiCo. Staying in the game is an achievement in itself. But thriving and evolving after more than a decade? That’s truly a story worth telling. Suja CEO Maria Stipp joins us to chronicle how the brand has scaled and broadened its reach into new categories while honoring the founders’ original vision. But what about the next big thing? It’s somewhere waiting to be discovered within mountains of marketing reports and sales data, but thankfully there’s some folks who know where to look. We’ll hear from Jordan Bass (HOP WTR), Kyle Watson (Celsius) and Michael Brandt (Ketone IQ) about what they’ve uncovered, and how they’re turning it into rocket fuel. I could go on, but surely you, dear reader, have already registered and are just as excited for the next few days as we are. We’ll see you at the sample fridge. Check out the full agenda here. Not on your way to Marina del Rey? Make sure to tune into the free livestream. | 
