• The Pathfinder Lands $3.6M
• Southern Glazer’s Adds Owen’s
• Rand Paul Rescues Hemp THC… For Now
• NACS’ Next Top Exec
• CPG Week: KDP’s Drink Mix Deal and Black Rifle’s Legal Combat 

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Remember Mello Yello? This is kind of like that, but also not at all.

Danone is suing Chobani for allegedly copying its STok Cold Brew trade dress on its new La Colombe packaging, specifically for stealing its “Bright & Mellow” tagline and its golden yellow accent color. 

The suit claims Chobani, after buying La Colombe in 2024 for $900 million, overhauled the packaging of its medium roast cold brew in several significant ways, including adopting a “golden yellow” color similar to SToK, modifying other accent colors and changing the description from “medium roast” to “light roast.”

The on-package tagline was also changed from “Bright & Flavorful,” in use since 2021, to “Bright & Mellow,” the same as used by SToK.

The two yogurt makers have squared off in court over trademark claims before, with attorneys for Danone arguing that “Chobani’s infringement of Danone’s valuable intellectual property rights has been knowing, calculated, and systematic.”

Judging from the French company’s track record, they could have a case. 

Read the full story on BevNET for more details, and to judge the two packages for yourself. 

A spirits group known for its vodka is pouring more money into its adult non-alc (ANA) business. 

The Pathfinder, a fermented and distilled NA amaro, closed a $3.6 million raise this month led by the Stoli Group, aimed at fueling expanded distribution. 

• Stoli made its first foray into the zero-proof space by backing The Pathfinder in May 2023.
• This latest investment, most of which arrived at the top of the year, brings The Pathfinder to 41 states and into national retail partnerships for the first time. 

💬 We talked with the team about how its preparing for the national sales push and why taking a page out of the spirits sales playbook worked (and in some cases why it didn’t!)

Read the full story on BevNET.

A major spirits distributor has picked up a premium mixer. Owen's Craft Mixers will join Southern Glazer’s across 23 markets in the U.S. beginning August 1st. 

💡 In the on-premise, fewer than 20% of accounts currently carry a premium or super-premium mixer, highlighting significant runway for expansion, according to the release. 

🔊 The deal supports “Southern Glazer’s broader strategy to grow its presence in the non-alcoholic beverage space.”

⏪ With Molson Coors signing on Fever Tree recently, it appears other tiers are eyeing the premium mixer opportunity as well. 

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Mellow out, man. The potentially disastrous (for THC drink makers) hemp provision in the latest version of the Senate’s agriculture funding bill has been removed after Senator Rand Paul (R- KY.) threatened to block the whole bill if it remained. 

• The provision that would have closed the loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill that has allowed intoxicating hemp products to proliferate in recent years.
• Championed by fellow Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, the provision would have stripped the language from the current Farm Bill.
• The changes would have severely restricted the hemp industry’s ability to make THC products like beverages, gummies and other edibles that fall outside of recreational and medicinal marijuana laws in various states.

🤠 The news comes as the Texas Senate passed its second attempt at banning hemp-derived THC products in the state after the previous bill was vetoed by Gov. Greg Abbott last month.

Catch-Up: Texas Hemp Ban Will ‘Send Shockwaves,’ Say Industry Leaders

The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) has named former Aramark Northern Europe leader Frank Gleeson as its next president and CEO, beginning January 1.

• Gleeson takes over from outgoing president and CEO Henry Armour, who was only the third CEO in the organization’s 64-year history, having held the position since 2005.
• Armour plans to stick around to aid Gleeson through the transition and will remain responsible for NACS’ international activities “for several years.”

Gleeson’s no newcomer though. He’s been an active NACS member and previously spent 19 years on the org’s International Board and 11 years on its Board of Directors, even spending one year as chairman.

On this edition of the podcast, Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporter Lukas Southard discuss Keurig Dr Pepper’s acquisition of Dyla Brands, the legal drama surrounding veteran-owned Black Rifle Coffee Company, the formation of a new collective advocating for higher standards across the food system, and the challenges and triumphs of dehydrated fruit company BranchOut Food.

Click here to listen to this week’s episode. Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

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