Day 1 was packed with insights, and Day 2 is sure to deliver the same. Don’t miss today’s presentations featuring leaders from Whole Foods, Spindrift, Yesly, Walmart, Swoon, G.O.A.T Fuel, Gold Coast Distributors, SPINS, VEB, Boston Beer, Hi-Touch Libations, The BAD Tea Co., The Ryl Company, Semillero Partners, Melitas Ventures, and VMG. Head to BevNET.com to tune in.

At PACK EXPO Las Vegas, September 11-13, you’ll find more packaging and processing solutions for beverages than anywhere else—more processing exhibitors (350+) than at a dedicated processing show! Explore ideas from nearly 700 exhibitors with beverage solutions. The possibilities are countless! Learn more

Industry experts ranging from long-time entrepreneurs to grocery buyers and beverage investors shared their optimism about the road ahead for emerging brands, while also emphasizing the importance of a strong focus on business fundamentals and managing growth within the bandwidth of your balance sheet today. Here's a few of the highlights:

• Trisha Wallwork, chair and CEO of family-owned Milo’s, never thought she’d be leading her family’s business, but in 2011, the former corporate lawyer and vegetarian took the helm at Milo’s – an operation that included a chain of hamburger restaurants and a now lucrative bottled sweet tea line. On stage this morning, Wallwork spoke about the complexities of navigating growth and change within a 77-year-old, family-run business. “We've created and built governance around our business [since]… that has allowed us to avoid the potholes,” said Wallwork. “We have an independent board of directors, we keep the family business out of the boardroom and really spend a lot of time getting to know who we are, what are we going to focus on?"
• Despite the headlines signaling an economic era of doom and gloom, not all investors are equally as pessimistic. Elliot Begoun, founder of TIG Brands, Michael Burgmaier, managing director of Whipstitch Capital and Erin Wall, partner and CRO at Lunr shared their impressions of the market, and what brands should be prioritizing on stage this morning and the outlook hinges on each entrepreneur’s ability to plan for profitability as soon as possible. Burgmaier pointed to improving deal flow rates as a sign that markets are beginning to calm, while Begoun said that current conditions have him split between horror and optimism. “I'm terrified that the change that needs to happen isn't going to happen fast enough for some of the brands who are on the edge and I'm optimistic that the things that we're talking about now as an industry are things that we should have been talking about earlier – putting profit before growth and cash before everything and trying to think about better alignment between founders and funders," he said.
• The Sprouts buyer team detailed their role in the growth of emerging brands and the goals for the retailer’s new Innovation Center program which gives it an opportunity to be first to market for some businesses, while keeping their assortment fresh and on trend. 
• Vita Coco co-founder and chairman, Mike Kirban spoke about the benefit of creating a “fail and forget it” culture as the brand has innovated and grown. He said that although when category competition began to heat up he spent a few hours in the bathtub with “a bottle of whiskey and a cigar,” those outside forces inspired those within the business to stay sharp and keep innovating in areas that would set them ahead.

Read the full Day One recap on BevNET

Six startup beverage brands emerged from a field of 12 contestants to secure a spot in tomorrow’s final round of New Beverage Showdown 25 at BevNET Live Summer 2023, presented by Coca-Cola North America New Revenue Streams. Read the story.

• New York Gets Nerdy! Energy brand NERD Focus announced a distribution partnership with Cool River Beverages LLC bringing the nootropic-infused drink to over 5,000 retail outlets in the metro New York City area. The focus-boosting beverage will be bringing its Green Original and Blue Zero Calorie flavors to a variety of retailers from bodegas and convenience stores to grocery stores starting this month.
• Austin-based hydration brand Sap’s has signed a distribution deal with Lipman Brothers to expand the drink’s footprint into Tennessee. The functional beverages will be located throughout the state in liquor stores, grocery and C-stores.

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