We’ll admit it: we’re having trouble letting go of Expo East. After a busy three days trawling the show floor last week, we’re still working through our notebooks and camera rolls to sort out all the news and new products from the event. Here’s a tease of our latest wrap-up, publishing later.

🌱 Machu Picchu came to Expo to make its pitch to conventional retailers, and they came with data. The zero-sugar natural energy brand has established a foothold in around 2,000 doors in some key spots (NYC, Texas via Central Market & H-E-B) and growth backed by stats (#1 in ACV growth YoY compared to all other energy brands, per SPINS) but CEO Daniel Scharff acknowledged the brand is "still learning" as it evolves. 

🙏 Saint James Tea is beginning to rack up wins at conventional and mass retail, also. The TetraPak tea brand landed at Walmart (+16% sales growth week-over-week) this summer and is going national with Safeway next month after wrapping up an initial rotation at Bay Area Costco stores. And that's before we mention innovations in flavor (two new SKUs) and pack size. “It’s been a busy year so far,” noted president Brad Neumann. 

Read our latest Expo dispatch on BevNET today

Say hello to our latest craft beverage canning line: the CB100R continuous motion rotary counter-pressure machine pairs 12-head rotary filling with a 3-spindle rotary seamer for filling speeds of more than 100 CPM. Experience precision filling and the lowest dissolved oxygen levels in the industry! Learn more

One year after ByteDance Ltd. began testing the feature stateside, the official rollout for TikTok Shop finally arrived earlier this month. What impact will TikTok Shop have on the future of CPG? We spoke with several brands and ecommerce specialists to get their insights. 

📈 Clean energy drink brand Gorgie, granola butter producer Oat Haus and gourmet cookie maker Crumbl are part of a cohort of CPG brands that began trialing TikTok Shop’s beta version back in April. All three brands believe the shopping feature will help raise brand awareness and capture new demographics. 

🤔 According to Chris Moe, founder and CEO of ecommerce-focused agency Cartograph, TikTok Shop is “one of the better brand discovery sources and true exploration sources right now.” He believes testing the feature in a speculative way is worthwhile for brands. 

Read the full story on BevNET.

Does ready-to-drink coffee need a "new voice" for the next generation of consumers? Beekeeper Coffee is aiming to be just that with today’s launch of 8 oz. canned cold brews in four varieties: Double Black (dairy-free), Vanilla, Mocha and Caramel, all of which are sweetened with a "drop of honey.” 

The new company, announced this morning, brings together an influential group of founders from across sports, media and entertainment, including: Fara Leff, Chief Operating Officer of Klutch Sports Group; Paul Rivera, co-creator of Max's “The Shop” and the Chief Brand Officer of Springhill Co.; David Creech, a former design lead at Nike and Brand Jordan; and Andrew and Nate Forbes of Forbes & Co., a national developer, owner, and manager of luxury shopping malls. 

What’s the angle? In a category still dominated by names like Starbucks and Dunkin,’ Leff said Beekeper has an “opportunity to leverage our expertise and our network” to refresh RTD coffee space. “The industry is overwhelming and intimidating, and the next generation of coffee consumers is craving something simple, fresh and aligned with their taste.”

Read the full story on BevNET

Sang is ready to bring “Robussin’” to the masses. The ready-to-drink Vietnamese coffee brand on Monday debuted a new video spot on digital platforms (TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and the Sang website) that shows just what happens when a Vietnamese Granny gets her hands on one of the brand’s uber-potent brews.

The ad is meant as a fun and quirky tribute to mothers and grandmothers, the heart of most Vietnamese families, explained founder and CEO Lan Pham.

“SANG is a celebration of Vietnam: its food, its people, and its culture,” Pham told BevNET in an email Monday. “Our goal with this ad was twofold. One was that we wanted to highlight how great robusta coffee is.. and [two, we] wanted to educate and encourage more people to swap their basic Arabica coffee for Robusta.”

Read the full story on BevNET

There’s energy, there’s relaxation, but how many functional beverages can ‘spark joy’? Illicit Elixirs is a new line of 12 oz. sparkling beverages designed to do just that by supporting dopamine production through its proprietary DopaJoy™ ingredient blend. With its eye-popping branding, can this drink find the right balance of liquid and package design. Read the full review to hear why we’re feeling optimistic about Illicit Elixirs’ chances of breaking through. 

Read the full review on BevNET

With the spooky season looming on the horizon, MTN DEW has partnered with Airheads to bring back its limited edition VOO-DEW flavor to trick-or-treaters nationwide. 

This year, the LTO is infused with Airheads’ classic Cherry flavor, with MTN DEW sharing on social media platform X that “scary now comes in cherry.” MTN DEW VOO-DEW is available in 20 oz. bottles and 12 oz. 12-packs now through October. 

And, naturally, Coca-Cola is eager to get in on the Halloween-themed action, too: Earlier this month, it launched a zero-sugar Fanta that turns consumers’ tongues black.

Just off the heels of a Spirit of Gallo partnered RTD release, Mexican spirits company Casa Lumbre is now going after the orange liqueur placement.

• Launched yesterday, Alma Finca Orange Liqueur is positioned as the “only super-premium Mexican orange liqueur made with all fresh citrus,” according to a press release.
• The company has found success in the past by focusing on the opportunity for premium Mexican cocktail additions, like its Ancho Reyes liqueur, made from chiles, that was acquired by Campari with Montelobos Mezcal for $35.7 million in 2019.
• The 40% ABV liqueur will begin rolling out nationwide in 700 ml bottles for SRP of $34.99. 
• That’s right around the ABV and price of its competitors like Cointreau, which has recently launched campaigns centered on the margarita and in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Now, will a Mexican-made and owned orange liqueur benefit from the rise of other Mexican spirits?

Read the full story on BevNET

The whiskey brand acquisitions continue, but this one marks the start to a new venture from spirit veterans. Avalon, a new spirits venture from a former Castle Brands COO John Glover, has made its first move by acquiring the owner of Whiskey Row Bourbon, the company announced late last week.

Now, the head of the miami-based company is kicking off its portfolio with Whiskey Row, the brainchild of Steve Thompson, a well known whiskey distiller and member of the Bourbon Hall of Fame who died in 2021.

Avalon’s launch mirrors other nascent spirit developers and marketers founded by industry veterans that are building up their portfolios by partnering with well known distillers… or celebrities.

Read the full story on BevNET