• 👀 Danone’s Lifeway Pursuit Continues
• 🦉How Hard Tea’s OGs Keep Their Edge
• 🍺 Not Beer: Buzzing, But Still Not Beer

New regulations and rising demand for clean, quality packaging have made glass a key advantage in spirits-based RTDs. This free guide offers expert insights from the Glass Packaging Institute, Via Carota Craft Cocktails, and Sandstrom Partners to help you assess glass’s role in your beverage company’s future. Learn more

Third time’s the charm? Danone sure hopes so.

The French dairy giant is pressuring kefir category leader Lifeway to accept its acquisition bid…a move that’s already been attempted twice in the past year. 

How is this bid different? In an August 1 SEC filing, Danone stated that if an agreement to acquire Lifeway isn’t reached by September 15, it will vote in favor of a proposal to replace Lifeway’s board of directors put forth by Ludmila and Edward Smolyansky, the mother and brother of current CEO Julie Smolyansky. And those three aren’t on great terms.

• #ICYMI: Ludmila and Edward filed a consent statement with the SEC last year, marking the launch of their “Life Back to Lifeway” campaign that seeks to replace Lifeway’s current board of directors. The duo were fired from Lifeway in 2022 but retain a 40% stake in the company. 

Danone first tried to snap up Lifeway in September, offering $283 million, or $25 per share, for the publicly traded company. A second attempt came in November at $307 million. In both cases, Lifeway responded with a firm “no,” claiming both proposals were undervalued. 

The two parties have since sued each other over the interpretation of an agreement reached in 1999 when Danone bought a 23.4% stake in Lifeway. 

However, not all hope has been lost. In June, representatives of Lifeway initiated discussions with Danone with the intent to “reset” the relationship and reopen negotiations, per the SEC filing. On August 1, the companies entered into a confidentiality agreement to facilitate further due diligence. 

The acquisition drama is playing out against a backdrop of fermenting Smolyansky family tensions. Ludmila and Edward allege that, under Julie’s authority, Lifeway “has been on autopilot for too long, missing critical market opportunities due to a lack of strategic vision.” 

Insiders can get the full story on BevNET. 

Hard tea is all the rage right now, but one ready-to-drink (RTD) company has been championing the style since 2013. After expanding into other spirits-based canned cocktails, Owl’s Brew has returned to its roots with a Sun Tea & Vodka line launched last month. 

🍋 As the brand’s portfolio now includes anything from its original line of hard tea seltzers to a skinny margarita to a co-branded line with comedian Chelsea Handler, the founders have grown to see their approach to RTDs similar to craft breweries. 

🥃 We chatted with the founders about that approach to innovation, why getting into draft has opened major doors, and how the collaboration with Handler has started unexpected conversations. 

BevNET Insiders can read the full story here.

This latest roundup of summer ready-to-drink releases includes a 16th BeatBox flavor, malty collaborations from Tip Top, a soju cocktail refresh, and more. 

🍇 Mystic Grape has joined the BeatBox flavor multiverse. The new flavor is equal parts nostalgic and future-focused with its juicy 11.1% abv and resealable carton. 

👻 Tip Top Proper Cocktail’s Kindred Spirits Series – a first-of-its-kind brewery collaboration project that reimagines classic cocktails through the lens of craft beer – has launched the third release in the series: Naked & Famous Fizz, in partnership with Orange, California’s Green Cheek Beer Co.

🍐 After closing a $6.8 million funding round earlier this year, Hello Soju has begun rolling out its official nationwide relaunch. The sparkling soju RTD’s return includes a refreshed look, California-based production and five flavors: Asian Pear, Lemon Yuzu, Green Grape, Peach and Lychee. 

Catch the full list free on BevNET

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Just to be clear: Not Beer is still not beer, but that open-ended description can fit basically any beverage that’s, you know, not beer – including Vibed, the brand’s first line extension that brings it into the red-hot hemp-derived THC space. 

Founder Dillon Dandurand shared a detailed look into his thought process for launching the drink on X, highlighting the line’s core tenets: taste, broad appeal and keeping calories and sugar at a minimum. The resulting line features three 12 oz. SKUs – Rosy Raspberry, Ruby Grapefruit and Golden Pineapple – with 10 mg THC and 10 mg CBD each, coming in at 15-20 calories each with no added sugar. 

Recall Dandurand (founder of snack brand Brami) introduced Not Beer as a tongue-in-cheek, Gen Z-oriented brand that sought to tap into alcohol moderation trends with its line of canned waters. We’re following up with Dandurand for more details, but you can already pick up Vibed online.

The Nosh Notables list might be a recognition of stakeholders, trailblazers and tastemakers in the food industry, but that’s not to say there isn’t a lot of crossover into beverages. This year’s crop of Notables includes many recognizable faces and important contributors who have shaped the drinks industry.

• Founder Kyle Fitzpatrick’s platform Paperboy Ventures has helped give voice to beverage entrepreneurs seeking new investment partners.
• Santatera Capital managing partner Alejandro Gonzalez helped steer new investment disruptive brands like hiyo across CPG food and beverage.
• BelliWelli might have launched as a nutritional bar brand but its pivot to high-fiber powders was led by CEO and cofounder Katie Wilson. 

🐯 Easy, tiger: WTA World No. 1 and 3x Grand Slam champion Aryna “The Tiger” Sabalenka has signed a multiyear endorsement deal with Electrolit; expect to see brand integration across her tournament appearances and social media.

⚡What does a vertically integrated wine and spirits company know about energy drinks? Guess we’ll find out, as O’Neill Vinters & Distillers launches a new line called Catalyst, billed as “performance energy” for “mind,” “body” and “soul.” Six flavors in 12 oz. cans, with 120 mg caffeine each plus L-Carnitine and B vitamins.

🍍OLIPOP gave SpongeBob his own flavor – need we say more? Get in all five collectible cans, if you are into that sort of thing. 

💪 It’s hard to believe but Vital Proteins hasn’t released an RTD protein shake – until now. Available in chocolate, Vital Proteins Collagen & Protein Shake contains 30 grams of protein and 10 grams of collagen peptides per 11 oz. carton, with 4-packs hitting Walmart now and Costco set to follow. Makes a bit more sense than Collagen Waters, we think.