Ryl Tea believes it has the recipe to win over "Southern-inspired Gen-Z/Millennials," in the words of founder/CEO Blodin Ukella: a winning, authentic taste and the star power of country artist and investor Morgan Wallen, who’s name is proudly given a “Crafted By” credit on cans of the brand’s new zero-sugar Sweet Tea, launched last Thursday exclusively on drinkryl.com and Gopuff. With the iced tea category getting more crowded by the minute, focusing on that specific demo (for now) may be a way in. Go Deeper: Doubling Sales In A Year, Milo’s Tea Hits $400 Million 

Whether it’s traditional staples of roasted turkey, buttered mash & pumpkin pie or more trendy options like fried turkey, cranberry bourbon sauce & jalapeno chili mash, flavor is the key element. A new holiday flavors guide from the flavor experts delivers tasty inspiration for the holiday season. Learn more

At what stage of development should brands consider aligning with a celebrity or athlete? How can companies assess the potential value and impact of those partnerships? The hosts shared their perspective on both topics, and also spoke about why niche brands might need to reconsider certain positioning and packaging callouts that have them collectively scratching their heads. Read the story.

Twenty years on from Lost In Translation, The House of Suntory is celebrating another anniversary --100 years of Japanese whiskey -- by tapping the film's director Sofia Coppola (and Keanu Reeves, because why not?) for a new spot. Meanwhile Bacardí is angling for young drinkers by giving out “Dancing Shoes NFTs” and snapchat lenses, and echoing other spirit campaigns partnering with major streetwear brands and offering custom kicks. Smirnoff Ice is continuing its brand refresh with a throw back to the music of its heyday in a series of concerts this summer. Speaking of the seasons, Whipshots is making a play for summer boozy dessert innovations with its new lime flavor and campaign featuring partner and artist Cardi B. 

Hemp isn't what it used to be: see Colorado-based Weller, a longtime presence in the hemp CBD-infused food and beverage market, now entering the world of (still hemp) THC drinks exclusively at trendsetting LA chain Erehwon. "THIS is the future of federally-legal, low-dose, THC consumables" wrote co-founder John Weller on Twitter; with state regulators looking to tighten the loophole that has allowed hemp-derived THC drinks to flourish overnight, that remains to be seen. Go Deeper: Explore Minnesota's Wild New World of Legal Cannabis Drinks

Seeking buyer for recently renovated and modern ~68,000 ft2, solar powered bottling plant formerly used by Pompeian Olive Oil. The equipment includes ~4 million liters of storage tanks, three filling lines, handling machines, robotic palletizers & an automatic shrink wrapper. Sales process underway. Learn more

HBO's hit show Succession may be over, but the battle against upcharging for oat milk in your latte rages on, apparently. Veteran actor James Cromwell, fresh from his portrayal of Ewan Roy on the drama, is lending his face to outdoor ads in New York City from animal rights group PETA's urging Starbucks to encourage a shift to plant-based milks by stopping all extra charges for making substitutions from regular dairy. An unsual pairing, sure, but who could argue?

Georgia-based SweetWater Brewing Company is the latest beer maker looking to break into the exploding RTD cocktail market. This morning, the Tilray-Brands-owned company announced the launch of SweetWater Spirits, a two-SKU line of vodka-based RTD cocktails available in Vodka Soda Citrus and Vodka Soda Punch, each clocking in at 105 calories per 12 ounce can. 

Someday college courses on PRIME may be required for all business grads -- or maybe the secret to the influencer-driven brands success is a lot simpler than that. Now-defunct (🙏🏼) Paper Magazine ran a feature exploring how PRIME and other celeb-driven startups are seizing an opportunity to leverage their personal brands to jump into CPG and yes -- there are a lot of factors at play. But with digital tools bringing celebrities closer to their fans than ever, "you can’t just get attention from a big name," said Snaxshot's Andrea Hernandez. "You need to fit your product to your audience.”

We just announced the agenda for Beverage School, taking place on June 14 during BevNET Live in NYC. New-to-the-business BevNET Live attendees wishing to build a foundation in beverage strategy and tactics have an opportunity to learn from experts and make key connections. Read the story.