Market research firm Circana (formerly IRI) released the 28th edition of its annual list of New Product Pacesetters, a group that has collectively reached $6.8 billion in combined year-one sales across food, beverage and non-food solutions. Here’s a quick look at the list: 

• New Product Pacesetters did nearly $3.5 billion in sales in 2022, a +19% increase from 2021 levels. 
• This stat will bring a smile to old school operators: carbonated beverages and sports and energy drinks represent 27% of total food and beverage Pacesetters (13 companies on the list, up from five in 2021), with energy brand Alani Nu’s “range of whimsical flavors” (Breezeberry, Cosmic Stardust and Hawaiian Shaved Ice) helping it land in the top slot overall. 

• Within the c-stores specifically, however, Electrolit claimed the top rank, with Gatorlyte, the rapid-hydration drink line introduced last year to compete with the former brand, came in at number three. BodyArmor’s recent performance has been the cause of much hand-wringing at Coca-Cola, but at least Edge has found some traction at the number ten slot. 
• Even as the market has become flooded with competitors, Boston Beer Co.’s Truly brand continues to make strides across its different offerings, like Punch and Margarita Style. Will a recent fresh from Vodka Seltzer to Vodka Soda further help the cause? Elsewhere, White Claw’s stronger (8% ABV) Surge line got off to a good start in c-stores this year. 

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California DSD house Stone Distributing Co., one of the largest independent beer distributors in the country, is introducing non-alcoholic options to its portfolio through a partnership with canned watermelon water brand Mela. The startup beverage company was founded in 2021 and has a footprint of around 3,000 doors nationwide with at least 1,500 accounts in California. Founder and CEO Dominic Purpura hopes Stone will help grow Mela’s presence in the on-premise channel, noting the distributor services major SoCal sports hubs like Petco Park and Crypto.com Arena.

Yes, premium-plus and no/low segments continue to grow, according to a new report from spirits market research group IWSR. But the full picture is more complex: in our recap, Ferron Salniker explores the big takeaways, including why premiumization is coming at a cost for some and the effects that tequila's boom is having on other categories.

Read the full story on BevNET.

Spirits group Brown-Forman reported 8% organic growth in its fiscal 2023 year, fueled by its major whiskey brands Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey and Woodford Reserve, as well as the launch of Jack & Coke ready-to-drink cocktail, the company reported in its Q4 earnings presentation today. Read the story.

Does MatchaKo make good on its ambition to create a “healthy and affordable way to consume matcha while also providing a sense of luxury with each sip”? Hear our thoughts on the four-SKU line of organic matcha drinks in 7.5 ounce cans.

Read the full review on BevNET.

California-based powder stick maker OFFIELD has been one of the brands we've been following as we've tracked the increasingly close relationship between the CBD category and sports performance and recovery drinks over the past several years. But the brand's latest Instagram posts promise something markedly different: a cannabinoid-infused functional RTD -- that's 5mg THC from hemp, 10mg CBD and 100mg L-Theanine -- in a 12 oz. can in two flavors: Dragonfruit Lemonade and Original Lime. Available for now at select partners in Minneapolis, but that's all we got for now.

Chamberlain Coffee has seemingly one-upped itself in unique product drops this week with the launch of a crossbody can bag designed to perfectly fit the brand’s new RTD plant-based lattes. The caramel-colored bag, now available exclusively via Chamberlain Coffee’s website for $49, features an adjustable strap and was designed to help coffee lovers “keep [their] hands free for the important stuff.” The drop was announced on the brand’s Instagram page just one day after the IGK x Chamberlain Coffee Limited Edition Direct Flight Matcha Dry Shampoo went live for $32 per bottle. What quirky product will the brand launch next? We're not sure, but it's definitely coming.

Diageo CEO Ivan Menezes, who led the world’s biggest spirits company for a decade, died at the age of 63 after a brief illness, the company announced on Wednesday. Debra Crew has been named interim CEO, effective immediately.

Read the story on BevNET.