• 📊 Beverage Sales Rise, Volumes Climbing Back
• 📊 Laird Rebuild Continues In Q2
• 👑 Meet the New Queen of RTD Cocktails?

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

Celsius’ billion-dollar bet on Alani Nu is paying dividends, as the female-leaning energy drink brand added $301 million in revenue in Q2 and helped Celsius’ North America achieve 41% growth through the first six months of the year.

Alani Nu’s surging popularity was cited by management as the primary driver of overall growth during the quarter, in which overall revenue grew 84% year-over-year ($739.3 million), while net income rose 25% to $99.6 million. 

Alani’s “breakout” quarter saw dollar sales rise 129% with share up 3.2 points year over year, making it the largest share gainer in RTD energy, per CEO John Fieldly. As of late June, the brand held a 6.3% market share, with household penetration at 22% and repeat rates passing 65%. 

As for Celsius, the core brand produced $138 million in revenue in Q2, with household penetration hitting 34%. Food service, a channel the brand has targeted for growth in recent years, reported a 9.8% YoY increase in volume in Q2, or around 12% of Celsius brand North American sales.

Get the full earnings recap on BevNET

Non-alcoholic beverage sales are up as dollar sales climbed 5.4% and volume rose 1.8% in the two-week period ended July 26, according to Goldman Sachs Equity Research’s latest analysis of NielsenIQ data. 

• Energy drinks saw sales slow as modest pricing growth (+3.5%) was more than offset by softer volume growth (+10.3%). 
• CSD sales were flat at +4.7% over the period (+4.8% 4-wks)
• Coffee is still feeling fatigued, with sales (-4.8%) and volume (-10.4%) both slipping. 

Read the full analysis on BevNET.

Nearly three years removed from its shift to an asset-light model, Laird Superfood reported positive sales growth and an expanded wholesale business in its second quarter earnings yesterday after markets closed. Sales were $12 million, up from $10 million in the prior year period, and gross margin was a healthy 39.9%.

🛍️ The functional coffee creamer and coffee brand grew its retail business to 47% with an emphasis on increasing its footprint in the club channel.

🛒 While the brand’s ecommerce on Amazon and DTC is still over 50%, CEO Jason Vieth expressed optimism that the brand was well-positioned to create a larger presence in brick-and-mortar.

💸 Despite the impact of tariffs on trade spend and commodity costs, Laird had not taken pricing actions but refrained from promising that the option would not be used to maintain margins moving forward.

Read the full report to for more on Laird's innovation plans

Brain health is top of mind for today’s consumers, and brands across categories are responding. This free resource, based on a Nombase podcast with MOSH, Cognizin by Kyowa Hakko, and others, explores how to build cognitive-support products that are both effective and market-ready. Learn more

As we reported a couple weeks back, Reed’s founder Chris Reed is back with a new co-packing venture based in Pennsylvania that is, as of this week, officially open for business. 

🏭 Reed, along with a Chinese business partner, acquired the aseptic facility out of bankruptcy from Joriki Beverage earlier this year. The facility is now up and running with end-to-end manufacturing capabilities, including low- and high-acid product lines with cold fill for aseptic and PET packages.

Go Deeper: Chris Reed Picks Up Pa. Co-Packer Out of Bankruptcy

Summer spirits distribution shakeups include new NA and spirit additions for Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits (SGWS), moves from a big whiskey name, and the continued spirits glow-up for Reyes Beverage Group in California.

• Top distributor SGWS has broadened its infused offerings by adding Mutiny Island Vodka, Five Springs Infused Bourbon and Owen’s Mixers in new markets.
• Chinola Fresh Fruit Liqueurs has also deepened its tropical vibes through an agreement with SGWS in the Caribbean and travel retail channel. 
• Meanwhile in the Golden State as suppliers scatter following RNDC’s withdrawal, Uncle Nearest has made a shift to Classic Wines and Reyes continues to collect big spirits names including Four Roses, Kōloa Rum Company and Infinium Spirits.

BevNET Insiders can get the full story here

RTD cocktails used to be for us normal folk, but I guess not anymore once Buckingham Palace officially launches its own. 

Yes, RTDs are so hot even the royal palace is getting in on the game with the Buckingham Palace Gin & Tonic, a 250ml 6.8% ABV canned cocktail combining the palace’s dry gin with tonic water.

The cocktail is the first RTD addition to a lineup of gins and whiskys from The Royal Collection Trust, a charitable branch of the monarchy. The spirits have been sold on-site at the palace shops and cafes, but will now be available for wholesale too. 

Full details on this royal-ready RTD here. 

This week, Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporter Lukas Southard discuss two very different legal battles, one facing Chobani’s La Colombe brand and the other dealing with Uncle Nearest Whiskey. The team also explains how Doughlicious’ new $5 million investment will support its growth in the U.S. and why Beyond is removing the “meat” from its name as it tries to win back market share. The podcast wraps up with a discussion of this year’s Nosh Notables list released this week.

Click here to listen to this week’s episode. Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.