• Cheeky Cocktails Finds Its Fit
• Alcohol-Removal Biz Lands $5M
• Boisson Names New Leadership Team
• BevNET Live: Riding the Polar Express
• Melting Forest's First Outside Hire
• What Else Is New?

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

How are you handling thorny issues like definition, pricing, and style in adult non-alc (ANA)?

We asked former sommeliers at The French Laundry, Ian and Carly Blessing. The duo applied their hospitality expertise to a new concept: a non-alcoholic tasting lounge that combines on-site production of the couple’s bitters line, educational tours, a full zero-proof bar, and a curated NA bottle shop.

Less than one month after opening in Chico, Calif., we chatted with Ian about what’s selling at All The Bitter Zero Proof Lounge, and how ANA brands and champions can address the category’s educational pain points.

Ian sees a clear need for more storytelling and education to help drinkers understand what they’re paying for. Consumers are hesitant to fork over $40 for a bottle without brands sharing the ingredients and the innovation that goes into creating these drinks. 

People also still associate non-alcoholic cocktails with mocktails – which, in their minds, means juice, he said. 

To address that concept and shift the conversation, the lounge’s cocktail menu is split between two styles of drinks at different price points: 

• Zero-proof cocktails using non-alcoholic spirits and designed to taste like familiar cocktails, and cost more based on the ingredients. 
• Mocktails are built from juice, tea, soda, syrups, and bitters – simpler by design, and often preferred by folks who want a fancy drink but aren't looking for the taste of alcohol. 

The cocktail flight is the top-seller at the bar so far. As for what he and his customers are excited about? 

Insiders can access the full interview to find out (hint: there’s a hefty dose of functional ingredients ahead). 

BevNET Live heads to Marina del Rey, CA on December 7-9, and the official hotel room block at the Marriott is now available. Rooms always go fast. Staying on-site means you’re just steps away from networking opportunities, product sampling, and every moment of the event.

Register now to unlock access to the room block and save $100 with early registration.

Register Now for BevNET Live »

Mixers sit at an odd place in the ever-evolving beverage industry. Last year, the category’s sales fell alongside a rise in adult non-alc (ANA). 

In turn, mixer brands have begun positioning themselves as elevated zero-proof options and cocktail ingredients – some have even tried their luck in the ready-to-drink aisle.

Cheeky Cocktails is one of those premium mixers, now in the midst of a major growth year as the company refines its sales strategy and signs on new investors and advisors such as Suja Juice co-founder Jeff Church.

Launched in 2020 by bar industry veteran, April Wachtel, Cheeky Cocktails offers high-quality, all real-ingredient mixers and syrups that make labor intensive cocktails easier for both bars and consumers. 

Insiders can access the full story to learn how the brand has found its fit in the ever-evolving market. 

Arizona-based beverage technology company ALTR has closed a $5 million seed round led by French investment fund Demeter, with participation from Suntory Global Spirits, Techmind, AZ Venture Capital Inc., FTW Ventures, Bluestein Ventures, Solvable and Xinomavro. 

• The new cash will go towards commercializing ALTR’s “Flavor-First” process of removing alcohol for wine, beer and spirits.
• The tech company uses membrane technology to remove ethanol from adult beverages while maintaining the taste and mouthfeel.
• ALTR previously raised an undisclosed pre-seed round in August 2023 led by FTW Ventures.

Stay tuned for a full report on how ALTR intends to scale its innovative process with the new investment.

Go Deeper: Tech Startup Nets VC Funding To Build Dealcoholization Innovation

Adult non-alcoholic beverage retailer Boisson appointed two new individuals to lead its now ecommerce-based business. 

• Holly Berrigan has been named CEO and Hannah Delaney as president. Berrigan will replace Arie Gurevitch who was the former director of ecommerce for Southern Wine and Glazer’s national accounts.
• Berrigan comes to Boisson after founding online natural wine marketplace MYSA Natural Wine and Pioneer BevComm, a digital performance agency. Delaney was a managing partner of Pioneer.

⏪ The two leaders take over as the online retailer charts a path forward after a tumultuous 2024 where it closed all retail locations, filed for bankruptcy and was restarted after being auctioned off.

⏩ Boisson is currently preparing for a ANA program with retailer Restoration Hardware later this month, according to the press release.

Refresher: After An Ugly Breakup, Boisson & Its Former Partners Look For the Way Forward

Not every brand wants to be acquired, just ask Polar Beverages. The 134-year-old seltzer maker has remained proud as an independent, and at BevNET Live Summer 2025 its longtime president and CEO Ralph Crowley dove into just what keeps its bubbles sharp and its cash flowing.

Insiders can watch the full presentation to hear how Crowley assesses potential growth opportunities, where he sees the “modern soda” category going (and how to stay on top of beverage trends), and what it takes to be a part of Polar’s network.

Watch the video now only on BevNET.

The RTD functional mushroom market may still be bubbling up, but Melting Forest has been eagerly pushing to the front of the pack with its bifurcated line of relaxation and energy/focus drinks. Now the company is hoping its first outside hire – Micha Urbach, its new VP of Growth & Strategy – can help keep its place at the cutting edge of the emerging category. 

Urbach was last seen helping Mela score its exit as VP of Sales, but his track record includes stints at Owl’s Brew, Aashi, Molson Coors and DoorDash, per LinkedIn. 

“Think retail growth, distribution wins, and partnerships that stick--Micah will be joining the ranks of [CEO & Founder] Sean McDonald and [Chief Revenue Officer] David Martin, doing it all, with flavor,” the company announced yesterday. 

Along with Florida-based Odyssey, Melting Forest has emerged as an early player in functional mushroom RTDs with its 12 oz sleek cans (along with gummies and mushroom-infused powdered coffee). Suja founder Jeff Church is an advisor, as well. 

Catch Up: Melting Forest Aims to Grow Mushroom-Powered RTD

It’s Hump Day! Here’s a taste of the new drops and activations from the first half of the week.

🎲 Lucky Energy enlisted oft-injured former NBA star Greg Oden for its new campaign, “What Are the Odds?” highlighting resilience, perseverance and good ol’ dumb luck.

🧇 Waffle House diehards can now bring the brand’s coffee home with a canned Classic Blend Cold Brew sold direct-to-consumer on the Georgia-based restaurant chain’s website.

😡 Here at BevNET, we’re mad about our coffee, and so is Genecis Bioindustries, which launched new consumer brand Mad Coffee that promises a “bold, first-of-its-kind take on iced coffee.”

🥣 Milk Bar joined forces with Nespresso to begin serving up cereal milk iced lattes, drawing from its cereal milk ice cream recipe.

Check out this deep dive to understand how one brand innovated a new product around a bigger marketing push.