BevNET Live Winter 2023 takes place December 3-5 in Marina del Rey, CA. As an Insider, you can save $200 per registration through this Saturday, October 21.

Discover creative business solutions from expert speakers (KeHE, Albertsons, Humble Growth, and Tractor Beverage Co. are already part of the lineup), meet one-to-one with buyers from Albertsons, take a deep dive into the world of RTD spirits, learn the basics at Beverage School, watch or pitch in BevNET's New Beverage Showdown, and sample the latest beverage innovations.

Join the hundreds already registered. Register by Saturday, October 21 and save.

The 1 American company that has manufactured botanical extracts under 1 family for more than 50 years. The 1 company that uses the proprietary cold extraction process, Bio-Chelated®, creating Holistically Balanced® extracts, retaining the botanical's natural constituents. We treat our customers like they are the only 1 we have. Learn more

Sugar-free beverage brand Joyburst and spring water producer Flow have inked a new co-packing agreement.

🏭 For Joyburst, the deal will see 45 million units of its new hydration line produced in Tetra Paks over the next three years from Flow’s Aurora, Ontario facility. But the situation is a win-win. Publicly traded Flow is in the “final stages” of restructuring toward an asset-light business model and the planned divestment of the Aurora facility is a key piece of that strategy shift. 

🤝🏼 According to Flow CEO Nicholas Reichenbach the deal is a “significant win” for the co-packing business and he believes the agreement will make the facility more attractive to potential buyers. 

Read the full story on BevNET.

As the leaves (finally) begin to change color and cooler weather sticks around, many spirits brands are unveiling their autumn releases. To celebrate, we’ve put together a collection of 10 new expressions that caught our eye. Here’s a small preview of what you’ll find in this month’s new spirits gallery: 

🐔 Chicken Cock Whiskey begins the rollout of its exclusive Reserve Cask program with The Kevin “Kiz” Kisner Barrel Pick, created in collaboration with the PGA pro, who inked a multi-year partnership with spirits maker back in February. 

🌾 To celebrate the third edition of its Harmony Collection, The Macallan releases two new expressions in collaboration with Stella and Mary McCartney: The Macallan Harmony Collection Amber Meadow (44.2% ABV) and The Macallan Harmony Collection Green Meadow (40.2% ABV). 

🚚 As a result of high consumer demand, Lobos 1707 Tequila & Mezcal announces additional availability of its Limited Edition Añejo tequila, expanding to 28 U.S. markets with approximately 9,000 bottles total.

Check out the full NPG on BevNET. 

After its first attempt (called Intent) struggled to connect with its target consumers, Intent Brands is making another run at a functional beverage line: Sly is going after the burgeoning eSport community who are not just looking for another energy beverage but a drink to help calm down and relax after online gaming sessions.

🧪 Intent’s original drink concept revolved around aligning with a consumers’ circadian rhythm to fuel daily mental and physical energy needs. Sly is taking a similar approach but reformulated with new branding and packaging geared to online gamers and streamers.

⚡ Energy drink makers like Ghost, G-Fuel and C4 have increasingly target gamers via partnerships with content creators and products that align with specific nutrition demands of that community.

🏪 The brand is launching “slowly” in its home market of Arizona targeting college campuses and the c-store channel to gain a foothold in retail as it uses its connections to the the eSport community to build its DTC business.

Read The Full Story On BevNET

Explore PhytoCann BP®, an innovative black pepper extract exclusive to North America via Faravelli Inc. With THC and CBD-free cannabinoid-like benefits, sourced sustainably from Sulawesi, Indonesia, it finds applications in mood support and beauty enhancement. Learn more

As it business leans into the fast-growing Just Ice Tea, Eat the Change (ETC) remains to attract investment, bringing in another $14 million growth capital led by returning investors S2G Ventures and Collaborative Fund, along with the family office for Jeff Swartz, the former CEO of apparel and footwear brand Timberland. 

💰 Prior to this funding, the company had raised over $20 million, most recently bringing in $14.5 million just over a year ago.

📈 Much of the funding will go towards building out the company’s Just Ice Tea line, which is sold in over 5,000 accounts, the equivalent to Honest Tea’s distribution footprint after eight years in business. With over $12 million of sales year-to-date, Goldman projects ETC will close out 2023 with $16 million in revenue.

🚚 With 70% ACV in the natural channel, Goldman said ETC now plans to layer in more distribution for Just Ice Tea in conventional grocers and c-stores, and is in active discussions with retailers in both channels.

After a five-year run during which the brand emerged as an early pioneer in mass-market CBD drinks, Kill Cliff CEO John Timar's time with the company came to an end this summer after the company's original founder Todd Ehrlich returned as majority shareholder amidst an ownership shuffle. Now a free agent (he retains a seat on Kill Cliff's board), the Navy Seal veteran is already eyeing his next moves. 

🥋 Speaking to BevNET this week, Timar shared plans for his return to CPG via a pair of ventures, starting with Grapple Science, a fitness nutrition company aimed squarely at the Brazilian jiu-jitsu community. The brand is set to debut in December with a suite of products tailored specifically to the needs of grapplers (i.e. no caffeine or whey protein). 

💪🏼 Also in early incubation: AthleTHC (or Athletic THC), which aims to incorporate micro-doses of THC as added value into pre- and post-workout products, a trend that Timar said is already well underway within the fitness community. 

Feeling blue? That may be a good thing, it turns out; "blue zones," or geographic areas in which healthy and long-living populations thrive, are all the rage right now, and juice brand Langers is looking to tap in with a new line of unsweetened teas. 

🫖 The two new products -- Bergamot Black Unsweetened Tea and a Green & Jasmine Unsweetened Tea, 5% juice each -- are inspired by traditional ingredients from two "blue zone" hotspots: Ikaria, Greece and Okinawa, Japan.

🛍️ Both SKUs come in 128 oz. jugs listed at $3.99 each on Langers' website.

Fresh Thyme is a midwest chain of natural/organic focused stores that focuses on bringing the organic lifestyle to the masses. Jonathan Lawrence, VP of Center Store, will join Community Call to help brands understand which brands & products have the best opportunity to grow at Fresh Thyme, what his customers are looking for, and how this chain fits into the national landscape of grocery retail. Register for free.