Following very soft Q4 2022 in US, ABI delivered brief prepared remarks and answered questions about US during conference call following results. "While industry volumes in the fourth quarter were soft," said Michel, "we are seeing improved performance to start 2023 with year-to-date beer industry volumes down 1% and US dollar sales up 5% through the 12th of February, according to IRI." This was unusual, as ABI doesn't usually say anything about qtr in progress, but Michel seemingly sought to reassure investors. The 4th qtr was a "one off" and "complicated" by "phasing of price increase, the effect of the two price increases of the year in one quarter and a really, really complicated weather at the back end" of qtr. "We see strength in Michelob Ultra, we see strength in Bud Light," continued Michel, i.e. "better performance so far in some of our core brands, and our Beyond Beer portfolio is performing very well."

Dive deep into a wide array of US craft beer data with the Craft Update 2023 report and webinar, your exclusive resource for full-year 2022 results for US craft, top players, brands and more. This in-depth combo of data-packed report and live webinar presentation synthesizes crucial data points and news like no other. Register today to be among the first to receive the report and gain access to the webinar presentation, coming right up on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 from 1-2:30pm Eastern.

As US beer biz in Q4 down massively, AB reported an 8.6% shipments drop, not quite as soft as Molson Coors' 11% shipment decline reported last week. Yet those are some harsh numbers for both. AB depletions almost as soft as its shipments, down 7.6%. And that's a slightly steeper dropoff than Molson Coors, as its depletions down 6.8% in 4th qtr. For the full yr, AB shipments down 4.2% and depletions down 4.1%. Shipments down about 3.5 mil bbls. That's also AB's softest depletions trend in the ABI era.

Dive deep into a wide array of US craft beer data with the Craft Update 2023 report and webinar, your exclusive resource for full-year 2022 results for US craft, top players, brands and more. This in-depth combo of data-packed report and live webinar presentation synthesizes crucial data points and news like no other. Register today to be among the first to receive the report and gain access to the webinar presentation, coming right up on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 from 1-2:30pm Eastern.

Ahead of coming spring shelf resets, craft brewers announced tons of coming new entries in last wk or so. And tho styles run the gamut, you'll be shocked to know that lots of them are double or imperial IPAs, often hazy. Whether following that particular trend or not, many of these new brands will debut in oversized 19.2oz cans. Also no surprise given gains in craft variety packs lately, plenty of new mixed packs will show up in coming months, many corralling assorted IPAs. More beyond beer brands coming from craft brewers, too.

Moving thru tumultuous period that saw its ceo abruptly exit to deal with medical issue, Alkaline88 marketer Alkaline Water Co claimed reported fiscal Q3 that brought 21% revenue increase but narrowing of operating loss by more than two-thirds as co continued on its pathway-to-profitability initiative. Recall that longtime ceo Ricky Wright had been abruptly ousted as steep losses continued, replaced by turnaround expert Frank Lazaran, who this week ceded prexy/ceo reins to longtime WTER exec Frank Chessman as his medical crisis surfaced (BBI, Feb 27).

She got an immersion in energy drinks at C4 marketer Nutrabolt and now she's popped up at Guru Organic Energy. Rajaa Grar, seasoned marketer who'd made stops at Amazon, Starbucks and Paula's Choice Skincare before landing at Nutrabolt, has been named chief revenue officer at Montreal-based Guru. Recall she'd had 2-year run at Nutrabolt as chief marketing & digital officer before departing last summer, for reasons that weren't disclosed. She arrives as publicly traded co enters "a pivotal year where marketing and digital will be key to our ongoing brand awareness and revenue generation activities in Canada," per prexy/ceo Carl Goyette. "In addition, her extensive knowledge of the US energy drink market is a huge asset and could lead us to accelerate the timeline of our growth initiatives" there. Recall, Guru has built strong position in its Quebec stronghold that it's trying to replicate in rest of Canada via Pepsi distribution alliance, even as it lays seeds for future push in US beyond natural channel and single DSD market, Bay Area. Guru's "success so far in Quebec and in California natural food stores is a strong indicator of what we will be able to achieve in North America," Austin-based Grar indicated. "I am eager to jump in and help make it happen."

Erythritol, a mainstay sweetening agent for natural food/bevs, has come under fire after Cleveland Clinic study linked ingredient to increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Findings published in Nature Medicine showed that among 4,000+ subjects in US and Europe, those with higher blood erythritol levels were at elevated risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiac event such as heart attack, stroke or death, as clinic summarized study. They also examined effects of adding erythritol to either whole blood or isolated platelets, which are cell fragments that clump together to stop bleeding and contribute to blood clots, and found that erythritol made platelets easier to activate and form a clot. "Sweeteners like erythritol have rapidly increased in popularity in recent years but there needs to be more in-depth research into their long-term effects," said senior author Stanley Hazen, who's chmn of Dept of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Sciences at Lerner Research Institute and co-section head of preventive cardiology at Cleveland Clinic. "Cardiovascular disease builds over time, and heart disease is the leading cause of death globally. We need to make sure the foods we eat aren't hidden contributors."

Montreal-based Rise Kombucha is making its foray into gut-pop segment with Rise Better Soda, which brings 3 g of prebiotic fiber per 355-ml (12-oz) can but just 2-3 g of sugar from natural fruit juices, in initial array of flavors that leave no doubt as to where it's hoping to poach its users: Orange, Classic Cola and Lemon-Lime. Ingredient bill of cola includes tapioca fiber, cinnamon, apple cider vinegar, Himalayan pink salt and black tea extract, with Reb-A form of stevia offering a sweetener lift to the apple, lemon and lime juices in recipe. "We believe that everyone should be able to enjoy a refreshing drink without sacrificing their health, and Rise Better Soda delivers just that," posted ceo Axel Kalbarczyk . . . Acceding in part to consumer requests, Just Ice Tea has added 3 more flavors to its nascent lineup: Mango White Tea, Lemon Ginger Herbal Tea and Original Black Tea. That's the line, of course, that Honest Tea cofounders Seth Goldman and Barry Nalebuff and their allies have thrown into the fray to fill the void of Coke-sunsetted organic brand . . . PepsiCo and its partner Boston Beer have added their first extension to Hard MTN Dew: Livewire, "an electrifying new twist on the classic, fan-favorite soft drink with a jolt of orange citrus refreshment." Like existing entries it's 5% ABV, contains no caffeine and comes in at 100 calories per serving. It's out in 24-oz cans in the 11 states where Hard Dew is sold so far. To make sure there's no kibbitzing about marketing to children, it's hosting a launch party dubbed "Definitely Over 21" at retirement community in Florida . . . Sanzo line of Asian-inspired sparklers has added Pomelo flavor as a Whole Foods exclusive. "Bright, juicy and zesty," just in time for spring picnics, as co positions it . . . Italy's Peroni beer brand, part of Molson Coors portfolio, is entering NA beer fray with Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0%, which uses proprietary dealcoholization process and same Nostrano dell'Isola maize grown for core brand to deliver flavor that closely matches the alc version. It will ride brand's tie to Aston Martin Formula One team to get word out at races in Miami, Austin and Las Vegas this year.