While total alc bev $$ grew 3% including beer up nearly 4% for latest week thru Sep 25 in IRI multi-outlet channels, vast majority of that growth came in FL as consumers sought to stock up prior to Hurricane Ian, latest IRI report from Scott Scanlon shows. Total alc bev sales in FL grew 26% for the week ending Sep 25, accounting for 12% of natl alc bev sales and 84% of alc bev growth in IRI MULO channels. Gains were driven most by beer up 28% and wine up 27% while spirits grew 13%. So FL sales will likely have a significant short-term impact on tracked off-prem trends in coming weeks as well.

Food & health watchdog group Center for Science in the Public Interest filed fed lawsuit in DC district court Tuesday against TTB, its administrator Mary Ryan, the Dept of Treasury and secretary Janet Yellen. Joined by 2 other consumer advocacy groups, CSPI seeks to compel the feds to respond to a petition the group submitted almost 19 yrs ago, asking "TTB to require alcohol labeling with the same basic transparency consumers expect in foods," complaint explains. Tho agency has submitted proposed rules, taken comments and provided guidance on voluntary disclosures, it never finalized proposals, CSPI argues. Deciding it waited long enough, org asked fed judge to force TTB into action, either finalizing a proposed rule or denying the petition outright.

Hard seltzer sales were 4.5% weaker in states where spirits-based RTDs are sold in the same stores vs those where they're not, Consumer Edge's Brett Cooper showed in timely report citing 52 wk IRI data. Seltzer's sales gap in those states shrank to 3.6% weaker for latest 12 wks and -0.5% for 4. Yet given $$ declines on seltzers and growth of RTD spirits, "our read is that the wider availability of spirit-based RTDs is having some impact on seltzer trends," but "other factors are more important to seltzer's weak performance," Brett notes.

At same time as Boston Beer seeks to stabilize Truly's trends thru reformulated lineup and $10 mil mktg campaign, here comes national launch of Truly Vodka Seltzer, brand's first spirits-based seltzer in 4 flavors starting Oct 11. Brand will go thru Boston distrib network "everywhere we are able," co clarified to INSIGHTS. Offerings include Blackberry & Lemon, Cherry & Lime, Pineapple & Cranberry and Peach & Tangerine, made with "six-times-distilled premium vodka and real fruit juice," per release. Each clocks in at 5% ABV and 110 cals, with 2g sugars and naturally gluten free. And all will be sold in 12oz slim cans, available in variety 8pks as well as single style 8pks & 4pks, at "suggested retail price of $9.99 (4-pack) to $17.99 (8-pack)."

Early this summer, announcing plan for coming White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, Biden Admin solicited commitments from private cos and non-profit groups, seeking actions, campaigns and funding to support its strategy. The aim is ambitious: "ending hunger and increasing healthy eating and physical activity by 2030 so fewer Americans experience diet-related diseases—all while reducing health disparities." Underneath that banner, Biden Admin strategy is built on 5 pillars: 1) "improving food access and affordability"; 2) "integrating nutrition and health"; 3) "empowering all consumers to make and have access to healthy choices"; 4) "supporting physical activity for all"; and 5) "enhancing nutrition and food security research."

For 2d time in a month, Reyes Beer Division has announced blockbuster deal to acquire a Molson Coors distrib in one of hottest mkts in the country. This time, it will buy Capitol Wright Distributing in Austin, over 16 mil cases. Austin deal comes just 1 mo after RBD announced deal to acquire near 10 mil cases in Nashville, Tenn. Capitol Wright deal announced to employees this morn and expected to close in Dec. Distrib has 600 employees, per its website. These 2 deals will add near 26 mil cases to RBD total, meaning that with these 2 deals alone, it will acquire more than total volume of all but the biggest 5 or so MC distribs. On NA side, Capitol Wright portfolio includes likes of Black Rifle Coffee, Sparkling Ice, Liquid Death, Calypso, Jarritos, Waterloo, SueroX, Aquahydrate, Chameleon Cold-Brew and Congo (Alani), site indicates, along with likes of BioSteel and Zoa Energy that are aligned with its core beer suppliers, site shows.

Red Bull's energetic and charismatic founder Dietrich Mateschitz is being widely reported over past 24 hours to be in failing health, and some contacts at NACS Show said they believe he may have passed away in recent days. No confirmation could be had of that, and news reports on endemic sites like GrandPrix247.com only have been stating that 78-year-old is "seriously ill." Exit of passionate proponent of energizer could have major implications, given that it doesn't seem family members have an interest in continuing to operate pioneering brand.

Coca-Cola yesterday formally pulled back the curtain on its long-awaited foray into RTD coffee under its acquired Costa Coffee banner, sampling trio of 11-oz slim can offerings that will be breaking at Sprouts chain on Dec 1, then rolling out more broadly early in 2023. There were coupla counterintuitive aspects of launch that had been teased to us a day earlier (BBI, Oct 3). For one, the entries herald their defining style - Flat White - more dominantly than the Costa brand name itself, riffing off the style identified with Costa café chain in its native UK market. "Flat White by Costa Coffee" technically is how the brand is presented on front panel. But style associated with Aussie roasters has proved compelling draw in Europe and has dynamic sound.