Ready-to-drink alc bevs remain one of the industry's key growth engines, and the inaugural RTD Report gives you all the info you need to keep pace with this rapidly developing segment. Dive deep into exclusive data compiled for the first time by Beer Marketer's Insights, including all-channel RTD volume estimates from 2019-2023 across beer, wine & spirits.

The unprecedented new process for developing alcohol recommendations for the next edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans remains a top-priority policy issue for industry trade associations. Now you can catch up on the exclusive, in-depth coverage of the process from sibling pub Alcohol Issues INSIGHTS in this special edition, compiling all of the newsletter's DGA coverage from the last few mos.

Long, stinging piece in Bloomberg on eve of ABI results, details how Bud Light not making much of a comeback, despite AB efforts. It begins at the Green Rock Tap and Grill in Hoboken, NJ, which in 2022 sold $250K of "what was then America's best-selling beer…. But its Bud Light business has collapsed, tallying just $37,000 so far this year." AB has "plowed millions into marketing [Bud Light], including TV ads starring Peyton Manning and a sponsorship deal with UFC, but it's still losing ground," sez Bloomberg citing distribs, bar owners, industry experts and data. Now it's slipped to 3d place by $$ behind Ultra, which is getting more focus and attention.

Following a multi-agency pitch that started in May, Constellation Brands chose a new ad agency, GSD&M, based in Austin, TX "as the lead creative agency" for Corona Extra, reported AdAge. MullenLowe handled the account since 2019, enlisted Snoop Dogg starting in 2020 for the "La Vida Mas Fina Campaign," then brought in actor Pedro Pascal as its new ambassador this yr.

Diageo, Heineken and Tilray already reported this week and ABI is tomorrow, so no surprise, investment analysts are opining all over the place. So far, Diageo got especially rough treatment. Bernstein's Trevor Stirling headlined: "Further to Fall," Jeffries' Ed Mundy slightly more optimistic note entitled: "Bumping Along the Bottom." FT's Lex column headlined: "Diageo's lack of clarity hard to swallow." There "was an almost total lack of clarity about when conditions might improve," Lex said. "The big worry now is the US," Lex emphasized, as did others.

As parent co Heineken reported first half 2024 results yesterday, there was no mention of Lagunitas once again. That's even as Lagunitas shared plans to close its Chicago brewery during the qtr, expecting all production to shift to base brewery in Petaluma, Calif, by Aug. Notably, Heineken's "global leader in 0.0" slide for its earnings presentation didn't depict Lagunitas as one of its core non-alc brands. Further indication that Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher sales are cooling off just 1.5 yrs after global earnings release touted that brand as "an adult beverage proposition of hop-infused sparkling water that can compete with carbonated soft drinks." Lagunitas sales in US scans declined 6% by $$, 10% by volume YTD thru Jul 14 in Circana multi-outlet + convenience data.

Vita Coco continued its steady growth in US and Europe in Q2 tho apparent price gouging efforts by ocean freight carriers has led to inventory shortages that could take a bite out of current qtr and Q4. Net sales grew 3% to $144 million on 4% growth of branded coconut water. Mind you, that was cycling 23% growth a year earlier, as cofounder/chmn Mike Kirban reminded listeners on call this morning. Gross margin widened to 41% from 37% a year earlier. Operating income soared 43.8% to $30 mil. COCO concluded period with $150 mil in cash on the books, up from $133 mil at conclusion of prior qtr, and no debt.