Tough time for the industry hasn't passed, but a couple of smaller suppliers are finding their way. Out of its RI homebase, Narragansett grew depletions 6% overall with each of 4 core brands up, prexy Mark Hellendrung shared. Lead brand 'Gansett Lager led the way, +7%, while Del's Shandy, Fresh Catch session blonde ale and Atlantic Light lager all up yr-to-date thru Jul 6. And it ain't slowing down in recent periods, lapping last yr's shifts, up 7% as a company for the last 4 wks, Mark added. Co's fastest channel is chains, where it's been building its presence, up 20% there YTD. And its draft biz is healthy, too, +9%.

After judge shot down first attempt at a preliminary injunction to block new game-changing interpretation of laws on hemp THC bev potency levels in IA, Climbing Kites (owned by Big Grove Brewing) and Field Day Brewing (Day Dreamer) piled on more filings for 2d shot at blocking the state earlier this wk. New filing leans heavily on the state dept of health and human services' (DHHS') perceived mishandling and lack of guidance on the implementation of its new interpretation of the law, something that the judge even questioned in decision to deny first preliminary injunction. "Iowa corporations are entitled to a fair notice of what conduct is prohibited by law, and no business should be expected to run their operations based on a Google search," Plaintiffs wrote in opening argument. The new per-serving potency limit is "unconstitutionally vague, which has now led to arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement by the Department," in their view.

Molson Coors gave back about half of last yr's gains in 2Q24 scans with sales down ~6%, but Jefferies analyst Kaumil Gajrawala sees potential for MC "to return a majority of its '23 gains over time." So he wrote in report this morn titled "A Rocky Mountain Comp: Recent Gains Are Receding; Estimates Have Room to Fall."

No wonder suppliers, distribs and retailers in Minn and beyond are looking so closely at hemp-derived THC bevs, even with persisting gray areas of the market. Extensive Politico article recently pinned Minn's THC drinks mkt at "nearly $200 million" in just ~2 yrs with 4K licensed retailers (including Total Wine & More), headlining: "Weed drinks are everywhere in Minnesota. Other states are now embracing them."

Botrista, which offers restaurant operators an automated way to make wide range of cold bevs from boba tea to cold-brewed coffee, said it's concluded Series C financing round of undisclosed magnitude that brings the total raised over its 7-yr history to $120 mil. Crunchbase tracker listed round as coming to $65 mil. Lead investor in latest round was Manila-based Jollibee Foods, the fast-growing restaurant group that operator 18 brands in 33 countries, including Smashburger, Jollibee, Rick Bayless' Tortas Frontera and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Botrista, which says its account base comprises restaurants, movie theaters, college campuses and other foodservice clients in 37 states, will deploy some of the new money in AI tech that allows it to develop data-driven menus in synch with preferences of its individual customers' clientele. Based in SF, Botrista is led by ex-Tesla engineer Sean Hsu as CEO.

"Most retailers (67%) are noticing a slowdown in the energy drink category recently," reported Goldman Sachs' Bonnie Herzog based on her Q2 Beverage Bytes survey of c-store retailers. (Bev Bytes reps ~30K retail locations or ~20% of c-store channel.) That's up from 45% of retailers who noted a slowdown in the Memorial Day Bev Bytes survey (BBI, May 31). Reasons behind slowdown vary from tougher comps as category outperformed for several yrs, and an overall slowing of consumers' purchases as they face higher prices at retail. On the plus side, a majority of 71% indicated energy drink sales have accelerated since Mem Day holiday.

Recently announced move by Danish megabrewer Carlsberg to acquire UK's Britvic soft drink co - and thereby add UK to list of markets where it distributes PepsiCo items - has been prompting some speculation about potential countermoves by Coca-Cola to ease away from its partnership with Carlsberg in other markets, most likely in favor of Coca-Cola European Partners. Recall that Carlsberg/Britvic deal was eased by PEP's willingness to waive contractual chance to exit Britvic upon change of control, in view that Carlsberg has been strong partner in markets they already work (BBI, Jul 8). In announcing deal, partners noted that it would make Carlsberg Pepsi's largest partner in Europe and expressed desire to further expand that collaboration geographically. But Carlsberg is Coke's partner in other markets, and that's now prompting the question, as Consumer Edge Research's Brett Cooper put it, "Will Coca-Cola continue to allow Carlsberg to bottle its brands in 2 markets as Carlsberg has the clear intention of becoming a larger Pepsi bottler?" True, Carlsberg has said that it has years left on its KO bottling rights, "but we have seen Coke negotiate exits, whether that be with Anheuser-Busch InBev in Africa or in Germany (and elsewhere) - so movement may happen before the end of the current term," as Brett theorizes. Like others we've heard from the past coupla weeks, he views CCEP as most likely candidate to pick up the Carlsberg markets should KO decide to make a break with Carlsberg.

A mother for past 3 years, actress Sasha Peiterse had found that "alcohol is not practical for my life any more - but I love to socialize," as she explained to us in recent interview. "This is the fix." She was referring to no-compromises solution, a canned D9 elixir called Hippie Water that she launched with her husband and two friends in past week at event at Jon Bon Jovi's new bar in Nashville, JBJ's. "This was a very diverse age sample, ages from 21-50s," her husband, the actor Hudson Sheaffer, reported to us as the July 4 weekend approached. "Incredible responses and over 300 hundred cans consumed at the event in 5 hours."