An unlikely alliance between health food enthusiasts and the libertarian Right has been successfully pushing for state-level legislation that eliminates bans on the sale of raw milk as influencers like Gyneth Paltrow and rightwing culture warriors question the need for pasteurization.

Levo, the healthier soda launched by Coke and Bang vet Joey Nickell, has made its anticipated entry into Kroger chain, which has picked up all 5 flavors plus Cosmic Punch as an exclusive. All the entries - including Cotton Candy, Splice, Root Beer Float, Orange Creamsicle and Voodoo Cola - contain 5 g of dietary fiber, 5 g of cane sugar (30 calories) per 12-oz can. The onboarding is no surprise considering that Kroger assisted Kentucky-based co in development of Levo, which also will ride its same-day grocery distribution service, Oscado, to areas where grocer doesn't operate physical stores . . . Alc-alternative brand Little Saints has gotten 4-pks of its Paloma, Spicy Margarita and Negroni flavors into all 400 Sprouts stores, in time for Dry July, a departure for brand that to date has been 95% DTC . . . Bored Cow precision-fermented milk brand has gotten 4-pks of its Original and Chocolate flavors into Safeway stores . . . Lemon Perfect hydration brand has gotten its Original Lemon, Dragon Fruit Mango and Peach Raspberry flavors into all Juice Press locations.

Co based in Island Park, Long Island, is offering a fresh take on soda via unusual flavor array like Date Cola and Sparkling Jalapeno Lemonade. Dubbed Fresh Fizz, with homespun graphics adorning conventional 12-oz cans, the line makes a credo of using organic ingredients, honey or date syrup as sweeteners, "only real ingredients," said prexy Yoni Schwartz, who runs co with his wife Rebecca Schwartz as sales vp. Also in mix are Sparkling Mint Lemonade and Hibiscus Ginger Ale, all containing 15 g of sugar and coming in at 60 calories. SRP is $2.99. Date Cola offers intriguing take on staple cola style - tho since founders couldn't find organic kola nuts, those are actually not included in recipe. The ingredient list includes chicory, orange peel, allspice and star anise. "Taste real," sell sheet proclaims. Funded by friends & family so far, the line has made it into Erewhon and Jimbo's chains out west and Gristedes, Fresh Thyme and Mom's Organic Market chains out east. So far its route to retail is via broadliners UNFI and KeHe, along with redistributor Pod Foods and ordering platform Faire.

At BevNet Live a few weeks ago, Boisson founder Nick Bodkin offered vague description of effort to get co back on track after it abruptly shuttered all its stores (BBI, Jun 14). Now co has identified other members of new leadership team: Arie Gurevitch, a Republic National spirits-distribution vet who now runs ecomm specialists Studio Beverage Group, and Tripp Rea, who comes from outside bevs but steps in as COO. Nick serves as chief brand officer. It's not clear what title Gurevitch is taking. From co announcement, it doesn't seem that the retail stores are imminently returning. Rather, new team will be "focusing primarily on e-commerce, wholesale import and distribution, and category development within the non-alcoholic and functional beverage space." It added: "While this process proceeds through the courts, we will release more information as it becomes available" . . . Sam Wilson, the Red Bull vet who went on to key roles at likes of Clean Cause, Bang and Congo Brands (Prime/Alani Nu) over his 26 years in bev biz, says it's time for him to bet on himself. So he's opening consultancy under the name BETR Brand Solutions, which offers advice on range of issues spanning concept development and R&D to distribution & logistics and regulatory compliance, as newly live website informs. Sam began his journey in bevs at age 20 at Gallo.

Another celeb has joined the coffee rat race. This time it's Mark Wahlberg - whose earlier bev involvement was prolonged run with Aquahydrate alkaline water - joining forces with Cole Hauser's western-themed Free Rein Coffee. Hauser, who plays Rip in Yellowstone, launched brand out of San Angelo, Tex, last year in partnership with local roasters the Decker family as an "honest, American coffee that's smooth but full of flavor," in line that by now has extended to 8 blends including signature American Dirt. Some proceeds go to supporting veterans' causes via rubric "Serve those who serve." So Free Rein is plying similar space to likes of Black Rifle and Fire Dept coffee marques. Wahlberg is in as proverbial investor/ambassador; recall that for a while he avidly worked Aquahydrate brand alongside Diddy, even doing retailer pitches, before investors tired of making outlays and effort sputtered out. Earlier this year Free Rein picked up prominent role at fast-growing HTeaO tea chain (BBI, Jan 16).

We are pleased to announce our 30th Annual Beer Insights Seminar in New York City, with a reception on Sunday evening Nov 17 and program all day Monday, November 18. The Seminar will take place at the Harmonie Club, one of NYC's most-storied private clubs founded in 1852. Fittingly for our 30th anniversary, we will bring you a fantastic program.

An investment group chaired by the CEO of a local software company now owns a controlling interest in the Canton, Ohio-based Royal Docks Brewing. The British-themed biz announced the move on Fri, with plans to use its new investment to open a 3rd taproom in late July or early Aug in Cleveland's Ohio City nabe, aiming to open 5 locations in total, The Canton Rep reports. Founded in 2015, Royal Docks currently operates 2 taprooms in Canton along with a production brewery in nearby Massillon, OH. It produced ~3K bbls in 2023, according to Brewers Assn estimates.

Yonder Cider's latest taproom is slated to open right up the road from its production facility. Dubbed "Yonder East" and expected to open in Aug, the outpost is coming to town of Cashmere in Eastern Wash, just a few miles from its home base in Wenatchee. Yonder already operates a separate taproom in Seattle, shared with Bale Breaker Brewing Co and located in Ballard's Brewing District. (Yonder West, of course.) Its original "Yonder Bar" opened in Aug 2020 in Seattle during the pandemic but subsequently closed.

Angry Orchard's former head cider maker Ryan Burk is joining Blake's Beverage Co, where he'll spearhead new product development across the cider conglomerate. As VP of quality & innovation, Ryan will "play a crucial role in driving innovation, maintaining the highest standards of quality, and fostering continuous improvement" for Blake's brands, according to a company announcement.