This week in 1999, speaking at Insights' Consolidation Conference, NBWA chmn Don Klopcic said distrib consolidation lessens political clout. He cited Natl Soft Drink Assn and Wine & Spirits Assn, which suffered big drops in numbers due to consolidation. It's "not coincidental" neither org ranks among Fortune mag's "Power List" in DC, said Don. Meanwhile, NBWA was ranked #24 out of 2K assns. It's "difficult to lobby" Congress or Senate if you don't live in district, said Don. Outsiders "not taken seriously." He noted NBWA was building financial safeguards (raised dues from $10K to $15K to make up for losing 3% of members each yr); was adding assn members, working closer with suppliers and pounding education efforts. Another key: distribs gotta "drill down further into wholesaler member operations" and get gen mgrs, salespeople, drivers, etc politically involved. NBWA had room for growth too he pointed out, given 738 out of 2500 beer distribs didn't belong and 47% didn't donate to PAC.

"The great opportunity no one is talking about is the on-premise," said NBWA chief economist Lester Jones in brief presentation at Encompass meeting in Denver last week. Other panelists/speakers at that conference agreed. Two of 3 new accounts that are opening now are on-premise, according to Lester. What's more, total restaurant sales are projected to be up 5.4% to $1.1 trillion, according to the Natl Restaurant Association. That's a new record. And avg household spent nearly 53% of its food budget away from home last yr, up 10 points from 20 yrs earlier, according to a Wall St Jnl article earlier this week, citing US Agriculture Dept. Restaurants are the "unlikely new real estate darling," headlined WSJ. They've come a long way back in a few short years after so many shut their doors during the pandemic. But even if more $$ going to restaurants, are consumers spending more on alcohol? Maybe they're spending more dining out, but drinking less.

One state legislature and another state regulator are among the latest to attempt to get fast-moving innovations in intoxicating bevs under control. In Michigan, a bill pending in the state senate follows other state attempts to restrict retailer merchandising of alcoholic crossovers of non-alc bev brands, according to a local CBS affiliate in Northern Mich. Nearby Illinois followed Virginia in taking similar action, following vocal complaints, largely centered around Hard Mtn Dew. Tho that brand not mentioned in this article (which cited "Coke, Sunny D or AriZona Iced Tea" instead), the piece does reference the infamous image of it being stocked "even next to matchbox cars in a display, which obviously is frankly despicable," as Mich Beer & Wine Wholesalers Assn's Brett Visney said. Bill is still being considered by committee, where some legislators expressed concerns about the proposal's potential impacts on small-footprint retailers.

Explorer, the "caffeine conscious" cold-brew concentrate launched during pandemic by stuck-at-home outdoor adventurer named Cason Crane in Brooklyn, has entered RTD segment with 12-oz canned line that he unveiled during Showdown competition at BevNet Live conference in NY this afternoon. Most unusual in lineup is The Daydreamer, 99.9% caffeine-free entry made using Swiss Water process from specialty-grade Peruvian beans. Also in mix is The Seeker Half Caf made with Peruvian and Ethiopian beans and containing 65 mg of caffeine. Rounding out line is The Classic, from Ethiopian beans and coming in at 180 mg of caffeine. They all go out at $3.99 per can.

Inflation showed surprising signs of cooling in May, consumer price index remaining flat over prior month, +3.3% for past 12 mos, Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. That was deceleration from April's 0.3% month-over-month increase and 3.4% annual gain. Both measures came in lower than economist expectations, Yahoo Finance reported. It was lowest monthly headline reading since Jul 2022.

Nixie, which like other marketers of flavored sparkling waters has positioned its line as guilt-free alternative to soda, has now made overt move into CSD category. Today it unveiled trio of Zero Sugar Sodas packed in conventional 12-oz cans, like the core line, and offered in Classic Cola, Root Beer and Ginger Ale flavors. It employs organic flavors and extracts, in keeping with credo of core brand, and foregoes any artificial sweeteners. Sample cans encountered at BevNet Live conference in NY today indicated that Stevia is sweetener. Launch partner is Sprouts Farmers Market but more stores will be coming aboard as summer proceeds, founder/CEO Nicole Dawes, who earlier created and exited organic Late July snack brand, posted today. "The R&D for this new line was the most challenging in my 30-year career," she acknowledged.