Massive shifts among top suppliers in 2023 led to some eye-popping swings at regional and state levels. AB declined double-digits in every region and nearly every state across the US among 42 reporting states, including extra steep drops in Northeast, Southeast, PacNW and Mountain regions as co sold off Shock Top, Blue Point, 10 Barrel, Widmer, Redhook, Breckenridge and Square Mile Cider to Tilray. (Editor's note: tho Tilray & AB didn't close deal until Oct 2023, this analysis looks at AB volume without sold-off brands for full-yr 2023.) State stats further illustrate AB's fall from dominance to non-dominance in many parts of the country. But it simultaneously demonstrates AB's behemoth size in most mkts even while posting the biggest decline in modern US brewing history.

Two industry forces who built billion-dollar (plus) distribution bizzes over decades will leave the industry: John Nau and Jerry Sheehan. After selling Silver Eagle in Houston 5 yrs ago for $1.1 bil to Redwood Capital, owner John Nau will sell 15+ mil-case San Antonio operation to SunKey Bevs for around $600 mil and a mid-to high teens EBITDA multiple, sources say. The $1.7 bil or so received for 2 Silver Eagle distribs (tho yrs apart) likely represents a record haul for a beer distrib. Deal expected to close at the end of the month. Silver Eagle also sells Constellation, Mark Anthony and more.

Front-pager in NY Times yesterday offered another strong use case for energy drinks: staying alert during combat versus megalomaniacal dictator who's invaded your country without any pretext. "When you have to walk three, four or seven kilometers. And you're carrying 40 kilograms of gear. And you're covered in sweat. And you haven't eaten much or slept in three days. If you don't drink this stuff, where are you going to get the energy for that final push?" asks Ukrainian soldier on recon duty vs Russians who goes by call sign Psycho. That's spelled biz opportunity, for brands made both inside and outside of Ukraine. "Depleted and exhausted, frontline troops are hooked on a growing constellation of highly caffeinated, shrewdly marketed energy drinks, some specially made for this war," story reports. "Sales are surging. Energy drinks have become one of the few bright spots in the Ukrainian economy. New varieties and crazy flavors keep appearing — cotton candy, cactus, even cannabis — with names like Jungle, Boost and Stalker." Never mind piles of empty cans next to recycling bins at Coachella, in Ukraine you see "crushed empties piled in trenches next to dead Russians."

Beverage Works, longtime Red Bull distributor that got terminated without cause several weeks ago, has been closing down its extensive operations in NY/NJ metro, informing NY State authorities that it's laying off 166 workers across warehouse locations in Brooklyn, Peekskill and E Farmingdale, Long Island, per local outlets like Newsday and LI Biz News. Bev Works, recall, had distributed Red Bull for 24 years, serving extensive base of off-premise accts while Manhattan Beer handled the on-premise. Red Bull North America, meanwhile, is gearing up to self-distribute in territory, leasing 50K-sq-ft of warehouse space at newly built Bristol Logistics Center in Commack, LI outlet said, citing real estate sources. It's advertising job openings on employment websites for warehouse workers and drivers there. It's not clear what status is of Bev Works' 2 NJ locations but ex-distributor has been contesting termination (BBI, May 2). It may be because of the litigation that Bev Works principals haven't commented to media so far . . . Barcode, the minimally branded hydration brand launched by former Knicks trainer Mubarak Malik (the "Bar" in the brand name), has entered CVS Pharmacy chain on national basis. (Malik is on agenda at upcoming BevNet Live conference later this week.) . . . Rep's response came too late for our initial story on launch of Mas+ by Messi sports drink in collab with Mark Anthony Brands, but she's informed us that South Florida retail accts will be served by DSD network of marketer of White Claw and Mike's Hard brands. It's not clear from response whether 2 key launch accts, Walmart and Publix, will avail themselves of DSD distribution, tho.

Hoist hydration brand has amicably parted ways with its CEO of past two and a half years, Kevin Klock, as it seeks new tranche of funding and aims to recruit lower-level marketing expert who can leverage brand's strong base among the military to bolster awareness on retail side. Klock, of course, was key figure during massive ignition of Sparkling Ice brand during his Talking Rain days.

Pronghorn, which has been making investments in alc brands operated by Black entrepreneurs, has made its first overt move into NA realm by taking stake of unspecified magnitude in Mocktail Club. The move aligns Pronghorn with Pauline Idogho, an immigrant from Nigeria and then UK who left banking roles to launch Mocktail Club and has become highly visible proselytizer for new generation of alc-alternatives, including from her perch at Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverage Assn. Founded by spirits vets Dia Simms, Erin Harris and Dan Sanborn, Pronghorn is backed by Diageo, which has committed as much as $200 mil to fund, assuming it continues to meet key milestones over the decade. Its portfolio includes alc brands like Abisola Whiskey, Anteel Tequila, Den of Thieves Whiskey, Los Hermanos Tequila and Hella Cocktail, which plays on both alc and NA sides. "Pronghorn's mission is simple: to create a template to diversify any industry," per Simms. "We recognize that the non-alcoholic sector is growing at an incredibly fast pace, which is why we are thrilled to support a Black woman-owned brand like Mocktail Club that is set to disrupt the non-alcoholic sector through its distinct flavors." Those flavors offer exotic but non-alc riffs on cocktail classics like Manhattan Berry, Havana Twist, Capri Spritz and Bombay Fire.

Monster Beverage apparently means it when it says it intends to revive its one-time nemesis Bang Energy, which fell into its hands following pair of crucial legal losses and ensuing bankruptcy. MNST is claiming new tie with streaming/content creator supergroup Any Means Possible is the largest brand partnership in brand's decade-old history. Collab was soft-launched at charity soccer match in London last weekend that drew capacity crowd of 25,000 live fans along with millions of online viewers, with partners setting sights on NY soon via AMP NYC Penthouse the group teased a few days ago to its collective 80 mil followers. Special editions and other activations are in the pipeline. "Been cooking some crazy ideas, just needed the right partner!!" per Instagram post. With an apparent assist from Shaun Neff, the deal augments earlier tie forged to Bang under its owner Jack Owoc, but on a bigger scale. "We always have these big ideas, and we're excited that Bang wants to help make them possible," Kai Cenat, one of group's 6 members, said in statement. Another member, Agent 00, added, "Half the group's first brand deals were with Bang, so this feels like a full circle moment for us."

Major beer orgs and smaller guilds remained busy at state houses thru early part of the 2024, further expanding privileges for small brewers in some states, while blocking perceived threats elsewhere. Delaware and Kansas became the latest states to allow a small amount of self-distribution by in-state breweries, the Brewers Assn shared on Fri. In DE, brewers under 6 mil bbls per yr can distribute to retailers up to 1,500 bbls on their own, according to a ruling signed by top state regulator at the start of the mo. Breweries must apply for authorization and submit reports about how much and to whom they "self-deliver," as the ruling describes it.