It turns out my daughter and her friends are fans of “crispy” Diet Coke. And there is ritual around the drink. First, a Diet Coke goes into the freezer to get near the tipping point to ice. Next, ice is added to a reusable cup. On top of the ice goes a sachet of...
I’m excited to announce Dec. 16 as the date for our 2024 Future Smarts conference in New York City.
This event is likely to reach a pre-pandemic attendance level this year, so we’re hosting at Convene on Manhattan’s West 46th Street. The venue is around the corner from Times Square and the theater district, so go ahead and grab those Broadway tickets!
Part of what we love about this roomy venue are the amenities that make life easier for conference attendees — power at every table in the presentation room, private phone pods to steal away for important calls, and small conference rooms useful for sideline meetings.
During the event, networking will be centered as usual around our popular and energetic sampling expo. The night before the event, we’ll host a welcome reception for speakers and attendees with food and an open bar to make connecting easy and fun.
Most importantly, we’re already making plans for another high-level slate of speakers and panelists from major companies including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Keurig Dr Pepper, as well as from successful emerging brands. We’ll also hear from key beverage bottlers, retailers, and Wall Street analysts.
Conference attendees say they find great value in our special trend panels. Last year, we hosted a panel that took us behind the scenes and into the mechanics of the creator economy. Two years ago, a panel of Gen Z consumers gave us an unvarnished look at how they view the world. We’ll assemble another compelling panel this year to illuminate a critical and emerging corner of the beverage landscape.
More details will be released soon. Until then, make sure to save the date for Future Smarts 2024 on Dec. 16. The team here at Beverage Digest can’t wait to see you.
Last week, I was a panelist for a National Beer Wholesalers Association webinar about non-alcoholic beverages. As you know, there’s tremendous crossover between the alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage sectors. Each wants to supplement its distribution network with products from the other, especially as sales volumes decline for massive legacy categories such as light lagers and colas.
The discussion began with a chart depicting the entire US packaged beverage landscape at retail by category market share. I included the chart on page 7 with permission from...
I spoke to NPR’s Morning Edition last week for a story on a no-alcohol cocktail bar in Los Angeles. The reporter wanted to know about the drinking trends that spurred someone to open a bar without booze. A few of the points I made:
— Alcohol consumption among young legal drinking age consumers is...
On a recent trip to San Diego, I popped into a cannabis dispensary to look at the beverages. I was surprised by the choices, including Pabst Blue Ribbon High Seltzer. The non-alcoholic fizzy drink comes in six fruit flavors. Each 12-oz slim can contains at least 10mg of THC, the psychoactive component in marijuana. A $5 can is...
I’m taking a break from alcohol as I work to get in better shape. It’s been more than a month. Not drinking is easy. Not drinking while socializing is hard.
I took for granted the extent to which responsible social drinking is as much about ritual as intoxication. Everything from trying a new porter to experimenting with Old Fashioned recipes is fun. Doing it with people you love or laugh with is even better.
As I’ve written before, there are barriers to the adoption of non-alcoholic versions of alcoholic drinks. The functionality of alcohol as a social lubricant, as well as alcohol’s ability to lessen inhibition, are built-in mechanisms that drive consumption rates and make premium pricing palatable. Non-alcoholic replacements for booze don’t share those advantages.
Now, I find myself — like so many other consumers — not wanting to...
We just announced the finalists for our 2023 Beverage Digest Awards. Winners in 13 drink categories will be named at Future Smarts in New York on Dec. 11.
There are a few trends worth noting from this year’s roster of finalists:
— A range of teas came to the forefront. Vying for Best Premium Drink is a Blue Tea Jasmine variant from Rishi’s line of Sparkling Botanicals, as well as a Cold Brew Tea from...
We’ve decided to go deeper into the world of influencer marketing during our Future Smarts conference next month. Influencer firm CreatorIQ, prebiotic soda brand Poppi, and TikTok style influencer Preston Konrad will sit for what I am sure will be a captivating panel discussion. Look for ...
I’m happy to announce an addition to our Future Smarts conference on Dec. 11. Ghost Lifestyle Co-founder and CEO Dan Lourenco will join us to discuss ready-to-drink Ghost Energy, launched in 2020. The brand has made a splash with its candy company partnerships and Anheuser-Busch JV. We’ll talk about making inroads in a competitive category dominated by Monster Energy and Red Bull.
I’ll ask Coca-Cola North America President Jennifer Mann about her plan to accelerate total beverage growth at Coke’s largest global operating unit at a time when market conditions demand both precision and agility.
PepsiCo North America Beverages Chief Supply Chain Officer Karen Jordan will discuss lessons learned from one of the worst global supply chain disruptions of the past century.
Keurig Dr Pepper Chief Strategy Officer Justin Whitmore will shed light on how partnerships with Electrolit, Nutrabolt, and Athletic Brewing will help maximize growth and value.
Next, I’ll ask our Wall Street analyst panel for views on how consumer sentiment affects beverage company pricing and volume strategies.
Melody Richard, SVP for U.S. Pantry at Walmart, will illuminate both sides of the supplier-customer partnership in a discussion covering key consumer, retail, and beverage category trends.
Then I’ll ask Coca-Cola Consolidated President and COO Dave Katz about the critical role innovation plays for the beverage bottler.
Buffalo Rock President & CEO Matthew Dent will talk about the importance of efficiency in a modern manufacturing and distribution environment.
And Paul Pisano, SVP of industry affairs and general counsel for the National Beer Wholesalers Association, will help make sense of the emerging crossover between two massive beverage sectors – alcohol and non-alcohol.
Concern over the potential negative impact to food and beverage sales from obesity medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy is overblown.
This summer, Morgan Stanley rightfully dug into whether the rapidly growing use of diabetes drugs for weight loss would dampen food and beverage sales in a country racked with obesity. Analysts at the firm estimate a -2.0% to -3.0% decline in carbonated soft drink and snack consumption in 2035 driven by the drugs. Other firms...