The distribution momentum for Silly Juice has been rapid, with the brand accelerating from a small-scale sampling relationship with Albertsons to doubling their order in just two weeks to become available at locations across the west coast. Following tremendous reception for Silly Juice’s direct-to-consumer website launch in August, the brand sold out within four hours of its release. Silly Juice’s quick distribution expansion is a testament to the strong interest from shoppers for its high-quality flavor innovation.

“We’re so excited to bring Silly Juice’s twists on classic flavors to grocery store shelves across the west coast, and meet the consumer’s demand to get their hands on our unique varieties,” said Keith Davis, CEO and Co-Founder of Silly Juice. “Expanding to in-store retail for the first time through these meaningful partnerships is the next step in bringing the Silly Juice experience to families across the country, and delivering a burst of mouthwatering flavor that reminds them to take a break in their days and get a little silly.”

Silly Juice was co-founded by CEO and entrepreneur, Keith Davis and YouTube stars, The Ace Family, to start a revolution in the juice category. During a period when consumers are spending more time at home than ever before, Silly Juice brings creative flavor combinations to the forefront of their grocery aisles to make the whole family’s taste buds dance.

Silly Juice is available in six fun-filled varieties, including Cool Blue Freeze, Orange Cream, Pink Strawberry Swirl, Red Apple Cherry Blossom, Watermelon Fruit Punch, and White Grape Burst. Made with real juice and no high fructose corn syrup, Silly Juice is non-GMO, gluten-free, low in sodium, and contains no added colors.

Silly Juice is available at select Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions, and Safeway stores for $1.59/10 fl. oz. bottle. To find a retailer near you, please visit the store locator. Silly Juice is also available direct-to-consumer at the brand’s online store for $15.95/12-pack.

Source: Silly Brands Inc.

A completely natural spirit with rose, ripe raspberry and cherry aromas, Lanique can be served simply with tonic, added to fizz or used to create a rosy twist to a classic cocktail.

Enjoyed for over 200 years, Lanique was first created in 1785 in the Kingdom of Prussia and imbibed by European aristocracy. It remained a firm favourite throughout the 1800s, up until it disappeared during the second World War, when trade routes were blocked, and the availability of fresh rose petals dried up. Following years of work, it was eventually rediscovered by dedicated artisans and distilled and relaunched in the UK in 2015, using the original recipe.

John Vine, Spirits Buyer at Waitrose, says: “We are always looking for exciting new spirit brands and products for our customers, and we are thrilled to be the first supermarket to launch Lanique in the UK. We have seen a huge trend in customers experimenting and trying out new drinks and products, and we think the subtle rose flavour and raspberry flavours of Lanique will definitely appeal to those looking for the next cocktail trend.”

Lawrence Huggler, Director at Lanique Spirit of Rose, says: “We are delighted to have secured our first listing with Waitrose and to be able to introduce Lanique on a national scale to the UK market. We are confident Lanique’s unique and versatile offering will be a success and look forward to providing Waitrose customers with the chance to discover its distinctive flavours and rich heritage.”

Source: Lanique

Sitting inside Dotonbori ZERO GATE, a vibrant and bustling shopping complex in central Osaka, the new outlet invites customers to relax and enjoy some of its award-winning tea drinks and soft-euro bakes within a welcoming and beautifully designed store environment.

“As a brand dedicated to becoming the innovator and promoter of the tea culture, we wish to deliver an exceptional experience for the local residents, one that reflects our passion for creating unique tea-based drinks for tea lovers worldwide,” said Peng Xin, Founder of Nayuki.

The new store covers 200 square meters and creates an inviting space for tea lovers to unwind and sip on its popular drinks which combine traditional and modern elements. The design of the store features special details to match Japan’s modern culture while retaining its classic interior space brightly adorned by the stylish ceiling lightings designed by world-class designers, as well as other creative elements that give fresh life to the lounge areas.

Nayuki will bring customers in Japan a wide range of tea drinks from its classic delicacy “Supreme Cheese Fruit Tea” to the summer favorites such as cold brew tea series. Expertly handcrafted by the tea baristas trained by the professional Nayuki team, each tea features a rich and unique flavor that is blended with a natural hint of fruity sweetness and lingering floral aroma.

Alongside its cream-topped fruit teas, the store will also bring its exquisite “soft-euro bakes” beloved by the Chinese customers to Japan. Nayuki soft-euro bakes are made based on the baking method of low oil and sugar while delivering well-balanced mouthfeel and nutrition. Customers in Japan can now enjoy Nayuki’s signature “fruit tea and soft euro bread pairing” concept featuring the famous Supreme Cheese Strawberry tea and Strawberry fresh cream bread combo.

The high-quality and efficient supply chain is Nayuki’s secret in delivering premium tea drinks. The company has formed multiple partnerships to establish orchards and tea fields where raw materials are cultivated under strict standards from cultivation to processing. To offer the best taste to customers, Nayuki’s team visit prominent tea-growing regions around the world to select premium tea leaves and fruits.

“At Nayuki, we are not only producing a product but an all-around experience with which our customers can immerse into the tea culture with new-style tea drinks made possible by the modern techniques and traditional concepts of tea,” Peng Xin explained.

Source: Nayuki

Rowdy Mermaid Kombucha, a beverage company producing crisp and refreshing, function-forward kombucha, today announced national availability of Rowdy Mermaid Kombucha products at Sprouts Farmers Market, one of the fastest-growing natural food retailers in the country. Rollout to 348 stores is scheduled to be complete in early June, including placement in the grab-and-go sets of all stores.

Sprouts Farmers Market has made healthy living accessible to shoppers for nearly two decades by offering affordable, fresh, natural and organic products. Rooted in farmers market heritage, Sprouts is known for pioneering an innovative grocery model that offers a unique assortment of healthier products with special attributes, such as plant-based, gluten-free, keto-friendly and grass-fed, to meet the growing and diverse needs of today’s consumer.

“Sprouts has done an exceptional job of establishing themselves as an approachable leader in healthy living, reaching a demographic of shoppers who seek natural products at true value,” said Melissa Hauser, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Rowdy Mermaid Kombucha. “We are grateful and thrilled about this new partnership with Sprouts, and excited to join them on their mission.”

Rowdy Mermaid recently completed its second and final tranche of its Series A investment, bringing total gross proceeds to $7 million. With projected triple-digit sales growth in 2020, the brand will continue to support national retail expansion.

The company’s newest flavor, Watermelon Bloom, in addition to other favorites like Lion’s Root, Savory Peach, Strawberry Tonic, and Alpine Lavender, will be available in individual, 100% recyclable, 12-ounce cans in June 2020. Additional promotions will be available via the Sprouts mobile coupons app.

Source: Rowdy Mermaid Kombucha

Amber Beverage Group, a leading producer, distributor, logistics provider and retailer of beverages, has partnered with the Espiritus Group to manage its Riga Black Balsam brand. ABG owns several other core brands sold in the United States, including Moskovskaya Vodka, Rooster Rojo tequila, KAH Tequila and Cosmopolitan Diva.

ABG’s Chief Marketing Officer and Managing Director USA and Latin America, Pepijn Janssens, says, “For quite some time now we have seen the sales of Riga Black Balsam grow in the USA, however, we haven’t been able to give it the full support we felt it needed until now. Therefore, it gives me great pleasure to announce our partnership with the team at Espiritus which will definitely allow us to take the brand to the next level in the US.”

Riga Black Balsam’s Global Brand Director, Maris Kalnins, adds, “The US is the largest premium bitter market in the world, showing positive year on year growth for several years in a row. The latest forecasts show that the segment increase will continue growing over the next few years. We know that consumers are ready to pay more for new experiences, for natural products, for products with a great heritage and for mixable brands. Riga Black Balsam represents all of these market and consumer trends in just one original clay bottle; a premium product, crafted from all-natural ingredients that can easily be enjoyed in a number of ways and with a proud heritage of more than 265 years.”

Espiritus Partner and Vice President of Sales, Daniel Olech, says, “We are confident that Riga Black Balsam’s rich history and superb quality presents a unique brand proposition within the liqueur category as one of the oldest and most respected bitter brands in the world.  We are planning on growing the nationwide footprint of the Riga Black Balsam brand over the next two years.”

The Riga Black Balsam line of herbal liqueurs was founded in Latvia, in the Baltics, in 1752 and is its most famous spirit.  Riga Black Balsam is available in over 30 countries; in 2018 the brand was launched in the UK and USA. Also, in the range are Riga Black Balsam XO version, Riga Black Balsam Black Currant, Riga Black Balsam Cherry and Riga Black Balsam Espresso. Riga Black Balsam has won more than 100 awards in international competitions.

Source: Amber Beverage Group

Their partnership aims to deliver the best French rose wines from Provence to wineries, wine shops, restaurants and allow the consumer to enjoy the best juices from the harvest.

Owned by Valerie Rousselle & family, Château Roubine and Château Sainte-Béatrice are known as the wineries of excellence as both vineyards respect the regional winemaking tradition while using the most modern techniques. The specificity of each of them is to grow grapes organically, while working with sustainable and biodynamic agriculture.

The wines are elaborated in the purest respect of nature & environment, soil and biodiversity. The production is limited in order to seek the optimal grape maturity to deliver fantastic wines full of sunshine, delicate tastes and flavors.

These Côtes de Provence wines are found on the finest gastronomic tables and are exported all around the world.

Source: Choteau Roubine

Free Spirits, with the HQ in Tel Aviv, is an innovative independent craft beverage importer and distributor. The founders, industry veterans David Zats and Asaf Ivanir, have assembled together a world-class portfolio of international craft brands such as Ocho Tequila, Mancino Vermouths, G’vine Gin, Tempus Fugit and WhistlePig and a wide selection of premium rums.

Free Spirits’ owners commented: “The cider as a category has all the credentials to tap into the trends towards natural and craft, yet the Israeli cider market remains to be dominated by concentrate based and sugar-filled industrial products. There is a real void for a genuinely high-quality, 100% natural and organic cider offers – and this is exactly why we are so excited to introduce Galipette Cidre to the Israeli consumers.’’

Cider Supply Company’s Ilkka Soini said: ‘’The cider market is gathering momentum in Israel as consumers are getting familiar with the more refreshing alternative to beer. We are excited to partner with Free Spirits and are confident that the Israeli consumers, both female and male, are ready to discover what the real cider, made of 100% pure juice, has to offer.’’

Source: Galipette Cidre

Wine Category Sees Strong Gains Across the Board

Catalina’s shopping data reveals a significant increase in wine sales for the 10-week period beginning Feb. 23 through May 2, 2020 across grocery and drug channels, when sheltering in place became more common vs. the same period a year ago:

• Wine total dollar sales increased by 38%, with unit sales up by 32%
• The number of wine buyers increased by 16%: Dollars spent per wine buyer were up 15% — from $62.74 to $71.94 (for the total 10-week period). Units purchased per wine buyer were up 10% — from 6.3 to 6.9 (for the total 10-week period).
• 46% of wine buyers made a repeat purchase (2+ trips during the 10-week period) vs. 36% a year ago
• In 2020, 45% of trips included purchases of two or more bottles of wine, compared to 36% of trips in 2019: 3+ bottles were purchased this year on 19% of trips, compared to 14% of trips last year; 6+ bottles were purchased this year on 7.3% of trips, compared to 5.8% of trips last year

Many new buyers have entered the category as well, and they are making repeat purchases.

Across alcoholic beverages, wine has seen the greatest overall increase compared to the pre-COVID period:

According to Koupon, as virtual happy hours have become more popular, there has been a clear shift toward C-store visits later in the day, and a corresponding increase in the sales of adult beverages. In the C-store channel, for the same 10-week period vs. year ago:

• Wine total dollar sales were up 9%, beer was up 6%, and spirits up 24%
• 32% of wine buyers were new to the category within c-store, and 17% of these first-time buyers have made a repeat purchase
• For consumers buying both before and during the crisis, wine basket size was up 4%, beer up 11% and spirits up 6%

Wine Industry Perspectives

“During times of crisis, new behaviors and habits emerge for some consumers while others return to the familiar,” said Stephanie Gallo, Chief Marketing Officer, E. & J. Gallo. “The rise of virtual observances – happy hours, baby showers, birthdays and even weddings – means consumers are using technology in new ways while enjoying wine and spirits as a part of their connections. Several of our wineries are now engaging consumers through weekly virtual happy hours with winemakers and cooking demonstrations with chefs.”

Added Jeff Dubiel, Chief Marketing Officer of The Wine Group, “During the initial panic-buy period, the wine category saw the same consumer pantry-loading behaviors as other categories like paper towels and shelf-stable goods. As we have seen with previous crises, the increased purchase and consumption continued to hold following the initial wave of pantry-loading as consumers adapted to sheltering in place. Americans are resilient, and we have seen and heard wine enthusiasts finding inventive news ways, such as virtual happy hours and wine tastings – to enjoy their favorite beverages with friends and family.”

Adapting for a New Normal

For the week ending May 3, convenience store sales have returned to year-over-year growth levels across the majority of in-store categories. As more states begin to reopen and consumers adjust to a new normal, consumer goods producers, including the wine category, will continue to adapt.

“We have seen shifts in consumer behavior where larger indulgences like vacations are being replaced with small moments of joy and reward, such as a nice glass of wine at the end of the day. Consumers are moving toward leading brands that are comfortable and familiar,” said Jeff Dubiel. “The way consumers interact, shop and spend their time has morphed into a more digital experience, so our ability to quickly adjust our engagement during the pandemic has been important. As an example, when the Coachella music festival was postponed, Cupcake Vineyards provided a ‘Couchella’ live stream event – and a chance to win Coachella tickets for the rescheduled event in October.”

Source: Catalina

Following the enactment of the 2018 Farm Bill, the popularity of hemp-based products has skyrocketed in the U.S., with hundreds of new brands coming to market. The Brightfield Group projects that the hemp CBD market will be worth $23 billion by the year 2023, and expects food & beverage products to be the fastest-growing segment of the market.

Consumer preferences are changing; they’re elevating their standards. “Sträva is one of the originals,” notes Aamot. “We introduced CBD coffee to the market in 2016 and we remain true to our passion: roasting amazing coffee and delivering the absolute best CBD coffee available.”

Asked how the industry is evolving, Aamot states, “We’re observing a shift in consumer behavior as hemp products become more available in established retailers – consumers are seeking out traditional products enhanced with hemp cannabinoids rather than the specialized niche products which have characterized the industry for years.” The Brightfield Group concurs, finding that although tinctures have dominated the hemp market in recent years, comprising 25% of the market, their popularity is giving way to more mainstream consumer products.

Through this distribution deal, Sträva and Betterment anticipate the availability of products in over one thousand new retail locations by the end of 2020, with more to come in 2021 and beyond.

Source: Strava Craft Coffee, Inc.

 “Adding KAH to our ever-growing tequila portfolio, reinforcing tequila brands such as Rooster Rojo® and Don Camillo®, allows us to offer a pyramid of solutions in every market. Therefore, we are looking forward to welcoming this award-winning tequila to our brand family,” said Pepijn Janssens, Chief Marketing Officer at Amber Beverage Group.

“We have developed a new bottle for the USA market and plan to launch it during 2020. KAH Tequila will keep paying reverence and honour to Mexico and its people and begins its journey in our own tequila distillery, Fabrica de Tequilas Finos, where each bottle is hand-crafted,” said Pepijn Janssens.

KAH® is an exceptional tequila, presented in unique bottles. Created to honour Mexican people and their traditions, the bottles have an extraordinary beauty that is matched only by the outstanding tequila it contains. The product range features four expressions with each being made from hand-selected 100% Blue Agave and presented in a uniquely decorated bottle: Blanco, Reposado, Añejo and Extra Añejo.

Source: Amber Beverage Group