with Bud Light expanding the hard seltzer category into soda, does that open the market (by, like, normalizing canned booze/soda) for a Jack & Coke RTD or similar (past their current share)?
Also The Dollop episode about the Coors Family is very good.
Man, good question! Given the way things are going, I see no reason why distillers wouldn't leverage their legacy spirits brands into broader/deeper RTD offerings. I don't know that BLS Hard Soda is much of a "green light" for them, though, because a) those firms are already dipping their toes into spirits-based RTDs mixed with soda/cola, b) spirits-based RTDs tend to have less market access than FMBs because most states require them to be sold like liquor (outside the coldbox, not in supermarkets, certain days of the week, etc.) rather than beer, and c) they're still getting taxed like spirits, not beer.
Directionally, I think the convergence of beer/wine/spirits products will continue normalize customer perception/expectation across those categories (think High Noon, which is viewed by drinkers as a trade-up from White Claw et al., even though the former is vodka-based and the latter is malt-based. People just want cool-looking packaging, accessible flavors, and low-calorie liquids that'll get them drunk, be it fermented or distilled.) But the regulatory framework and distribution infrastructure are not going to merge as cleanly as customer tastes, and big firms across the CPG landscape know that better than anyone. They're definitely keeping an eye on one another, but I doubt Brown-Forman saw the BLS Hard Soda press release and was like "Oh hell yeah, baby, OUR TIME IS NOW!"
The mayor of Flavortown also raised over $21 million for restaurant industry workers during pandemic shutdowns, so for as much as I want to dislike those frosted tips, he's a good guy in my book. Great article!
Yeesh! CiderCon is great so far. Headed into the official first day, just caught up with Beth Demmon 🔥 speaking 3 times this year, so it will be busy, but I'll try to get a read on the trends and report back
with Bud Light expanding the hard seltzer category into soda, does that open the market (by, like, normalizing canned booze/soda) for a Jack & Coke RTD or similar (past their current share)?
Also The Dollop episode about the Coors Family is very good.
Oh also, thanks for the tip on The Dollop episode. Will check it out!
Man, good question! Given the way things are going, I see no reason why distillers wouldn't leverage their legacy spirits brands into broader/deeper RTD offerings. I don't know that BLS Hard Soda is much of a "green light" for them, though, because a) those firms are already dipping their toes into spirits-based RTDs mixed with soda/cola, b) spirits-based RTDs tend to have less market access than FMBs because most states require them to be sold like liquor (outside the coldbox, not in supermarkets, certain days of the week, etc.) rather than beer, and c) they're still getting taxed like spirits, not beer.
Directionally, I think the convergence of beer/wine/spirits products will continue normalize customer perception/expectation across those categories (think High Noon, which is viewed by drinkers as a trade-up from White Claw et al., even though the former is vodka-based and the latter is malt-based. People just want cool-looking packaging, accessible flavors, and low-calorie liquids that'll get them drunk, be it fermented or distilled.) But the regulatory framework and distribution infrastructure are not going to merge as cleanly as customer tastes, and big firms across the CPG landscape know that better than anyone. They're definitely keeping an eye on one another, but I doubt Brown-Forman saw the BLS Hard Soda press release and was like "Oh hell yeah, baby, OUR TIME IS NOW!"
The mayor of Flavortown also raised over $21 million for restaurant industry workers during pandemic shutdowns, so for as much as I want to dislike those frosted tips, he's a good guy in my book. Great article!
That's right! The link towards the top of the piece pushes to this 2020 Broke-Ass Stuart essay from Henhouse Brewing's Collin McDonnell that gets into that charitable work: https://brokeassstuart.com/2020/06/22/the-redemption-of-guy-fieri/
But "stan the policy, not the politician" applies here, because as Eater pointed out this past June, Fieri had some kinda-shitty things to say to Kara Swisher about restaurant workers preferring the government dole to work: https://www.eater.com/22555466/guy-fieri-says-service-workers-should-return-to-jobs-unemployment-benefits
Life's rich tapestry, Julie. Anyway, how's CiderCon?
Yeesh! CiderCon is great so far. Headed into the official first day, just caught up with Beth Demmon 🔥 speaking 3 times this year, so it will be busy, but I'll try to get a read on the trends and report back