RIOT Energy, an organic energy drink brand from Venice Calif., announced it secured a minority investment from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, Calif. Sierra Nevada will initially serve as an investor and will eventually produce and package RIOT Energy products at its new 85,000-square-foot facility, CanDo Innovation Center, which is slated to begin operations this summer.

Like Sierra Nevada pioneered a successful path for craft beer amongst mainstream audiences, RIOT Energy is challenging big energy drink brands with their “better-for-you” energy drinks.

“This partnership accelerates our planned disruption of the $12 billion traditional energy drink market” said Laura Jakobsen, RIOT Energy Founder and Chief Noisemaker, in a statement. “Consumers are underserved by the big beverage brands. We are creating a different, more crafted choice to be energized with the simpler, cleaner ingredients consumers are demanding, yet current category brand leaders aren’t trusted to deliver.”

Sierra Nevada takes minority stake in RIOT Energy

Sierra Nevada is securing its strategy for sustainable growth by leveraging its longtime commitment to quality and innovation — even in partnerships.

“RIOT Energy differentiated itself with the high quality and great ingredients younger audiences are seeking,” said Jeff White, CEO and president of Sierra Nevada, in a statement. “For 42 years, we’ve built our business on our commitment to quality. We are uniquely situated to provide a springboard of growth for RIOT Energy to be more competitive in the space.”

Since its founding in 2016, RIOT Energy has seen explosive growth, nearly doubling its footprint in 2022 alone, the company says. In January, RIOT Energy expanded distribution nationwide in Kroger, Walmart and Costco and plans to scale this growth even further, thanks to this partnership. BI

Chicago-based Molson Coors Beverage Co. announced the creation of a centralized commercial function in its Americas business unit designed to accelerate its growth in the years ahead.

The new function will unite multiple teams and geographies around a single strategy, which is expected to drive clearer total portfolio and geographic prioritization and allow the company to scale new white spaces, brands and capabilities more quickly, it says. The shift also will provide an opportunity for more commercial focus and support to Molson Coors’ non-alcohol and spirits portfolios, which are ready to scale after several years of successful growth.

“In 2022 we achieved top- and bottom-line growth for the first time in a long time, and our goal is to do so consistently year after year,” said Gavin Hattersley, president and CEO of Molson Coors, in a statement. “We’re building on what we accomplished over the past three years, unlocking the next phase of growth for our business through greater collaboration, faster decision making, and stronger commercial support for our total portfolio.”

The full range of commercial operations in the United States, Canada and Latin America, including sales, marketing, innovation, and digital strategy, as well as the company’s non-alcohol and liquor portfolios, will be included in the new function’s remit.

As the company continues its transformation to a total beverage business, moving to a centralized commercial team helps ensure the beyond beer portfolio can fully benefit from the resources of the larger commercial structure. A new digital team will be charged with building a unified digital ecosystem across the Americas to support speed, consistency, and quality of output. The innovation team will now report directly into the larger commercial function to better align across the Americas and drive speed of innovation in beer, flavored beverages, non-alcohol products, liquor and more.

The company also announced Michelle St. Jacques, who has served as Molson Coors’ chief marketing officer since 2019, has been appointed chief commercial officer. Her leadership has been integral to the company’s success in strengthening iconic core brands like Coors Light through the launch of “Made to Chill” and building a strong premium light portfolio strategy with clear right to win paths for both Miller Lite and Coors Light.

St. Jacques has selected Sofia Colucci as the company’s new chief marketing officer. Colucci, who has earned a reputation for creative excellence, joined the organization in 2017 and currently serves as the global vice president of marketing for Miller Brands and economy. BI

Molson Coors creates commercial business function in the Americas

New York-based The Community Spirit Vodka has been certified a B Corporation (B Corp), in recognition of the high social and environmental performance, commitment to all stakeholders, and transparency in performance toward the high standards established by B Lab, the nonprofit network transforming the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet, it states. “We created The Community Spirit Vodka to celebrate and support more directly celebrate and support those individuals and organizations working hard to better their local communities,” said Moises Guindi, Casa Lumbre co-founder and CEO, in a statement. “The year-long B Corp Certification process presented an opportunity to learn and evaluate how we do business and innovate with how and where we can push ourselves in the communities we serve, and in the employment practices we use. This process made a meaningful impact. In 2022 alone, The Community Spirit has given back 24% of revenue to partners through events, bottles and cocktails working directly for their causes.”

Entertainment Arts Research, Charlotte, N.C., a diversified beverage and media group, announced that it has applied to FINRA to change its name to “The Original New York Seltzer Beverage Corporation,” better aligning the corporate identity with its core business and iconic brand, operating in the global craft soda market. “This name change firmly communicates our focus on the craft soda market segment and will help us better connect with the over 40 million loyal consumers and shareholders of our flagship brand,” said Bernard Rubin, president and CEO of The EARI Beverage Group, in a statement. “After the acquisition of the Original New York Seltzer brand and Los Angeles based bottling plant last July, which now represents the majority of the groups revenue, the name change makes perfect sense. We are confident that this is yet another positive step as we continue to execute on our growth strategy and our plan to up list from OTC Markets to NASDAQ as soon as possible.” The company expects the name change application to become effective within the next two months, which is subject to approval by FINRA.

Bacardi Ltd., Hamilton, Bermuda, is promoting Stephanie Macleod, master blender for its portfolio of Scotch whiskies, to a newly created role as director of blending of Scotch whisky ― a promotion that recognizes her talent and 25 years’ experience in crafting Scotch whisky. In her new role Macleod, will continue to lead the famed blending legacy of DEWAR’S Blended Scotch whisky, WILLIAM LAWSON'S Scotch whisky, and the five Single Malts as malt master. Her expanded remit also will see her develop the people and processes needed to continue to the premiumization of the range and help deliver on the family-owned spirits company’s ambition to be industry leaders in innovation and quality. In other news, the company welcomed back Roberto Ramirez Laverde as global senior vice president of BACARDĺ rum, effective immediately. Ramirez Laverde takes on an open role following the promotion of Ned Duggan to global chief marketing officer of Bacardi and president of Bacardi Global Brands Limited. Ramirez Laverde reports to Nuggan and joins the marketing leadership team. He will be based in Bermuda, pending authorization by the Bermuda Department of Immigration.

NuZee Inc., Richardson, Texas, announced that it has entered into a manufacturing agreement with California-based coffee roaster Apffels, which will expand NuZee’s manufacturing footprint on the West Coast in an effort to increase efficiencies, grow its margins, and accommodate substantial additional capacity. In addition to manufacturing NuZee’s innovative single serve coffee brew bags and pour over products, NuZee plans to begin testing the TiMELESS technology, a new flexible film sealing technology that eliminates the need for one-way plastic degassing valves that are commonly used in the coffee industry at Apffels’ manufacturing facility. “Apffels is an excellent partnership, as it has the capability to manufacture our single serve formats, provide capabilities like roasting and coffee co-packing, and facilitate the execution of the TiMELESS methodology for sealing our coffee bags,” said Masa Higashida, NuZee CEO and president, in a statement. “We expect significantly increased efficiency, reduced logistical costs, and access to more sustainable manufacturing practices.”