Industry Issues

Q Mixers names Betsy Frost as its new CEO

Consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry veteran Betsy Frost is the new CEO of Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Q Mixers. Frost brings more than two decades of experience in driving innovation, growth and brand transformation as a seasoned leader in the beverage industry.

“We are thrilled to welcome Betsy as our new CEO and are confident that she will take the brand to new heights,” said Bob Nakasone, Board Chair for Q Mixers, in a statement. “Her thoughtful approach to building brands, combined with her strategic vision and proven leadership excellence, will be instrumental in driving exceptional results.”

The appointment signals a new chapter for the company, which is known for its bold flavors and commitment to clean, high-quality and real ingredients, it says.

“I’m honored to join this incredibly talented team who is redefining quality in the mixer category,” Frost said in a statement. “Together with our team and partners, we’ll continue to push the boundaries of innovation, quality and flavor to delight consumers and grow category usage.”

Frost most recently served as the CEO of Hoplark, a premier non-alcohol beer brand. While at Hoplark, she was responsible for closing the brand’s Series A round, driving product innovation and accelerating brand activation, resulting in portfolio expansion in three categories. Prior to her time at Hoplark, Frost served as president of DRY Soda Co., driving its premium positioning, and building a storied 13-year career at General Mills. This career included leading marketing for iconic brands like Cheerios and Yoplait.

Frost is a graduate of Brown University with an MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. She is an advocate for female leadership and co-leads the Women Mentoring Initiative for One Step Closer Community.

Constellation Brands agrees to divest SVEDKA

Constellation Brands, Rochester, N.Y., announced that it reached an agreement with Sazerac Co. Inc., New Orleans, to divest its SVEDKA brand. The transition is expected to close in the coming months.

It builds on the company’s strategic efforts to further align the wine and spirits portfolio with evolving consumer preferences and growing market sectors, focusing on higher end wine and spirits brands and products, it notes. Constellation has divested the majority of its popular and mainstream wine and spirits brand within the portfolio over the past few years. The company is focused on competing predominantly in premium and fine wine and craft spirits segments.

“The actions we have taken over the past several years to reshape our wine and spirits portfolio support our efforts to accelerate the performance of the business,” said Bill Newlands, president and CEO at Constellation Brands, in a statement. “This transaction is another step forward in seeking to ensure that our wine and spirits portfolio is optimized to succeed and to meet our growth objectives.”

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals.

“The team at Constellation has built the SVEDKA brand over the years to be known for its high-quality vodka-making traditions, premium liquid standards and flavor innovation,” said Jake Wenz, CEO of Sazerac, in a statement. “We are honored for this opportunity and excited to add SVEDKA to our global spirits portfolio featuring their award-winning vodkas, seltzers and gins.”

B Corp Certified company O’Neill Vintners & Distillers achieved the Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC) for its Paso Robles, Calif.-based estate vineyard at Robert Hall Winery. ROC sets the highest standard for agriculture, combining USDA Organic certification with benchmarks for soil health, animal welfare and social fairness, it notes. O’Neill Vintners & Distillers Founder and CEO Jeff O’Neill considers this to be a significant achievement, but still just the beginning. “Our mission is to continue scaling these practices globally, regenerating vineyards and making sustainable wines accessible and available,” he said in a statement. The 140-acre Paso Robles vineyard is a living case study for the wine community, it notes. This certification is the latest in a list of sustainability-focused achievements by the O’Neill team. O’Neill has earned the Green Medal Leader Award from the California Wine Institute, has become a certified B Corporation, earned TRUE Zero Waste certification and accomplished CCOF organic certification for its vineyards in Paso Robles and Ram’s Gate Winery in Sonoma — all since 2021. “Earning the ROC designation is a monumental achievement for O’Neill and a significant step in our commitment to regenerating our vineyards of tomorrow,” said Caine Thompson, head of sustainability at O’Neill, in a statement. “This sets a strong foundation to expand regenerative organic farming practices across more of our estate vineyards, enabling us to regenerate and restore our ecosystems and communities, while engaging with industry to embrace and accelerate this critical movement.”

Maguey Imports, the U.S. distribution arm of Maguey Spirits, announced that it acquired Bozal Mezcal and Pasote Tequila from 3 Badge Beverage Corp. The acquisition not only expands Maguey Imports’ portfolio, but also marks a “significant moment in the agave spirits industry,” the company says, as these celebrated brands return to Mexican ownership. Founded in 2014, Maguey is a family-run company that is dedicated to preserving and elevating Mexico’s rich heritage of artisanal spirits. The company was founded by brothers Alejandro and Christian Rossbach and is a proudly Mexican-owned company dedicated to “crafting exceptional agave spirits from the renowned regions of Oaxaca, Durango and Jalisco,” it notes. The Rossbach brothers have built Maguey into a brand that connects the artistry of Mexican craftsmanship with global consumers over the past 10 years, it adds. “While it’s common for large corporations to acquire small, independent producers, this transaction flips the script,” said Alejandro Rossbach, co-owner of Maguey Spirits and Maguey Imports, in a statement. “A small producer has reclaimed the brands they’ve lovingly crafted, ensuring the legacy of these spirits remains deeply rooted in Mexico. Bozal and Pasote are now proudly Mexican-owned, fully integrated and ready to reach consumers with the same passion and quality, but with a deeper connection to their origins.” Both brands hold values that align perfectly with Maguey Imports’ mission of honoring heritage while embracing innovation, the company says. “We hold great respect for the remarkable foundation 3 Badge has established with Bozal and Pasote,” Rossbach said in a statement. “Their unwavering dedication to quality and craftsmanship deeply aligns with our mission. We’re eager to continue building on this legacy by strengthening the connection between these iconic brands and their authentic Mexican heritage.”

New England craft brewer Narragansett Beer now is available in California, marking its entry to a 27th state. Narragansett will offer its award-winning Lager at on- and off-premise locations across Northern California following its successful growth across the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest. The company partnered with Delta Pacific, Mussetter and Morris Distribution to “share a ‘Gansett” with areas like Monterey, Sacramento, San Francisco and Sonoma. “Northern California is an exciting new region for us, and we’re proud to partner with the Delta, Morris and Mussetter teams to make it happen,” said Mark Hellendrung, president of Narragansett Beer, in a statement. “As we steadily continue our expansion, it’s thrilling to think that our beloved Lager will now be enjoyed in a craft beer culture that’s world-renowned. Northern California has always been an area at the top of our fan request list, and we’re proud to be part of that vibrant community by sharing a bit of New England heritage with our neighbors out West.” The Brewers Association recently named Narragansett Beer the 23rd largest craft brewer in the U.S. The brewery offers a portfolio full of premium craft beers made with New England heritage and tradition.

FloWater recently celebrated its milestone achievement of saving 1 billion plastic water bottles from entering the environment since its launch in 2013. The company’s growth has been fueled by consumer demand for safe, better-tasting drinking water without the plastic waste. FloWater partnered with 12,000 schools, hotels, fitness centers and workplaces around the country, transforming their tap water with FloWater Refill Stations that provide ultra-purified water without the plastic. The refill stations eliminate up to 99.9% of all impurities, including PFAS, glyphosates, heavy metals and microplastics. FloWater’s Advanced Purification Refill Stations, with 7-stage Advanced Osmosis purification technology, also enhance the water with added alkalinity and electrolytes and trace minerals for better hydration, while a carbon coconut filter “finishes” the chilled water for a great taste, the company says. “We are incredibly proud to celebrate the Billion Bottles Saved milestone,” said Rich Razgaitis, FloWater CEO and co-founder, in a statement. “We also thank and celebrate our thousands of business and school partners, and the millions of consumers across the country who have made this milestone possible. They are leading the change in their industries with the FloWater experience, bringing their customers the best-tasting, ultra-purified water on the planet, while eliminating plastic waste and the threats of dangerous contaminants.”

PepsiCo Inc. announced that Christine Tammara has been appointed senior vice president and controller. The appointment is effective May 3, 2025, and she will succeed Senior Vice President and Controller Marie Gallagher, who previously announced her intention to retire. Tammara will report to PepsiCo Chief Financial Officer Jamie Caulfield. Tammara joined PepsiCo in 2007 and has served as senior vice president, controller, PepsiCo Beverage North America since June 2023, where she drove the sector’s control agenda, oversaw financial reporting and control execution, and partnered with the business on accounting and transformation solutions. Before that, Tammara served as senior vice president and general auditor from February 2021 to June 2023 and as vice president and assistant controller, technical accounting and policy from June 2016 to February 2021. She also held a succession of roles in the company’s control function.