Industry Issues
The Beverage Forum brings together industry experts
Earlier this year, The Beverage Forum brought together an influential group of celebrities, founders, retailers, suppliers and investors that are shaping the future of the industry. With more than 1,300 attendees, the Manhattan Beach, Calif.-based event featured leaders from companies such as Walmart, Target, Sprouts and Albertsons. Attendees participated in keynote conversations, executive panels and interactive workshops, while also exploring the factors redefining the beverage landscape — from shifting consumer behaviors and retail strategies to the growing influence of capital, culture and celebrity in building modern brands.
From fast-growing and category-defining beverage companies, the forum included cultural and industry leaders. Distinguished guests from the 2026 forum include Elizabeth Banks, Stephen Curry, Jason Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, Cheech Marin, Chris Pratt, Nikki Reed, Ian Somerhalder and Robin Thicke. James Corden opened the forum with the introduction of Noot, his line of nootropic mood-enhancing drinks that contain a blend of nootropics, adaptogens and plant ingredients aimed at clearing the mind and lifting the mood. Meanwhile, Thicke unveiled his new line of ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails, Mimá. The RTD cocktail line features a canned espresso martini.
Other highlights from the forum include L.A. Libations Water introducing Re:Lid, a resealable lid designed for aluminum cans. Re:Lid is set to debut through a launch with Gelson’s Markets across all 26 markets and two convenience stores in Southern California. Protein soda brand SkyPop announced continued national expansion across Target, Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons, Costco and CVS.
Moreover, Kristin Piper, vice president of merchandising and wellness at Walmart, shared that, as wellness gains mainstream traction, the category has “infiltrated all parts of the store.” To capture this consumer shift, Walmart is offering clean, customer-first solutions across its omni-channel ecosystem. Angela Weber, chief merchandising officer at Total Wine & More, stated that her team has dedicated 28-30 feet of shelf space to bringing in new beverages, giving customers the space to explore.
“The Beverage Forum continues to be a place where the most important conversations shaping our industry happen in real time,” said Danny Stepper, CEO and co-founder of L.A. Libations, in a statement. “What stood out this year is just how quickly the beverage landscape is evolving, and how interconnected it’s become across cultural, capital and consumer behavior. This event brings together the people not just reacting to those changes but actively driving what’s next.”
Craft Brewers Conference, BrewExpo America recap
Nearly 8,000 brewing professionals convened in Philadelphia for this year’s Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) and BrewExpo America. Attendees experienced an array of sessions, covering topics such as business building to innovation and efficiency. BrewExpo featured nearly 500 vendors and both curated educational sessions as well as sponsor activations. Will Guidara, co-founder of Make It Nice, gave the keynote address at CBC.
With a renewed format, the conference maintained producer engagement and network opportunities. Sessions and activations allowed for a more personalized approach to professional development, giving attendees the chance to follow content aligned with their specific needs, goals and challenges.
The conference also included a State of the Industry address from the Brewers Association (BA) President and CEO, Bart Watson. Following the address, the World Beer Cup Awards occurred.
Among the biggest news following the conference is that next year’s conference, which includes CiderCon, will co-locate in San Antonio, Texas.
“Independent beverage producers are navigating many of the same opportunities and challenges, from evolving consumer preferences to operational pressures and innovation across categories,” Watson said in a statement. “By bringing these communities together under one roof, we can create more opportunities for learning, connection and business growth while preserving the unique culture and purpose of each event.”
Christine Walter, president of the American Cider Association Board of Directors and owner of Oregon-based Bauman’s Cider, said in a statement that the partnership reflects the increasingly collaborative nature of the independent beverage alcohol industry.
“Co-located CiderCon with CBC creates exciting new opportunities for cidermakers through expanded networking, educational resources and trade show access, while still preserving our cider-specific technical education tracks, Cider Share and the traditions our community has built over the years that make CiderCon so special,” Walter said in a statement.
In The News …
PopSips, San Diego, now is available in more than 2,000 stores nationwide, including Target, Walmart, Kroger, Safeway, Albertsons, HEB, and Sprouts. Heading into summer, the brand has completed its largest retail expansion ever, anchored by the Anheuser-Busch and Molson Coors independent wholesaler networks, with PopSips now active in 18 states. The expansion follows a year of compounding momentum. PopSips has grown from 325 stores across five states in October 2024 to more than 2,000 active stores as of June 2026, it says. Sprouts recently joined the footprint in June across Arizona, Georgia, Texas and Washington with featured displays in all stores, and the founder's hometown state of Minnesota just became PopSips' 18th state. “Securing motivated distribution partners across each state has been one of the biggest unlocks for the company,” said Garrett Olsen, co-founder and CEO of PopSips, in a statement. “That foundation is what makes a national rollout like this possible.”
The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), Alexandria, Va., appointed Ellery Notte as vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs. Notte brings decades of comprehensive experience in food and beverage processing and manufacturing, and she possesses a unique blend of technical expertise, regulatory acumen, with leadership experience needed to champion the bottled water industry, the association says. “As we move forward to execute our proactive public affairs strategy, Ellery is perfectly positioned to serve as our scientific and regulatory affairs leader. She will ensure we stay ahead of emerging issues, engage effectively with state and federal agencies, and maintain bottled water's position as the safest, most trusted source of healthy hydration,” said IBWA President and CEO Matt Herrick. Notte’s career is anchored by a strong scientific foundation, holding both a master’s degree in cereal science and a bachelor’s degree in food science from North Dakota State University. She holds certifications in HACCP, PCQI - Human Food, PCQI - Animal Food, Internal Auditing, and Acidified Foods Manufacturing.
Bronco Wine Co. announced the acquisition of Resurrection Brands, a wine sales and marketing organization representing a collection of highly regarded family-owned wineries and beverage brands. The acquisition strengthens Bronco's national route-to-market capabilities and expands its portfolio of represented wineries as the company continues to build a platform designed to connect exceptional wine brands with consumers across the country, it says. As part of the merger, Bronco Wine Co. will assume national representation of the Resurrection Brands portfolio, including acclaimed family-owned wineries such as McManis Family Vineyards, Provenance Brands and LangeTwins Family Winery & Vineyards. While these wineries remain independently owned and operated, they will now benefit from Bronco's national sales, marketing, and distribution network to further grow their presence in the marketplace, it adds.
Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Co., part of the Perricone Farms family, announced a new retail expansion with Hy-Vee supermarkets, bringing Natalie’s premium juices and lemonades to approximately 225 Hy-Vee locations across the Midwest. The rollout includes a robust lineup of Natalie’s best-selling and customer-favorite products in both 12-ounce and 56-ounce formats. Items launching at Hy-Vee include 12-ounce Orange Juice, Tangerine, Blood Orange, Orange Beet, Natural Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade and Guava Lemonade, as well as 56-ounce Orange Juice, Natural Lemonade, and Strawberry Lemonade. “We’re excited to expand Natalie’s presence at Hy-Vee and bring our squeezed-fresh juices to even more Midwest families,” said Ashley Sommer, vice president of marketing at Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Co., in a statement. “Hy-Vee is a strong retail partner for us because it shares our commitment to quality, fresh taste, and products that shoppers can feel good about bringing home. We’re especially thrilled to invite customers to look for the pink cap and enjoy Natalie’s across a wider region.”
Organic wine brand Avaline announced a significant expansion of its national retail footprint, increasing presence across Kroger, Whole Foods and Target. At Kroger, Avaline Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc are rolling out across 20 divisions and 27 states, strengthening shelf presence at scale. This summer, Avaline also is doubling its footprint at Whole Foods, broadening distribution of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Sparkling, and more to consumers nationwide. Avaline also remains a top-performing brand at Target across Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé, White, and Pinot Noir, while rising stars Prosecco, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon continue to build momentum with Cabernet now scaling to full nationwide distribution. “Avaline was founded on the belief that consumers deserve greater clarity in what they drink, and that expectation continues to shape how the category evolves,” said Jennifer Purcell, CEO of Avaline, in a statement. “Our continued expansion across Kroger, Whole Foods, and Target reflects both the strength of our retail partnerships and the growing demand for organic, transparent wines nationwide.”