NEWS

After a rocky first half, Constellation Brands leadership is “cautiously optimistic” the company’s bev-alc portfolio declines have hit a “plateau.” The company’s beer division (Modelo, Corona, Pacifico and Victoria) recorded improved metrics in Constellation’s third quarter, which ended November 30.

After Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) shed suppliers at an alarming rate last year – resulting in the closure of its California operations – the distributor is being hit with another major loss as Jose Cuervo’s parent company makes its national exit.

A new year means it’s Brewbound’s annual roundtable conversation with our peers in beer industry journalism. This year, the Brewbound team is joined by Kate Bernot, lead analyst for Feel Goods Insights, and David Steinman, VP and executive editor of Beer Marketer’s Insights.

Intoxicating hemp beverages have gotten another vote of confidence, this time from Sprouts Farmers Market, which is slated to become the first national grocery chain to offer the drinks starting next week.

Constellation Brands recorded declines across the board in the third quarter of its 2026 fiscal year, according to the company’s earnings report. Across Constellation’s total beer, wine and spirits portfolio, net sales declined 10%, to a reported $2.223 billion, in the three-month period ending November 30.

Suntory Global spirits has appointed Davin Nugent, a former Anheuser-Busch InBev and Mark Anthony Brands executive, as president of global ready-to-drink (RTD).

The wait is over: The 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) have been released, and after months of uncertainty around how guidelines could affect the beverage-alcohol industry, trade groups are likely breathing a sigh of relief.

Anheuser-Busch InBev (A-B) announced it will invest $30 million in its Jacksonville, Florida, brewery as part of the company’s Brewing Futures initiative to support American manufacturing.

Here are some news items that were initially reported in the Brewbound Insider Newsletter January 5-6, including updates from Uncle Nearest, NIQ, Blake's Beverage and more.

2 Towns Ciderhouse is preparing to add one more town to its name. The Corvallis, Oregon-based hard cider maker will acquire Seattle Cider’s brand, joining two of the most prominent cider names in the Pacific Northwest.

A “leading global beverage company” has made a $14 million strategic investment in InvestBev Capital's flagship Fund V, the private equity firm announced today.

Thanks to significant social media investments, the name of Willie’s Remedy+ often precedes it in new markets. “You can literally walk into a market with no POS, no nothing – we haven't launched at all – and because of the investment that we made on social, people know about us before we even get there,” said Whitney Stevenson, president and CCO of Willie’s parent company JuneShine Brands.

New funding could be a sign of optimism from the investor class as hemp-derived THC drinks await regulatory clarity.

“A day of shopping during the Christmas week can make a significant difference” to bev-alc’s off-premise scans, according to Circana EVP of BevAl, Scott Scanlon. Total bev-alc dollar sales were up 1% year-over-year (YoY) and 12% week-over-week (WoW) in the week ending December 28, which included Christmas Day (December 25).

Dollar sales growth from several key decades-old brands buoyed the beer category in 2025, according to the latest monthly report from Bump Williams Consulting (BWC).

Columbia Distributing chief strategy officer Jesse Ferber, Bump Williams Consulting president Dave Williams and Hand Family Companies president and CEO J.R. Hand graced the Brewbound Live stage last month to discuss the state of beer, how to strengthen relationships between suppliers and distributors and what industry members are prioritizing in 2026.

Editor’s Note: The below news items were initially reported in the Brewbound Insider Newsletter December 29 through January 2. Not an Insider? Become one today to get earlier access to what’s going on in the industry. Numerator: Fewer New Year’s Resolutions in 2026 Fewer consumers are planning to make resolutions in 2026 compared to 2025,... Read more »

Bosque Brewing, New Mexico’s largest craft brewery, abruptly closed all of its taprooms last week after 13 years in operation.

The adult non-alcoholic (ANA) beverage category is undergoing a significant shift, as brands navigate evolving investment climates, retail skepticism and rising consumer demand in pursuit of sustainable growth.

In a nutshell, experiential marketing means getting out in the field to events and other public spaces and putting cans in hands. Easy in theory, but far more nuanced and complex in practice.