Keith Levy

Big distribution news for American Rebel Light Beer. American Rebel Light Beer has signed a new Missouri distribution agreement with Wil Fischer Distributing—one of the state’s most respected Anheuser-Busch heritage wholesalers. This partnership expands our footprint across south-central, southeast, and northwest Missouri—reaching roughly 900,000 residents and accelerating availability across retail and on-premise. Why it matters: we’re building a Distributor-First growth engine by partnering with execution-proven, top-tier wholesalers—market by market. Next up: major 2026 brand-reach opportunities, including planned activations at Black Oak Amphitheater. Learn more in today’s release (American Rebel Light Beer adds Top Tier Missouri Distribution with Wil Fischer) and visit www.AmericanRebelBeer.com for product and availability updates. #AmericanRebel #AmericanRebelBeer #Distribution #Missouri #BeverageIndustry #RetailExecution #WilFischerCompanies #BlackOakAmp

38

2 Comments

THE 2026 ALCOHOL “TRENDS” LIST IS OUT — HERE’S WHAT ACTUALLY MATTERS Forbes’ annual look at U.S. alcohol trends for 2026 outlines familiar but important forces shaping the market: moderation continuing to normalize, premium spirits holding relevance but facing more scrutiny, ongoing growth in RTDs and spirits-adjacent formats, and increasing overlap across beer, wine, spirits, NA, and adjacent categories. The article also notes a more price-conscious consumer, fewer impulse purchases, and a broader shift toward value and intentional choice as shelves and menus continue to converge into a wider “adult beverage” set. Those signals matter — but not for the reasons trend lists usually suggest. Every year, the headlines focus on what’s new: new formats, new categories, new buzzwords. What tends to get lost is what actually drives decisions once someone is standing at a shelf, a bar, or scrolling on their phone. Most drinkers don’t follow trends. They follow occasions. What keeps showing up beneath all the predictions: People want clarity, not complexity They want drinks that fit a moment, not a manifesto They’re choosing with context and convenience, not tasting notes And they’re still gathering — just differently than before Yes, moderation is real. Yes, RTDs and adjacencies keep evolving. Yes, price sensitivity matters more than it did five years ago. But none of that replaces the core truth of this industry: The drink is the handshake. The moment is the reason. As categories blur, competition shifts. Bottles aren’t just competing within their segment anymore — they’re competing against anything else that promises a similar feeling, pace, or experience. That’s why 2026 looks less like a breakout year and more like a sorting year. The brands and venues that win won’t be the ones chasing every trend. They’ll be the ones that help people answer a simple question faster: What should I drink right now, for this moment — and why will I enjoy it? When discovery gets easier. When flavor feels intuitive. When the experience fits real life. People don’t drink more. They drink better. People remember how it fit the moment.

12

5 Comments

Back in my news days, we called this burying the lead (or lede for the journalistic purists). The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) just released a sobering report on the challenges for craft distillers. Especially the drop in sales and the decrease in the number of distilleries since 2024. But these numbers are still significantly higher than the 2019 data, which at the time was considered a boom. Yes, there is pain, but the headline should be that the market is still stronger than before the pandemic. https://lnkd.in/eAhXgWJD

14

2 Comments

Chicago-based Kraft Heinz made an excellent choice in appointing one of the most experienced and successful global CPG leaders, Steve Cahillane, as its new CEO. Cahillane previously served as CEO of Chicago-based Kellanova and brings deep industry expertise and proven leadership to the role. In 2026, Kraft Heinz plans to split into two companies, temporarily named "Global Taste Elevation" and "North American Grocery". Global Taste Elevation, led then by Cahillane, will include the faster-growing sauces, spreads, and seasonings portfolio, featuring iconic brands such as Heinz, Philadelphia, and Kraft Mac & Cheese. North American Grocery will house legacy brands including Oscar Mayer, Kraft Singles, and Lunchables. The objective of this strategic separation is to increase speed to market, reduce complexity, and strengthen proximity to customers. Cahillane is a longtime Chicago resident and advocate for the city, having graduated from Northwestern University. In his first remarks following the announcement, he reaffirmed Kraft Heinz’s commitment to Chicago. Congratulations, Steve! Please read here the Chicago Tribune coverage by Robert Channick here: https://lnkd.in/gUvbH7hc

233

4 Comments

While C&S and SpartanNash are both grocery wholesalers and retailers, they mostly operate in different states — unlike Kroger and Albertsons, whose overlapping operations in many markets served as a lightning rod for critics. C&S and SpartanNash overlap in Texas and Florida, where they both have distribution centers, and Wisconsin, where they operate grocery stores. In addition, neither company has the kind of dominant presence in the grocery industry that is likely to cause the kind of uproar that ultimately squashed the Kroger-Albertsons bid.  In announcing their merger, C&S and SpartanNash said their merger would create a bigger food distribution network that would be better able to compete with what they described as “various extremely large global grocers in the U.S. food-at-home space.” Interestingly, however, both companies have concentrated recently on expanding their retail operations. C&S even disclosed in May that it would close a Florida distribution center, without saying why it elected to do so. SpartanNash’s sales have been tilting away from wholesale SpartanNash’s sales mix has gradually shifted toward its retail operations, although the company is still mostly dependent on its wholesale business. The company’s wholesale segment accounted for just over 67% of its revenue during its latest quarter, down from more than 71% a year ago. In addition, the company’s overall sales barely budged year over year, held back by a decline in its wholesale business.

31

JBS USA, one of the world’s leading food companies, today announced plans to invest $135 million to build a state-of-the-art sausage production facility in Perry, Iowa. The project, once approved, will create 500 total direct jobs and an estimated 250 local construction jobs. The company hopes to begin construction in late 2025, with operations expected to commence in late 2026. https://lnkd.in/eRNt5bvU

8

MOLSON COORS OUTLINES M&A STRATEGY, SEEKS ACQUISITIONS IN $200M-$350M RANGE In their most recent earnings report, Molson Coors Beverage Company outlined that it is seeking to add 1 or 2 points annually to top line by acquiring margin accretive assets valued between 200 and 350 million USD. Current 2026 revenue guidance is flat to +1% growth. Recent acquisitions by MC: - Blue Run Spirits (2023) - Fever-Tree (2025) - ZOA Energy (2024)

120

6 Comments