Business of Drinks

Business of Drinks
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Jun 20, 2024 • 56min

31: Mid-Year Drinks Trends Update — With New Co-Host Scott Rosenbaum - Business of Drinks

Some exciting news to share! The Business of Drinks podcast is growing by leaps and bounds, and with it — some new voices are coming onto the airwaves.  First up, Scott Rosenbaum is joining as the show’s new co-host. If you’re not yet acquainted with Scott, he’s a veteran strategist and analyst with deep experience building drinks portfolios. Currently, he is the North America search manager at Distill Ventures, the world’s first drinks industry accelerator. He was formerly vice president at T. Edward Wines & Spirits, a New York-based importer and distributor. While there, Scott created T. Edward’s craft spirits portfolio, which represented over two dozen distilleries, including Arette Tequila, High Wire Distilling Co., La Gritona Tequila, and others.  And next up, Caroline Lamb joins as producer and on-air talent overseeing the newly revamped Last Call segment. Caroline is a sales representative at Great Lakes Wine & Spirits, based in Detroit, Michigan. She has worked in myriad beverage roles, from bartender to wine cellar assistant.  Scott and Caroline bring an exciting new dimension to the podcast, with their cross-functional, cross-generational — and even cross-country — perspectives. With these additions, Business of Drinks is becoming even more of a ‘must-listen’ for leaders and stakeholders from throughout the drinks industry. In this debut episode, Erica and Scott discuss mid-year drinks trends. They take a data-backed approach to discuss how fears around the “end of alcohol” are overblown. Then, they dive into the emerging trends of non-carbonated alcohol waters and its counterpart — the OG and new wave of hard tea and hard lemonades. Finally, they move on to discuss the emergence of spicy drinks across categories — including new spicy wine brands (yes, you read that right!). Caroline wraps us up in Last Call, hopping into a lively debate with the team about gender-based marketing — yay or nay? Plus, which brands are doing it well, and which are falling flat. Stay tuned for our next episode dropping on 6/26.  For the latest updates, follow us: Business of Drinks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-drinks/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bizofdrinks/ Erica Duecy, co-host: Erica Duecy is founder and co-host of Business of Drinks, and one of the drinks industry’s most accomplished digital and content strategists. She has built publishing and marketing programs for Drizly, VinePair, SevenFifty, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies.  https://www.instagram.com/ericaduecy/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-duecy-4a35844/ Scott Rosenbaum, co-host: Scott Rosenbaum is co-host of Business of Drinks and North America Search Manager at Distill Ventures. Scott was formerly the Vice President of T. Edward Wines & Spirits, a New York-based importer and distributor. While there, he created their craft spirits portfolio which represented over two dozen distilleries including Arette Tequila, High Wire Distilling Co., and La Gritona Tequila, among others. https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-m-rosenbaum/ Caroline Lamb, contributor:  Caroline is a producer and on-air contributor at Business of Drinks and a sales representative at Great Lakes Wine & Spirits, based in Detroit, Michigan.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-bork-lamb/ If you like what you heard, help us spread the word! Follow Business of Drinks wherever you’re listening, and rate and review our episodes. It really does help us find new listeners. Thank you!
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Jun 12, 2024 • 45min

30: How to Sell Your Products Into Mass-Market Retail With Mike Percic - Business of Drinks

Today, we’re talking shop! That is, how to work with mass-market retailers. For those who are new to the industry, mass retail refers to big-box stores like Target, Costco, and Walmart as well as supermarket chains like Safeway and Kroger. And what most people don’t realize is that these types of stores have their own ways of doing business, and even their own terminology (do you know what a cut-in is? Or a reset?). So it’s important to get up to speed before trying to pitch your product into this channel.  Over the past few months, several Business of Drinks listeners have reached out, asking me to do an episode on best practices for working with big-box stores. So today, I’ve got answers!  I talk with Mike Percic, a mass retail veteran who recently concluded a 16-years career working with Target, most recently leading its Adult Beverage business — and he now advises brands on how to work effectively with mass retailers.  We’ve structured this conversation as a masterclass, going from how to pitch mass retailers and how to land an order, to how to stay on the shelves once you’ve fulfilled that first order.  Key Takeaways -How big your production capacity should be before pitching to mass retail -Who to pitch and what the pitch process entails -The business metrics most mass retail buyers will want to know before signing your brand -How (and when) to ask the right questions — without annoying your buyer -How (and why) some brands work with sales brokers -Product placement lead times and lifecycle -How to get favorable merchandising, like end caps and display assets -What competitive pricing and favorable margins look like -Logistics and distribution considerations -How mass retail buyers will be analyzing your brand’s performance -How to be a proactive partner to avoid getting kicked off the shelf This one is chock-full of useful information to help you land some key accounts. Enjoy! Plus, FREE tickets to Vinexpo America And an exciting announcement about Vinexpo New York, which is just two weeks away. If you don’t yet have a ticket but were hoping to attend, you’re in luck! Vinexpo has made available 50 free passes to the two day conference exclusively for Business of Drinks listeners — and that includes all of the tastings and masterclasses. When checking out, use the code ERICANYC for your free pass. And please come and join me — I’ll be closing out the conference on Tuesday, 6/25, at 4:50 pm with a talk about optimizing your marketing and sales to better connect with Millennial and Gen Z audiences. It’s a great way to end the event, with a look ahead at the best ways to move your business forward. Here’s more info: https://vinexpo-america.com/newfront/sessions/10318 Stay tuned for our next episode dropping on June 19.  About Erica Duecy, host: Erica Duecy is founder and host of Business of Drinks, and one of the drinks industry’s most accomplished digital and content strategists. She has built publishing and marketing programs for Drizly, VinePair, SevenFifty, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies. She also has led digital editorial teams at Architectural Digest and Saveur magazines. Her content, podcast, and video programs have won more than 40 digital and editorial awards. She is a WSET Advanced-certified wine and spirits communicator, and author of the cocktail book Storied Sips (Random House), about the real-life stories behind the world’s most famous cocktails.    To learn more about Erica Duecy: https://www.instagram.com/ericaduecy/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-duecy-4a35844/ https://twitter.com/ericaduecy And if you like what you heard, help us spread the word! Follow Business of Drinks, and rate and review our episodes on any platform where you’re listening. It helps us find new listeners. Thank you!
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May 29, 2024 • 53min

29: Millennial Marketing Masterclass with Aly Wente of Wente Vineyards - Business of Drinks

Today’s episode is a case study on how a 140-year old winery was able to quickly shift its consumer base from Boomers to Millennials. Aly Wente, a 5th generation vintner and Wente’s vice president of marketing and customer experience, shares key learnings and insights relevant to all brands looking to engage younger consumers.  For those of you unfamiliar with Wente Vineyards, it was founded in 1883, and is located in Livermore Valley, east of San Francisco. Until recently, the brand had a consumer mix that was common for a long-running premium wine brand — dominated by Boomers, aged 60 and up. But in the past 3 years that customer demographic flipped. Aly led the charge to future proof Wente’s business by shifting its marketing strategy to focus on younger audiences, and the effort has paid off in spades. Wente’s sales are now dominated by Millennials (aged 28-43) and Generation X (ages 44-59), with Boomers in third place.  If you’re looking to understand what works in terms of marketing to Millennials in the drinks space, this one’s for you. We cover: How to develop an authentic — and relevant — brand voice Why aspirational lifestyle campaigns are key for younger audiences How Wente shifted from print to digital marketing spend for clearer ROI Paid advertising strategies that actually work The essential marketing software tech stack How to capture and leverage social media trends to drive engagement How to reinvigorate your brand strategy and social media presence Why it’s worth investing in original imagery instead of using stock photography Stay tuned for our next episode dropping on June 12.  About Erica Duecy, host: Erica Duecy is host of Business of Drinks, and one of the drinks industry’s most accomplished digital and content strategists. She has built publishing and marketing programs for Drizly, VinePair, SevenFifty, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies. She also has led digital editorial teams at Architectural Digest and Saveur magazines. Her content, podcast, and video programs have won more than 40 digital and editorial awards. She is a WSET Advanced-certified wine and spirits communicator, and author of the cocktail book Storied Sips (Random House), about the real-life stories behind the world’s most famous cocktails.    To learn more about Erica Duecy: https://www.instagram.com/ericaduecy/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-duecy-4a35844/ https://twitter.com/ericaduecy And if you like what you heard, help us spread the word! Follow Business of Drinks, and rate and review our episodes on any platform where you’re listening. It helps us find new listeners. Thank you
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May 15, 2024 • 43min

28: How THC Drinks Brand WYNK Built to 150K Cases With Co-Founder Angus Rittenburg - Business of Drinks

WYNK is a cannabis drinks brand with a fascinating backstory. WYNK was founded in 2021 by Casey Parzych, Angus Rittenburg, and Shawn Sheehan, three friends (a beverage distributor, mechanical engineer, and energy trader) looking for a new opportunity in the cannabis beverage market. Their challenge: find a way to dose the seltzer with THC legally, as current laws for dispensary distribution require dosing in the states where the drinks will be sold. Selling in Massachusetts? Dose in Massachusetts. Selling in Minnesota? Dose in Minnesota. Enter Angus, a mechanical engineer who previously had worked on developing batteries for Tesla and rockets for SpaceX. The team decided the most efficient solution would be to build a mobile manufacturing facility on flatbed trucks that they could drive from state to state. With a $750,000 budget, Angus built WYNK 1.0 — a series of rigs (and a water truck) that, along with six people, traveled the country making WYNK. They sold 1 million cans in their first year. But WYNK 1.0 was cumbersome and expensive. Angus then set out to find a better (and more compact) way to manufacture. WYNK 2.0 is now fully operational — and you can hear all about it in this episode, along with these insights: KEY TAKEAWAYS: How WYNK built its retail footprint to 13 states and DTC to 37 states The challenge of building consumer awareness for low-dose THC drinks How WYNK scaled its products to become price-comparable with alcohol-containing RTDs Why Millennials are the core demographic for WYNK and other low-dose THC drinks Why variety packs are key to product trial Why the brand offers multiple THC dosage options How hyperlocal sampling events have fueled the brand’s customer base Why micro-influencers are moving the needle for social growth Stay tuned for our next episode dropping on May 29.  About Erica Duecy, host: Erica Duecy is host of Business of Drinks, and one of the drinks industry’s most accomplished digital and content strategists. She has built publishing and marketing programs for Drizly, VinePair, SevenFifty, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies. She also has led digital editorial teams at Architectural Digest and Saveur magazines. Her content, podcast, and video programs have won more than 40 digital and editorial awards. She is a WSET Advanced-certified wine and spirits communicator, and author of the cocktail book Storied Sips (Random House), about the real-life stories behind the world’s most famous cocktails.    To learn more about Erica Duecy: https://www.instagram.com/ericaduecy/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-duecy-4a35844/ https://twitter.com/ericaduecy And if you like what you heard, help us spread the word! Follow Business of Drinks, and rate and review our episodes on any platform where you’re listening. It helps us find new listeners. Thank you
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May 1, 2024 • 53min

27: Building Target’s Non-Alcoholic Drinks Collection with Emily Heintz of Sèchey - Business of Drinks

In this episode, we talk about one woman’s quest to bring non-alcoholic adult beverages to the masses. Our guest is Emily Heintz, founder of Sèchey. Sèchey is a retailer focused on alcohol-free and functional drinks — and also low dose THC products – that launched in 2021. Sèchey has a bricks-and-mortar shop in Charleston, South Carolina, an ecommerce platform that ships nationwide, and a curated collection of products within Target stores nationwide.  Emily has a fascinating story. After the retail veteran launched Sèchey, she found fundraising efforts to be challenging. Sadly, that’s all too familiar a scenario for female founders: According to Pitchbook data, in 2023, women-founded startups received 2% or less of venture capital (VC) funding in the United States and Europe. This number has remained unchanged for over a decade. But Emily didn’t throw up her hands and quit. Instead, she found an innovative way to build her retail brand nationally by partnering with the mass retailer Target. Sèchey now has a curated collection of its products nationwide, in some 2,000 Target stores. The brands carried there include Surely, Starla, and De Soi wines, non alcoholic cocktails from Ghia, Edna’s, and Mingle, and functional beverages from Kin Euphorics among others, along with Sèchey’s own branded line of dealcoholized wines. If you’re interested in what’s happening in the non-alcoholic beverage space, you won’t want to miss this episode. We cover a lot of ground. A few of the key takeaways: How Sèchey landed a curated product collection within Target stores nationwide What Boisson’s closure means for the emerging non-alcohol product landscape Understanding the regulatory challenges faced by non-alcoholic brands How retail pop-ups helped Sèchey build brand awareness Why product tastings are so crucial for driving bottle sales The shifting distribution landscape for non-alcoholic and THC beverages Why Sèchey is modeling itself after Sephora Customer data — who’s buying non-alcoholic and functional beverages How Sèchey developed its own in-house brand of dealcoholized wines What e-commerce looks like in the non-alc beverage space How to pitch Sèchey if you’re a non-alc or THC brand Stay tuned for our next episode dropping on May 15.  About Erica Duecy, host: Erica Duecy is founder of Business of Drinks, and one of the drinks industry’s most accomplished digital and content strategists. She has built publishing and marketing programs for Drizly, VinePair, SevenFifty, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies. She also has led digital editorial teams at Architectural Digest and Saveur magazines. Her content, podcast, and video programs have won more than 40 digital and editorial awards. She is a WSET Advanced-certified wine and spirits communicator, and author of the cocktail book Storied Sips (Random House), about the real-life stories behind the world’s most famous cocktails.    To learn more about Erica Duecy: https://www.instagram.com/ericaduecy/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-duecy-4a35844/ https://twitter.com/ericaduecy And if you like what you heard, help us spread the word! Follow Business of Drinks, and rate and review our episodes on any platform where you’re listening. It helps us find new listeners. Thank you
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Apr 17, 2024 • 42min

26: Innovative Distribution Solutions With LibDib’s Cheryl Durzy - Business of Drinks

Today we’re talking about digital-first distribution solutions. Erica hops on with Cheryl Durzy, founder and CEO of LibDib, to discuss the on-demand distribution platform. The name is short for Liberation Distribution, and that should give you a sense of Cheryl’s approach. Cheryl launched LibDib in 2016 out of her own frustration as a supplier navigating the byzantine distribution landscape. LibDib is now a distribution solution for some 1,200 wine, spirits, and non-alcoholic drinks brands in 15 states, and it has a CBD wholesale platform as well, called CBDib. On the main platform, there are about 10,000 buyers, from restaurants and bars to mom-and-pop retailers and chains like Costco, Total Wine, and Whole Foods. Since 2018, LibDib has partnered with distribution giant RNDC on LibDib’s technology platform. Later, in 2021, the two companies created LibDib@RNDC, a sales division that offers a distribution model for wine and spirits products in RNDC markets. The division works with both established and new brands, and can help them "graduate” to RNDC. LibDib has made distribution more accessible by allowing any supplier to open an account for free, and to sell any quantity of product from 1 bottle to several pallets at a time to on- and off-premise accounts.  But LibDib differs from traditional distributors in that it doesn’t have a sales team out pounding the pavement — suppliers manage those relationships. Nor is it keeping inventory on hand — orders are fulfilled upon demand, and then travel through LibDib’s warehouses to respect “at rest” laws where required. In this conversation, we get into the nitty gritty of how the platform works, and how to sign up and work with LibDib whether you’re a domestic or international brand. We cover the markups you’ll find on the platforms, and the levels of service available, as well as some important information about:  How to “go live” in a new market Avoiding pitfalls as a new brand Understanding state-by-state compliance How LibDib differs from traditional distributors Understanding “at rest” requirements When it’s a good idea to contract a portfolio manager How to work with LibDib as an international brand Products that are in high demand (would you believe drink pouches?) And more!  Stay tuned for our next episode dropping on May 1.  About Erica Duecy, host: Erica Duecy is host of Business of Drinks, and one of the drinks industry’s most accomplished digital and content strategists. She has built publishing and marketing programs for Drizly, VinePair, SevenFifty, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies. She also has led digital editorial teams at Architectural Digest and Saveur magazines. Her content, podcast, and video programs have won more than 40 digital and editorial awards. She is a WSET Advanced-certified wine and spirits communicator, and author of the cocktail book Storied Sips (Random House), about the real-life stories behind the world’s most famous cocktails.    To learn more about Erica Duecy: https://www.instagram.com/ericaduecy/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-duecy-4a35844/ https://twitter.com/ericaduecy And if you like what you heard, help us spread the word! Follow Business of Drinks, and rate and review our episodes on any platform where you’re listening. It helps us find new listeners. Thank you
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Apr 16, 2024 • 31min

25: How to Get VC Investment With Mike Warren of Alethia Venture Partners - Business of Drinks

At the Business of Drinks, we’ve been talking with many founders lately about their struggles finding funding. So if you’re looking for investment — or just want to know more about how VC investors think — this episode is for you! We talk with Mike Warren, founder and managing partner of Alethia Venture Partners.  It’s a $50 million fund dedicated to investing in alcohol and non-alcohol drinks brands in their Seed, Series A, and Series B rounds, with investments ranging from $250,000 to $5 million. This episode dives into what Alethia Venture Partners is looking for as it deploys the first of its 5 planned funds. So far, Alethia has invested in brands like Kové, Maker Wine, Gay Water, Pa’lante Rum, and others. This episode is a key listen for anyone looking for funding. It gives advice not only into Alethia’s investment strategy, but also insights into the mind of a veteran CPG and drinks brand investor. Get the scoop on: - The biggest mistakes first-time founders make - Why investing in pre-revenue brands is a gamble - How VC investors size up a brand - What makes a brand attractive to VC investors - The right stage in a company’s journey to seek VC investment - How to work with Alethia Venture Partners - What the fund is looking for in the founders and brands it invests in Stay tuned for our next episode dropping on April 17.  About Erica Duecy, host: Erica Duecy is founder and host of Business of Drinks, and one of the drinks industry’s most accomplished digital and content strategists. She has built publishing and marketing programs for Drizly, VinePair, SevenFifty, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies. She also has led digital editorial teams at Architectural Digest and Saveur magazines. Her content, podcast, and video programs have won more than 40 digital and editorial awards. She is a WSET Advanced-certified wine and spirits communicator, and author of the cocktail book Storied Sips (Random House), about the real-life stories behind the world’s most famous cocktails.    To learn more about Erica Duecy: https://www.instagram.com/ericaduecy/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-duecy-4a35844/ https://twitter.com/ericaduecy And if you like what you heard, help us spread the word! Follow Business of Drinks, and rate and review our episodes on any platform where you’re listening. It really does help us find new listeners. Thank you
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Apr 16, 2024 • 43min

24: JW Wiseman of Curious Elixirs on How to Build a Community-Driven Brand - Business of Drinks

JW Wiseman of Curious Elixirs is a bonafide audience whisperer. After working as an early marketing hire at the media startup Thrillist, he went on to found a growth marketing firm. That experience unlocked the key audience expansion strategies he’s employed at his cult-y non-alcoholic RTD brand, Curious Elixirs. This is a brand you won’t find on store shelves. It’s nearly all DTC subscriptions, with a bit of prestige on-premise placements (like the Blue Note jazz club in NYC). Curious Elixirs was audience-driven from the get-go. JW launched the brand on Kickstarter — not because he needed the money, but rather as a smart tactic to grow community and demand around the product.  Since launching in 2015, the brand has been laser-focused on its subscription strategy and customer loyalty, and now serves millions of consumers a year.   The brand’s growth has been driven by word of mouth in sober curious communities, and by really effective targeting on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Yes, social channels are STILL performing very well for Curious Elixirs. So much so that the brand is up 40% in sales year over year. Want some tips from Curious Elixirs’ wildly successful playbook? In this episode, JW discusses: - How to grow — and sustain! — a community around your brand - Strategies for building word-of-mouth referral  - How to build a successful DTC subscription business in today’s marketp - Why video — and UGC content specifically — should be the backbone of your social strategy - Low-cost, IRL customer events and activations - Why customer loyalty is the No. 1 KPI you should pay attention to And more! Give a listen. About Erica Duecy, host: Erica Duecy is host of Business of Drinks, and one of the drinks industry’s most accomplished digital and content strategists. She has built publishing and marketing programs for Drizly, VinePair, SevenFifty, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies. She also has led digital editorial teams at Architectural Digest and Saveur magazines. Her content, podcast, and video programs have won more than 40 digital and editorial awards. She is a WSET Advanced-certified wine and spirits communicator, and author of the cocktail book Storied Sips (Random House), about the real-life stories behind the world’s most famous cocktails.  To learn more about Erica Duecy: https://www.instagram.com/ericaduecy/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-duecy-4a35844/
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Apr 16, 2024 • 48min

23: Cannabis Beverages Are On the Rise — What You Need to Know with Diana Eberlein - Business of Drinks

Cannabis drinks are showing substantial growth, and even displacing alcohol among younger consumers.  I got the scoop on how this emerging category is shaping up — and the legalities around THC-infused drinks — from Diana Eberlein, president of the Cannabis Beverage Association (CBA), a non-profit trade association established to represent and advocate on behalf of THC and CBD beverage brands. She’s also an expert in THC emulsification, as the VP of Marketing & Business Development at SōRSE Technology, a supplier of CBD, hemp, and terpene emulsions for food, beverage, and topical manufacturers. Diana walks us through the regulatory landscape of THC drink, as well as the lobbying efforts underway to expand access to these beverages.  As background: In the U.S., about half of Americans now live in a state where recreational cannabis is legal, and the market for cannabis is growing exponentially.  So who’s buying cannabis-infused drinks? It’s largely Millennials and Gen Zs, with older consumers mixed in. We know — from the 2023 Gallup poll — that younger consumers are not onboarding to alcohol like prior generations. And they see alcohol as unhealthy compared to cannabis — particularly Gen Zs. In fact, two in three 18- to 24-year-olds say they are somewhat or very concerned about the impact of drinking on their health, according to a July 2023 CivicScience survey of 5,545 respondents. Also, we know that marijuana use is displacing alcohol among younger audiences. From 2015 to 2022, the percent of US adults aged 18 to 25 who reported they had used any alcohol in the past month dropped by 8 percentage points to about 50% of those surveyed. Over the same time period, that group’s use of marijuana shot up by 6 percentage points, to about 25% of those surveyed, per the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.  It appears — looking at the data, and speaking with executives from cannabis drinks companies — that these consumers are not going sober. Rather, declines in alcohol are somewhat proportional to gains in cannabis use. In this episode, we cover: The appeal of cannabis-infused beverages for consumers looking to cut back on alcohol.   The difference between hemp-derived Delta 9 THC drinks and traditional cannabis. Where THC drinks are legal in states across the country (and where they’re available in bars and restaurants!). CBA’s 2024 education and lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill. The emulsion technology behind making fast-acting THC drinks. Predictions for the future of the cannabis drinks business (spoiler: big things are coming).  And that’s just the beginning. Give a listen for more.  About Erica Duecy, host: Erica Duecy is host of Business of Drinks, and one of the drinks industry’s most accomplished digital and content strategists. She has built publishing and marketing programs for Drizly, VinePair, SevenFifty, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies. She also has led digital editorial teams at Architectural Digest and Saveur magazines. Her content, podcast, and video programs have won more than 40 digital and editorial awards. She is a WSET Advanced-certified wine and spirits communicator, and author of the cocktail book Storied Sips (Random House), about the real-life stories behind the world’s most famous cocktails.    To learn more about Erica Duecy: https://www.instagram.com/ericaduecy/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-duecy-4a35844/
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Apr 16, 2024 • 44min

22: How THC Drinks Brand Cann Grew to $36 Million in Sales — with CEO Jake Bullock - Business of Drinks

Are cannabis drinks on your radar?  If not, they probably should be. Right now, THC-infused beverages are just a sliver of the $15.8 billion cannabis category, but the segment has grown more than 40% since 2021, and keeps expanding. As the THC drinks segment grows, those dollars are going to be pulling from other categories — namely alcohol.  To learn more about this segment, I decided to bring on one of the most influential innovators in the cannabis drinks space, Jake Bullock. He’s co-founder and CEO of Cann. It’s a low-dose THC drinks brand that launched just 4 years ago, in 2019. And if you haven’t heard of it, you might be surprised to learn that it’s already doing some $36 million in sales, selling upwards of 9 million cans a year.  In this episode, Jake shares: - How he convinced skeptical dispensaries to take a chance on low-dose canned tonics when most of the competitors were formulated at 2x to 5x the THC dosage. - How Cann’s positioning as a “better-for-you” alternative to alcohol drove collaborations with celebrities and influencers, growing Cann’s audience quickly. - Where Cann is directly competing with alcohol in 30+ markets via DTC channels, and on liquor store shelves in Minnesota, Connecticut, and other states.  - How Cann funded its rapid growth to 9 million cans annually in just 4 years. - How beer distributors are making up for declines in their portfolios category by replacing open truck space with THC brands. - Who’s buying Cann (the audience breadth may surprise you!), and how the company reaches potential consumers. And that’s just the beginning. Give a listen for more. About Erica Duecy, host: Erica Duecy is host of Business of Drinks, and one of the drinks industry’s most accomplished digital and content strategists. She has built publishing and marketing programs for Drizly, VinePair, SevenFifty, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies. She also has led digital editorial teams at Architectural Digest and Saveur magazines. Her content, podcast, and video programs have won more than 40 digital and editorial awards. She is a WSET Advanced-certified wine and spirits communicator, and author of the cocktail book Storied Sips (Random House), about the real-life stories behind the world’s most famous cocktails.    To learn more about Erica Duecy: https://www.instagram.com/ericaduecy/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-duecy-4a35844/ https://twitter.com/ericaduecy

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