Liquid Assets: A Beverage Industry Podcast
Rabobank’s global beverage team offers insights, analysis, and a bit of entertainment for your morning commute. Liquid Assets will help you tackle the latest trends, introduce you to industry leaders, and prepare you for what’s next in the beverage world. Please read our disclaimer here: https://research.rabobank.com/far/en/footer/disclaimer.html
Mon, April 07, 2025
Do wine and spirits wholesalers need to be more like beer distributors?
The RaboResearch team discusses the implications of Brown-Forman and Tito's Handmade Vodka moving to a beer distributor in California. Do wine and spirits wholesalers need to change, or will change erode their competitive advantage? Will the beer guys buy wine and spirits distributors, or is the wine and spirits opportunity too limited? For brands, what is the appeal of working with a beer wholesaler, and what are the risks and limitations? Contact us via email: bourcard.nesin@rabobank.com Sign up for our research via this link: Knowledge.Rabobank.com Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services
Wed, March 19, 2025
Latest spirits industry earnings: Trade wars, falling consumption, and excess inventories
In this episode, we review the latest earnings results from the spirits industry (Diageo, Pernod Ricard, Brown-Forman, Campari, Rémy Cointreau, Becle, and MGP Ingredients). Alongside individual company results, we discuss the impacts of declining sales in the US, the surprising health of the European market, the challenges created by aging inventory and wholesaler inventory, an evolution in pack and pricing strategy, the severe impact of a retaliatory Chinese anti-dumping investigation into cognac, and, of course, the fallout from the Trump-initiated trade wars with the US, Mexico, Canada and the European Union. Contact us via email: bourcard.nesin@rabobank.com Sign up for our research via this link: Knowledge.Rabobank.com Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services This episode was recorded on March 6, 2025. Things may have changed by the time you are listening to this podcast.
Wed, March 12, 2025
What we learned from the latest round of beer company earnings reports
As the first quarter comes to a close, we look back at the results from the largest global beer companies (Heineken, Carlsberg, AB InBev, Molson Coors, Constellation Brands, Royal Unibrew) and what they tell us about the health of the beer industry in the US, Europe, and the rest of the world. Later in the episode, we breakdown the potential impact of Trump administration tariffs for companies across the beverage alcohol industry. Contact us via email: bourcard.nesin@rabobank.com Sign up for our research via this link: Knowledge.Rabobank.com Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services. This episode was recorded on March 6, 2025, and as such, things may have changed by the time you listen to this podcast.
Tue, March 04, 2025
How to monitor and verify retail execution, feat. GoSpotCheck
For distributors, managing and verifying execution and incentive programs is a complicated task. For brands, it can feel impossible. In this episode, we speak to Cory Knopp from GoSpotCheck by FORM to discuss how distributors, brands, and retailers are using their photo-based technology to bring data and transparency to one of the most hard-to-measure and burdensome parts of the business. This is the final of four episodes recorded on-site at Access LIVE, the annual conference hosted by Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America. Contact us via email: bourcard.nesin@rabobank.com Sign up for our research via this link: Knowledge.Rabobank.com Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services
Thu, February 27, 2025
Using data-driven execution to eliminate out-of-stocks and more, feat. Jenda
Jenda is a US-based tech company that uses retailer website data to offer real-time updates on out-of-stocks, competitive set, and pricing at an outlet level. Jenda’s Amanda Wolff and Harry Shulman share how they are helping brands and distributors solve some of the industry’s most persistent and frustrating problems. This is the third of four episodes recorded on-site at Access LIVE, the annual conference hosted by Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America. Contact us via email: bourcard.nesin@rabobank.com Sign up for our research via this link: Knowledge.Rabobank.com Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services
Mon, February 24, 2025
US wholesalers are looking more European, from point of sale to online selling, featuring Hyble
Craig Letton and his company, Hyble, spent a decade refining the art of creating menus and point-of-sale materials across Europe. As his business expands across the US, Craig shares how Hyble is modernizing the production and design of point-of-sale materials and explains why so many of the strategies and technologies being adopted in the US have been standard practice among European brands and wholesalers for years. This is one of four episodes recorded onsite at Access LIVE, the annual conference hosted by Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America. Contact us via email: bourcard.nesin@rabobank.com Sign up for our research via this link: Knowledge.Rabobank.com Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services
Wed, February 19, 2025
Liquid Assets: WSWA featuring Francis Creighton
We caught up with Francis Creighton, President and CEO of WSWA, to get their take on Trump tariffs, how the industry should react to the growing pressure from public health organizations, and a range of other topics including taxes, cannabis, and a fun little anecdote involving Breaking Bad actor, Bryan Cranston. This is the first of four episodes recorded on-site at Access LIVE, the annual conference hosted by Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America. Contact us via email: bourcard.nesin@rabobank.com Sign up for our research via this link: Knowledge.Rabobank.com Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services.
Mon, January 27, 2025
How to negotiate a better distribution agreement
Over the last 25 years, distribution contracts in the US have shifted from handshake agreements to carefully negotiated legal documents. What do these contracts contain? As a brand, what is negotiable, what can you leverage to get a better deal, and what aspects of your business should never be compromised? Ed LeMay and Dale Stratton of Azur Associates join us to help answer these questions, sharing insights from decades of experience pioneering distribution strategy and sitting across the negotiating table with wholesalers. Sign up for our research via this link: Knowledge.Rabobank.com Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services
Wed, January 15, 2025
The 2025 economic outlook
Economics power duo Jane Foley and Christian Lawrence return to discuss the outlook for economic growth and the potential impact of tariffs and the Trump presidency in 2025. Have a question, qualm, or story to tell? Reach out via email: Bourcard.Nesin@rabobank.com Sign up to access our written research: RaboResearch sign-up Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services.
Fri, December 20, 2024
The third annual Quiz of the Year
In a show packed with passion, Kate Bernot and Bryan Roth of Sightlines and hosts of The Gist by Sightlines podcast help us identify the year’s most important stories from the world of beer. Things then turn competitive as we go head-to-head in our third annual Quiz of the Year. Will our guests remember how much alcohol a hamster can drink or how many nonalcoholic beer consumers play video games? You’ll have to tune in to find out. Happy holidays and thank you for tuning in to another year of the show! Sign up for our research via this link: Knowledge.Rabobank.com Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services
Tue, December 03, 2024
Your marketing is boring and too expensive, feat. Liquid Death
They sold skateboards colored with paint containing Tony Hawk’s actual blood. They bought a Superbowl ad and hired a witch to attend and influence the outcome of the game. They auctioned off a seven-foot, casket-shaped Yeti cooler that sold for USD 68,000. However you might feel about these stunts, the folks at Liquid Death know how to get attention. On this episode, the company’s CFO Karim Sadik-Khan and Chief Strategy Officer Marisa Bertha talk about the processes behind the brand’s success, their favorite marketing programs, and, of course, price pack architecture. Sign up for our research via this link: Knowledge.Rabobank.com Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services
Tue, November 19, 2024
Is the drop in alcohol sales a permanent problem or a short-term slump?
In this episode, the research team gets to the bottom of the biggest mystery confounding brands, investors, retailers, and distributors in 2024: Is the recent drop in US alcohol sales a short-term blip or the start of a more long-lived, structural decline? Sign up for our research via this link: Knowledge.Rabobank.com. Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services.
Thu, October 24, 2024
What is driving wholesaler consolidation? Featuring Republic National Distributing Company
Consolidation has transformed the world of wine and spirits distribution in the US. While everyone knows that consolidation happened, far fewer people understand the trends that pushed a few US wholesalers to achieve scale. Dave Lane and Tracy Aldworth, senior leaders from Republic National Distributing Company, discuss the drivers behind the structural changes to the middle tier and how their company is responding to remain competitive far into the future. Link to the latest RaboResearch distribution report: National Alignment: How US wine and spirits brands can get the most out of their wholesaler Sign up for our research via this link: Knowledge.Rabobank.com Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services
Mon, September 30, 2024
Maker's Mark and Fever-Tree make a cocktail
KK Hall, Global Brand Vice President for Maker’s Mark, and Charles Gibb, Fever-Tree’s North America CEO, joined forces to create a blood orange ginger beer formulated especially to pair with Maker's Mark. So far, it seems like the project has exceeded expectations, bringing bourbon into new consumption occasions that appeal to broader audiences and helping both brands grab the attention of retailers and distributors alike. Rabobank clients can sign up for our research via this link: knowledge.rabobank.com Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services.
Tue, September 10, 2024
How to outgrow the market, featuring Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits
Josh Cellars is arguably the most successful wine brand of this generation, and Deutsch did much of that work while the overall industry was struggling. How did they do it? The company’s President, Tom Steffanci, and Chief Brand Officer, Dan Kleinman, discuss their unique approach to brand building, distribution, the positioning of the wine category, and the meticulous measurements they use to maximize the return on their marketing spending. Rabobank clients can sign up for our research via this link: Knowledge.Rabobank.com Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services.
Tue, August 20, 2024
Lightweighting – an elegant path to better margins and lower emissions
Adapted from a live webinar hosted by Rabobank in July, this unique episode brings together experts from The Wine Group, Jackson Family Wines, and Crimson Wine Group, who joined forces to share best practices on lightweighting or “right-weighting” glass packaging. The panel includes: Tony Maan, Vice President of Supplier Development at The Wine Group Colleen Fitzgerald, chenin blanc viognier winemaker and Chair of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Measurement Committee at Crimson Wine Group Mitch Davis, Executive Vice President – Operations at Jackson Family Wines Rabobank clients can read the original RaboResearch report on lightweighting on our website: Wine Quarterly Q4 2023: Why weight? Wine’s biggest sustainability problem is also the easiest to fix and sign up for our research via this link: Knowledge.Rabobank.com Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services.
Wed, July 31, 2024
Liquid Assets: Fevertree Part 1
Charles Gibb, CEO of Fever-Tree North America, offers an update on the mixers market, exploring how this fast-growing segment intersects with consumer trends, retailer objectives, and distribution. And, of course, we discuss the strategy that propelled a premium mixer brand into a billion-dollar company. Rabobank clients can sign up for our research via this link: Knowledge.Rabobank.com Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services.
Wed, July 10, 2024
The big beer distribution draft feat. Harry Schuhmacher and Sarah Barrett
With help from industry icons Harry Schuhmacher and Sarah Barrett, the folks responsible for publications like Beer Business Daily and Wine & Spirits Business Daily , we use a fitting format, a draft, to debate the toughest and the most helpful trends and topics facing beer distributors in 2024. Rabobank clients can sign up for our research via this link: knowledge.rabobank.com Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services.
Wed, June 19, 2024
Economic update: Are things getting better or worse?
Rabobank’s senior market strategist, Christian Lawrence, returns for his record-setting tenth appearance on the podcast to discuss major economic trends like inflation, labor markets, consumer spending, credit card debt, and the potential impact of elections and geopolitics around the globe. Rabobank clients can sign up for our research via this link: Research.Rabobank.com Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services.
Fri, May 17, 2024
Without enough oranges, the juice industry gets squeezed
The global orange juice industry is in crisis. The Florida industry has all but disappeared, and Brazilian groves are plagued by disease, rising costs, and unfavorable growing conditions, leaving global orange juice supplies at their lowest point in decades. Prices are skyrocketing, consumer demand has been falling for years, and operators across the value chain are left wondering what’s next. Listen in as Rabobank’s citrus expert, Andrés Padilla, shares the takeaways from his latest report on the global orange juice industry and its future. For more on this topic, be sure to read the report: Global Orange Juice Outlook 2024/25 Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services. Sign up for research (free for clients): Research.Rabobank.com
Tue, April 30, 2024
US wine and spirits sales: How bad is it, really?
SipSource analysts Dale Stratton and Danny Brager are two of the most influential and respected experts in the US wine and spirits industry. In an expansive discussion, Danny and Dale help us dissect the drivers behind falling wine and spirits sales and whether things will get worse before they get better. Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services.
Tue, April 16, 2024
Brewers resilient despite a wrench in the COGS
In a recent and much anticipated report, Senior Analyst Francois Sonneville modeled the spot market and actual prices paid among public beer companies in North America, Europe, and China. We discuss his findings and his ideas on how brewers can better control production costs and where future cost pressure may come from. Be sure to download Francois’ report: Beer COGS dashboard Q4 2023 Clients can sign up for research here: Research.Rabobank.com Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services.
Thu, March 28, 2024
The future of online alcohol marketplaces, featuring Breakthru Beverage Group
At this year’s Access LIVE conference in Las Vegas, we sat down with Breakthru Beverage Group’s Head of Digital and E-commerce Mike Boswell for an impromptu conversation on alcohol marketplaces. We explore the relevance and value of marketplaces at different levels of the value chain, discussing Drizly on the consumer-facing side and Provi for a business-to-business perspective. For more on this topic, be sure to read our latest report: Why Drizly never delivered . Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services.
Thu, March 07, 2024
Neo-prohibitionism, Ozempic, and the end of the tequila boom?
Is neo-prohibitionism a threat to the alcohol business? Will GLP-1 agonists decrease alcohol sales? Are soft drinks companies losing interest in their effort to develop alcohol brands? To debate these and other controversial topics, the RaboResearch Beverage team plays one of our favorite games: Buy, Sell, Hold! Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services.
Fri, February 02, 2024
Southern Glazer’s talks industry trends, inventory, and digitalization
As the largest wine and spirits distributor in North America, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits has a unique perspective on the US alcohol market. Senior leaders David Chaplin (Chief Growth Officer), John Wittig (Chief Commercial Officer), and Alan Wizeman (Chief Digital Officer) share their views on the health of the US alcohol market, consumer trends, distributor inventories, and the fast evolving world of business-to-business e-commerce. Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services.
Tue, January 09, 2024
2024 economic outlook
Economic power duo Jane Foley and Christian Lawrence return to discuss the outlook for a recession, interest rates, inflation, and consumer spending and how these economic trends could impact food and beverage companies as we enter the new year. Rabobank clients can sign up for our research via this link: research.rabobank.com. Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services.
Wed, December 13, 2023
Soft drinks boom, spirits hungover, and consumers reach an inflection point
For the first time in more than a year, the Liquid Assets team gets to do a recording in the same room. They take turns picking news stories that speak to wider trends impacting the beverages industry. Rabobank clients can sign up for our research via this link: Research.Rabobank.com Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services.
Mon, November 20, 2023
The history of bourbon, as told by Heaven Hill
Bourbon has been booming for years, but that growth was preceded by a half century of hardship, hard work, and good luck that laid the groundwork for the soaring category we see today. Heaven Hill’s Max Shapira and Kate Latts lived through the good times and the bad. We tap that experience to understand the winding path that has led American whiskey to its current zenith and what more recent trends could mean for the future of this “distinctively” American spirit. Rabobank clients can sign up for our research via this link: Research.Rabobank.com Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services.
Tue, October 31, 2023
Sports marketing 101
David Broughton, a journalist and director of research for Sports Business Journal, discusses the history of sports advertising, how it is evolving, and what recent changes to the industry mean for building brands on the back of humanity’s most beloved pastimes. Rabobank clients can sign up for our research via this link: Research.Rabobank.com Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services.
Fri, September 22, 2023
What Kind of M&A Deals Will We See in 2024?
With one of our favorite guests, consumer foods specialist Maria Castroviejo, and one of our favorite formats (a draft!), we debate the strategies that will drive beverage M&A deals over the next 12 to 18 months. Rabobank clients can read our report The New Deal Environment by logging in to our website. Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services.
Tue, August 22, 2023
The State of the US Craft Industry
Margie Lehrman, CEO of the American Craft Spirits Association, and Bart Watson, Chief Economist for the Brewers Association, team up to discuss the winds of change blowing through the craft industry. Not long ago, the seas of craft beer and spirits were all smooth sailing as operators expanded into new, undiscovered territory. As costs rise, consumers shrug, and investors start to feel uneasy, many craft operators have been forced to batten down the hatches and rethink their long-term strategy, lest they should be blown off course.
Thu, July 27, 2023
Consumer Demand – Going Beyond the Headline Data
Liquid Assets hosts Stephen Rannekleiv and Jim Watson sit down with Rabobank economists Christian Lawrence and Jane Foley to dig beneath the headline consumer data and provide a clearer view on where demand (and the economy) is heading in the second half of 2023.
Tue, June 20, 2023
A Liquid Assets Celebration
Steve and Jim invite Liquid Assets listeners to join them in congratulating Bourcard for becoming a father… on Father’s Day. Congrats Buki!!!
Thu, June 15, 2023
Can Changes to Ingredients Help Fight Inflation? Kerry on Innovation vs. Reformulation
There are two major ways that beverage companies are changing their ingredients to fight inflation. Some brands are looking to cut costs by replacing their more expensive ingredients with cheaper ones. Others brands are developing new products or modifying existing products to increase revenues by adding more functional ingredients or making healthier versions of those products. We are joined by John Kelly and Paul Villis from the Kerry Group. They help us better understand what drives these decisions and share their experiences from helping brands manage this process.
Thu, June 01, 2023
How Is a New Brand Supposed to Find Distribution in the US?
As the big get bigger, many new brands and foreign brands are wondering how to get attention in the massive and complicated US distribution landscape? Sara Harmelin, Vice President – Digital & Innovation at Allied Beverage Group, and Michael Bilello, Executive Vice President – Strategic Communications & Marketing at WSWA, are both part of Access Craft, a program from WSWA to help smaller and new-to-market brands navigate the three-tier system and get the most of out their distributors. They share some success stories, best practices, and sage advice on finding success in the US market.
Thu, May 04, 2023
Breakthru’s Danny Wirtz on Digital, Alternative Routes-to-market, and How Brands Can Get the Most out of Distributors
We sit down with Danny Wirtz, vice chairman and a fourth-generation family leader at Breakthru Beverage Group, to discuss M&A, the digitalization of distribution, and how brands can work better with distributors in this time of uncertainty. Breakthru has a larger beer business than most other wine and spirits distributors, giving Danny unique insights into why some wine and spirits brands are choosing to work with beer wholesalers.
Wed, April 26, 2023
WSWA’s Tom Cole and Francis Creighton on Distribution Trends, Marijuana Legalization, and More
Tom Cole (Chairman) and Francis Creighton (President and CEO) help lead Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA). We sat down with Tom and Francis at WSWA’s annual conference, Access LIVE, to kick off our series on US distribution. They share their views on industry trends, competition, and their legislative agenda for the year ahead.
Fri, April 07, 2023
How Are Beverages Performing Around the Globe?
To show off the global reach of the RaboResearch Beverages team, Steve and Bourcard sit down with analysts across four different continents, collecting stories about the economy and how it is affecting beverage brands around the world. Episode breakdown: 1:23 - Jim Watson on the latest US beverage pricing data and why some brands are outperforming the competition. 18:21 - Andrés Padilla & Guilherme Morya on the Brazilian economy and how it is impacting the local coffee market. 31:31 - Sudip Sinha on how beverage brands are navigating the economy in markets across Asia. 40:53 - Francois Sonneville on the European economy and the on-premise in the UK. 48:57 - Maria Castroviejo & Bourcard Nesin on the outlook for e-commerce sales in Europe and the US. This podcast was based on the latest edition of the Beverage Market Buzz: Click here to read the report.
Thu, March 09, 2023
Will Beer Be More Profitable in 2023?
Against all odds, most big brewers were able to grow their business and expand margins in 2022. Can they do it again in 2023, or will lagging cost pressures and backlash from recent price increases come back to bite them? The authors of Rabobank’s latest Beer Quarterly report share how brewers are working to control costs, boost revenues, and present their outlook on big-brewer balance sheets for the year ahead. Click here to read Rabobank’s latest Beer Quarterly report: “Have Cost Increases Finally Stopped?”
Mon, February 13, 2023
What Do Young People Want? Feat. Beatbox Beverages
At Liquid Assets, we take pride in avoiding “how-I-built-this” stories. But once in a while, a brand comes along whose path to success is so unique, so unexpected, that the best and most insightful question you can ask is: “How?” Beatbox Beverages is one of those companies. Cofounders Aimy Steadman (COO) and Brad Shultz (CMO) share the origins of the brand, how they stay connected to young 21+ consumers, how they leverage beer distributors to get more attention and find the right accounts, and why they talk sustainability to the trade and not consumers.
Tue, January 24, 2023
The 2023 Economic Outlook
Economist power duo Jane Foley and Christian Lawrence return to discuss the most important economic trends heading into the new year and what a potential recession, persistent inflation, labor shortages, and a cost-of-living crisis for lower-income consumers could mean for the beverage industry.
Wed, December 21, 2022
Second Annual Quiz-of-the-Year
In a show packed with passionate debate, fierce competition, and even mutiny, journalist Kate Bernot (Good Beer Hunting, Craft Beer & Brewing magazine) and Brewbound Managing Editor Jess Infante help us process the most important stories from 2022. Kate and Jess also do a bit of a takeover, hosting the second annual Liquid Assets Quiz-of-the-Year. Happy holidays, everyone! Thanks for tuning in and supporting yet another year of the show!
Wed, November 30, 2022
Crypto-Death, Innovation, and Marijuana Burnouts
Using recent industry headlines for inspiration, we break down three big questions on the minds of many beverage executives: Could a change in investor mindset brought on by the collapse of cryptocurrencies be good for the beverage business? What new brands and partnerships are working best at big beverage companies? Has the hype surrounding marijuana and CBD finally burned out?
Wed, November 02, 2022
Get Ready for an Energy Crisis!
An energy crisis caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine is devastating the European economy. There is a global shortage of diesel, the go-to fuel source for the trains, trucks, and ships that support economic activity around the world. And greenhouse gas emissions are rising as households, governments, and businesses scramble for affordable, yet dirtier, sources of energy. Rabobank’s energy strategist Joe DeLaura and head of FX strategy Jane Foley join us to explain how we arrived at this crisis and why it might take a decade to address the underlying causes.
Tue, October 04, 2022
How AB InBev’s E-commerce Team Wants To Bring Sales and Marketing Teams Together
E-commerce and digital marketing are blurring the lines between sales and marketing, but sales and marketing teams don’t always get along. Carolyn Brown, Head of Commerce Marketing at AB InBev, and Rebecca Christiansen, AB InBev’s Director of eCommerce, see this as an opportunity to help their sales and marketing teams better understand each other and increase collaboration, setting up the world’s largest brewer for success in the digital age.
Wed, September 14, 2022
From Clipboards to The Cloud: The Digital Revolution Comes to Supply Chains, feat. Amazon
While many CPG companies are still keeping records on clipboards, new technologies like cloud computing, connected factories, and AI are helping more innovative firms capture and analyze the data they need to navigate disruption, reduce waste, optimize operations, and ultimately improve their margins. Alongside two guests from Amazon Web Services, Justin Honaman and Michael Connor, we explore how CPG companies are taking advantage of these new technologies and the digital revolution that is reshaping supply chains around the world.
Wed, August 24, 2022
AB InBev and Coca-Cola Want to Build a Playground for Sustainable Innovation With the 100+ Accelerator
The 100+ Accelerator is a partnership between AB InBev, The Coca-Cola Company, Unilever, and Colgate-Palmolive that allows sustainability-focused startups to pilot their innovations within the supply chains of these four multinational CPG companies. In an unmissable conversation, Molun Zhang of The Coca-Cola Company and Carolina García Arbeláez of AB InBev discuss their companies’ biggest sustainability challenges and how this new collaborative approach, the 100+ Accelerator, is helping to solve them. Rabobank clients can sign up for our research via this link: Research.Rabobank.com
Wed, July 27, 2022
A Recession Seems Inevitable – How Bad Could It Be?
As the world braces for recession, Rabobank’s world-class economists Jane Foley and Christian Lawrence join the Liquid Assets team to dissect the most recent economic news and share what indicators they’ll be watching in the months ahead. Check out our 2022 economics preview from January: The Most Important Trends of 2022 . Rabobank clients can sign up for our research via this link: Research.Rabobank.com
Wed, June 29, 2022
Inflation Is Changing Beverage Packaging
Could inflation force beverage companies to rethink their packaging choices? And could those changes have a positive impact on climate change? With help from Packaging and Supply Chains Analyst Xinnan Li, we explore what is driving up costs in packaging and some less disruptive changes companies can make to address those problems in the near term. Our next episode will be dedicated to structural changes that may be needed to address packaging costs, waste, and the climate crisis. Links to our article series on costs and packaging: Part 1 – Inflation's Impact on Beverage Supply Chain and Packaging Decisions Part 2 – Rethinking Materials, Because It’s Not Just What’s Inside That Counts Part 3 – Location, Location, Location Part 4 – Improving Recycling To Bring Every Bottle Back Part 5 – Will Inflation Fuel the Rebirth of Reusable Packaging?
Thu, June 09, 2022
Black Girl Magic & The Art of Mass Appeal
McBride Sisters is a Black-owned brand that explicitly – though not exclusively – markets to Black women. As a consequence, the media, retailers and distributors, often assume your brand must only appeal to Black women or worse, that it might actively push away other consumer groups. With help from Co-founder and CEO, Andréa McBride, we learn more about one of the fastest growing wine brands in the US and summarily destroy the idea that marketing to an underserved consumer group could undermine your relationship with others.
Wed, May 18, 2022
Buy, Sell, or Hold: 15 Hot Takes in 45 Minutes
In a format designed to maximize controversy, the Liquid Assets team analyzes some of the industry’s most urgent and contentious opinions and predictions. Expect plenty of rapid-fire debates as they answer questions like "Is hard seltzer dead?" "In two years, will anyone be talking about NFTs?" and "Will the US ever legalize marijuana?" Rabobank clients can sign up for our research via this link: Research.Rabobank.com
Tue, April 26, 2022
How To Take Your E-commerce Marketing to the Next Level, featuring Constellation Brands
Constellation Brands’ Vice President of E-commerce, Wayne Duan, returns alongside Sara Master, Constellation Brands’ Senior Director of E-commerce Marketing & Digital Shelf, to discuss how alcohol brands can take their e-commerce marketing to the next level. In this episode, we discuss: The importance of digital content and how brands can maximize the impact of the digital shelf The evolution and growing importance of performance marketing and retail media How category advisory and captaincy are evolving in the digital world Additional Resources: To access Rabobank’s 2022 Alcohol E-commerce Playbook, click here . Rabobank clients can sign up for our research via this link: Research.Rabobank.com
Wed, April 13, 2022
How Big Is the E-commerce Opportunity for Alcohol Brands? featuring Constellation Brands
Constellation Brands’ Vice President of E-commerce, Wayne Duan, and Adam Springer, Constellation's Director of E-commerce Category Advisory, help the Liquid Assets team breakdown the US online alcohol business. In the first of two episodes featuring the digital team from Constellation Brands, we tackle big picture questions like: How much has the pandemic changed the e-commerce landscape for US alcohol brands? How should alcohol companies approach their e-commerce investment? What does the average online alcohol shopper look like? In a world of tied-house laws, how can brands improve the online shopping experience? Additional resources: To access Rabobank’s 2022 Alcohol E-commerce playbook, click here . Rabobank clients can sign up for our research via this link: Research.Rabobank.com (just list Bourcard Nesin as your “Relationship Manager”)
Wed, March 16, 2022
The Worst Supply Chain Disruptions, Ranked
Inflation, war, and general chaos are disrupting every aspect of the beer value chain. To help brewers plan through this conflagration of unfortunate events, we invited Bart Watson, Chief Economist for the Brewers Association, and Michael Uhrich, former Chief Economist for the Beer Institute and now principal at Seventh Point Analytic Consulting, on to the show. With their help, we use a draft to identify the most important themes from the current inflation and supply chain crisis and how brewers might manage them. Rabobank clients can sign up for our research via this link: Research.Rabobank.com
Fri, February 25, 2022
What Could Monster Devour Next?
February may be the shortest month, but this year, it has felt like the longest. To break it all down, the Liquid Assets team discusses the biggest stories from the past few weeks: Monster Beverage Corp’s beer dealings, the US Treasury Department’s report on fairness and competition in the US alcohol industry, and, finally, the potential impact of a global public policy push to reduce alcohol consumption.
Tue, February 01, 2022
The Most Important Economic Trends of 2022
Get up-to-date on equity markets, labor, and inflation as Rabobank’s world-class economists Jane Foley and Christian Lawrence join the Liquid Assets team to dissect the economic stories you need to pay attention to in 2022.
Tue, December 28, 2021
The Quiz of the Year!
Journalist Kate Bernot ( Good Beer Hunting, Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine ) and Brewbound Managing Editor Jess Infante, help us debate the biggest stories from the past 12 months. Things then turn fiercely competitive, as we go head-to-head in Liquid Asset’s first ever 'Quiz of the Year'. Happy New Year, everyone! Thanks for tuning in.
Thu, December 09, 2021
Can We Fix Big Beer?
The old playbook of geographic expansion, consolidation, and premiumization were widely successful, but those strategies seem to have run their course. If big brewers want to grow, they’ll have look outside of the beer category. In this episode, we bring you success stories from around the globe of brewers diversifying their portfolio and outline a strategy that could help all beverage companies take full advantage of this changing world. Read our latest Beer Quarterly: research.rabobank.com
Thu, November 11, 2021
Celebrity Partnerships 101: Featuring Elizabeth Banks & Archer Roose
Earlier this year, Marian Leitner-Waldman, CEO of canned wine brand Archer Roose, found an unusual business partner: the actor, producer, and director Elizabeth Banks. Celebrity-backed brands are not a new phenomenon, but the trend is gaining considerable momentum in beverages. In this episode, Marian and Elizabeth (now Co-Owner and Chief Creative Officer at the company) help us understand celebrity partnerships as a modern brand-building strategy – discussing why they joined forces, where they expect their collaboration to pay dividends, and their plan moving forward.
Fri, October 15, 2021
Are Brands Built in the On-premise?
Steve Chasen, VP of Trade Marketing at Campari America, helped execute one of the most successful on-premise brand-building campaigns in history: that of the Aperol spritz. Linden Pride, Co-Founder & President of Dante NYC, is the proprietor of Caffe Dante, which was named the "World’s Best Bar" in 2019 and played a major role in popularizing the eminently Instagrammable fluorescent-orange cocktail. Together, they help us answer an important question: In the age of social media, e-commerce, and celebrity brands, how do you build a brand in the on-premise?
Tue, September 21, 2021
Occasion-Based Marketing, featuring Pinterest
Pinterest is a powerful platform for occasion-based marketing. Kym Lewis, their Partnership Manager for beverages, and Tina Pukonen, their Global Head of Vertical Strategy & Marketing, share their best practices for building an occasion-based marketing strategy, on Pinterest and beyond.
Wed, September 01, 2021
Portfolio Rebuilds: Is the Cash Always Greener on the Other Side?
We started our conversation expecting to talk about the news, but so much of the news has been dominated by major beverage companies shaking up their portfolio. Whether it was Molson Coors shutting down 11 brands, Coca-Cola cutting its portfolio in half, PepsiCo selling its juice brands for USD 3bn or Boston Beer partnering with PepsiCo and Beam Suntory, we try to figure out how each of these decisions fit into a larger strategy and what they may mean for the future of the beverage industry.
Thu, August 12, 2021
DISCUS and the Drive for New Spirits Regulations
Chris Swonger, CEO of Distilled Spirits Council of the United States and Responsibility.org , and David Ozgo, their Chief Economist, talk about regulations, tariffs, and the overall well-being of the US spirits industry.
Wed, July 14, 2021
The Inflation Sensation That’s Sweeping the Nation
They warned us about the return of inflation during their last appearance on Liquid Assets . Now, six months later, we welcome back the Rabobank economic duo, Jane Foley and Christian Lawrence to discuss this pesky inflation situation and dive deep into how the beverage industry is dealing with upstream price spikes and shortages.
Fri, June 25, 2021
Behind the Scenes: The Best and Worst of Liquid Assets
We have just completed three years of producing Liquid Assets, and it is high time for some joyful navel-gazing. In this episode, we look back at three years of the show and discuss what we got right and what we got wrong, and we send some love to the industry leaders who inform and inspire us and fill us with jealous rage.
Wed, June 02, 2021
Wine Industry Outlook: Sunny With a Chance of Flowers
This week, we are joined by Wine Industry Person of the Year, Heidi Scheid, and leading industry analyst Dale Stratton to discuss how quickly the wine industry will recover from Covid-19 and the opportunity for the wine industry to tap into health and wellness trends.
Tue, May 11, 2021
Flavor and Ingredient Innovation Trends, with Kerry Group
When a beverage company wants to create a new product – anything from a new line extension to a non-alcoholic drink – they turn to companies like Kerry Group. John Kelly and Paul Villis take a break from their work at Kerry Group to discuss product, ingredient, and flavor innovation trends.
Tue, April 27, 2021
The Future of the Malt Market
In this episode, we're joined by Rabobank analysts Francois Sonneville and Maria Afonso as well as Brent Atthill, CEO of RMI Analytics and former global procurement director at SAB Miller and AB InBev, to take a look upstream at the malting barley supply chain, how it is evolving, and how it is linked to the overall health of the beer industry around the globe. To learn more: Rabobank’s Malting Industry Outlook Podcast: What Will Australia Do With All of Its Barley?
Tue, April 13, 2021
Why Big Companies Are Going DTC
Our guest Wayne Blum is currently Director of US E-Commerce Strategy and Partnerships at Diageo, but before that he led digital for Nestlé Waters and their direct-to-consumer (DTC) business, ReadyRefresh. Wayne joins us to discuss why the world’s biggest brands are interested in going DTC, the challenges they face in the channel, and what’s behind the success of the world’s largest and most profitable DTC programs in the food and beverage world. For more reading, check out our latest reports on DtC Strategy: Are You Doing DtC All Wrong? Community Commerce: A New Model for Beverages
Tue, March 23, 2021
How to Build Digitally Native Brands, Featuring Vinebox Inc.
For Matt Dukes and Rachel Vodofsky, it wasn’t enough to build one successful digitally native brand. They built two! Leveraging learnings and consumer insights from their wine-tasting subscription service, Vinebox, they were able to successfully build a stand-alone sister brand, Usual. On this episode, Rachel and Matt explain what it takes to build a sustainable direct-to-consumer business, create value for consumers, and perhaps even revolutionize your brand development pipeline. For more, check out our latest reports on direct-to-consumer strategy: Are You Doing Direct-to-Consumer All Wrong? Community Commerce: A New Model for Beverages (for Rabobank clients only)
Thu, March 11, 2021
Beer, Hard Seltzer, and One Crazy Year — featuring Lester Jones
On March 11, 2020, the WHO officially designated the Covid-19 crisis a pandemic. One year later, we’ve asked NBWA chief economist Lester Jones to help us reflect on how beer – or should we say hard seltzer – consumption has changed and ask for an update on the recovery of bars and restaurants. Lastly, we have a lively debate about the most important trends facing America’s beer distributors: hard seltzer, RTDs, and digital transformation.
Fri, February 19, 2021
SPACial Report: Pat Roney on the Vintage Wine Estates Merger
Our guest this week is Pat Roney, CEO and Founding Partner of Vintage Wine Estates. Pat’s company is going to merge with Bespoke Capital Acquisition Corp, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). The USD 690m deal may not be the biggest we see in 2021, but it is super important and could set off a new trend in M&A, with massive repercussions for the wider beverage industry. For more on the latest trends in the wine and spirits industry, check out Rabobank’s latest Wine Quarterly report: Click here!
Mon, January 25, 2021
The 2021 Economic Outlook
Following a tough year, 2021 hasn’t had the most auspicious beginning. Will things improve? To better understand the economic outlook for the year ahead, we invited Rabobank’s Senior Markets Analyst, Christian Lawrence, and Rabobank’s Head of FX Strategy, Jane Foley, to discuss markets, the economy, and what a new US administration could mean for beverage companies.
Tue, December 22, 2020
An Episode Not About Covid-19
Luckily for you, our last episode of 2020 is totally Covid-free. No mention of 'unprecedented times,' 'uncertainty,' or 'trying times,' and definitely no use of the phrase 'the new normal.' Steve, Jim, and Bourcard break down three stories that caught their attention and are (mostly) not Covid-19 related: Bang! and PepsiCo’s tumultuous first year of marriage, the growing investments in alcohol e-commerce, and what beverage M&A trends tell us about how companies are thinking about innovation.
Mon, November 30, 2020
Can Bars and Restaurants Recover by 2022? (featuring the Consumer Foods To Go podcast)
This week we partnered with our sister podcast, Consumer Foods To Go , to discuss how bars, restaurants, and manufacturers have survived Covid-19 thus far and how quickly they can recover (fingers crossed) once the pandemic is over. Listeners of Liquid Assets will love the work done by the team at Consumer Foods To Go . If you are interested in trends in retail, foodservice, or packaged foods, you can subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast app.
Wed, November 04, 2020
Seedlip and the World of Non-Alcoholic Cocktails
We tour the world of non-alcoholic spirits and cocktails through the eyes of the people who built its most recognizable and pioneering brands. Ben Branson, CEO and founder of Seedlip, and Claire Warner, co-founder of Aecorn, discuss their brands, how the industry should approach the non-alcoholic spirits category, and their partnership with Diageo.
Wed, October 14, 2020
Covid-19 Couldn’t Kill Coffee
A few months back, the outlook for specialty coffee was dire. Industry leaders feared that more than half of the coffee shops in the US would permanently close. To our delight and surprise, small coffee shops and roasters have proved far more resilient. Peter Giuliano, Chief Research Officer for the Specialty Coffee Association, shares how coffee shops have pivoted and become more digital and community-focused to not only survive but thrive in the current environment. We also discuss how the shift to at-home coffee consumption could reshape the industry long term, particularly the kind of coffee available at your local grocery store.
Thu, September 24, 2020
The Race for White Space
Thirsty for growth, beverage companies are shrugging off the yoke of tradition in search of greener pastures. Whether invading adjacent categories or creating new ones, big companies are pouring investment into new spaces where their skills and distribution offer them a distinct advantage. In this episode, we take a look at these ‘white spaces’ from four different angles.
Wed, September 02, 2020
Social Commerce: The Basics With Rachel Tipograph
Social media is starting to blur the lines between marketing and e-commerce. Rachel Tipograph, a leader in the digital marketing world and CEO of MikMak, helps us breakdown the basics: what social commerce is, why it's important to your business, and how you can use it to grow your brands.
Thu, August 20, 2020
News Roundup: Earnings, Innovation, and Building a Long-Term Plan
Liquid Assets gets newsy! Instead of covering one topic this week, we help you catch up on some of the biggest news from recent weeks – accompanied by our expert commentary, of course. Later, we spend some time with Rabobank senior analyst Sudip Sinha on his playbook for capturing attention and sales from consumers stuck at home.
Tue, July 21, 2020
Pubs in the UK: What to Expect as Things Reopen
Just days before pubs were set to reopen in the UK, we caught up with Steve Alton from the British Institute of Innkeeping. As CEO of the leading membership organization supporting on-trade establishments in the UK, Steve has a unique perspective on the well-being of the UK pub scene and how it is changing as a consequence of Covid-19. We talk about the role of the pub, digital transformations in hospitality, the impact on big beer vs. craft, and more. It’s bigger than just a UK story and will no doubt resonate with operators in the US, Europe, and the rest of the world.
Thu, July 02, 2020
The Future of Distribution with RNDC's Tom Cole
Tom Cole is CEO of RNDC, one of the largest distributors in the United States. Tom came on the show to discuss how his company is helping bars and restaurants navigate the reopening process, how distributors are supporting growth of e-commerce, and the long-term impacts of COVID-19 on the wholesaler business (hint: more consolidation). This episode was recorded on June 17th.
Wed, June 17, 2020
Can You Do Well... Without Doing Good?
Historically, companies could choose between two things: making lots of money or making the world a better place. Our guest, a leading voice in the world of marketing for over two decades, would argue that the opposite is true. If you want your business to do well, then you've got to do good – not just talk about it. We are seeing an example of this play out in real time. People around the world are pushing back against systemic racism. Consumers are demanding companies and brands do more than show solidarity; they are demanding action. Our guest, Ian Schafer, is an entrepreneur and former digital marketing executive who worked on campaigns for companies like PepsiCo, Diageo, Nestlé, and Unilever. His latest venture, Kindred, leverages live events (both digital and in-person) to galvanize purpose-led business transformation around the world. In this episode, Ian explains why purpose and accountability are so integral to the future of brand building and so much more.
Wed, June 03, 2020
Beyond the Numbers With Nielsen’s Danny Brager
The data provided by Nielsen is a critical asset for the beverage industry, helping leaders understand and plan around the impacts of the current crisis. Our guest, Danny Brager, is SVP of Nielsen’s US Beverage Alcohol Practice. In this episode, Danny takes us beyond the headline numbers to answer some pressing questions about the recent dynamics of consumer behavior and how past recessions have impacted consumption, and he offers a framework for how he is looking at the future. Note: This episode was recorded on May 18, 2020.
Thu, April 30, 2020
Will Covid-19 Crisis Crush Craft Beer?
A recent survey of US craft brewers suggests that 60% of US craft breweries will close if severe social distancing guidelines aren’t lifted by June. As chief economist for the Brewers Association, Bart Watson (Dr. Watson, actually) was one of the people who produced that survey. With help from Bart, we take the pulse of the craft beer business and discuss whether we will recognize it after the Covid-19 crisis is over.
Wed, April 22, 2020
The Covid-19 Economy: How Bad Is It?
What will US and global GDP growth look like in 2020? What will the recovery from the current recession look like? What indicators should we be watching to know if things are getting better or worse? Rabobank’s fantastic Markets Strategist, Christian Lawrence, sits down to answer these questions and more as we discuss the macroeconomic impacts of Covid-19. This episode was recorded on April 17 and features Rabobank’s Senior Market Strategist Christian Lawrence, Senior Beverage Analyst Jim Watson, and Beverage Analyst Bourcard Nesin.
Tue, March 24, 2020
Covid-19: How Each Region Is Dealing With the Crisis
With the Covid-19 pandemic disrupting every aspect of daily life and business around the globe, we turned to our international team (Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America) for a briefing on how Covid-19 is impacting consumers and businesses in their regions and what steps governments are taking to control its spread. We recorded this episode early morning on Monday March 23rd.
Tue, March 03, 2020
What Is Driving M&A in the Wine Industry?
For the third and final episode recorded onsite during the Unified Wine Symposium, we were lucky enough to sit down with the one and only Mario Zeponni to discuss all things related to wine M&A. There’s probably no one better to talk about the M&A scene in the California.
Wed, February 26, 2020
What a Tough Bulk Market Means for US Wine
Few people know the bulk wine market better than Glenn Proctor. Glenn is a partner at Ciatti, a global bulk wine brokerage firm. We bumped into Glenn at the Unified Wine Symposium in Sacramento and convinced him to sit down for an impromptu podcast recording on how the bulk wine market is affecting both growers and wineries – and how some companies are taking advantage of the current low-cost environment to innovate, build relationships, and create new brands.
Tue, February 18, 2020
Can US Wine Win Back Its Mojo?
With help from the wine industry legend, Dr. Mike Veseth, we debate how the US wine industry can overcome recent challenges and return to growth. Mike is an author, academic, lecturer, and editor of the popular blog, The Wine Economist. This is the first of three episodes we recorded on-site at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium and features Rabobank’s Global Strategist Stephen Rannekleiv and Analyst Bourcard Nesin
Tue, January 21, 2020
E-Commerce Strategy With Constellation Brands: Part II
Wayne Duan and Ben Galvin from Constellation Brands return for the second episode in our two-part series on e-commerce. This time around, we look at the future of e-commerce in the alcohol industry – and how brands can take an active role in shaping what the industry will look like in 2025.
Mon, January 20, 2020
E-Commerce Strategy With Constellation Brands: Part I
Wayne Duan and Ben Galvin help lead Constellation Brand’s digital strategy. In this episode – the first in a two-part series – Wayne and Ben share their thoughts as we breakdown the biggest trends in alcohol e-commerce and discuss the most urgent challenges the alcohol industry faces in the digital world.
Fri, December 20, 2019
A 2020 Recession: How to Prepare for a Downturn
Rabobank’s team of economists says there is an 80% chance of a recession in 2020. For our last episode of 2019, we sat down with our Senior Market Strategist, Christian Lawrence, to talk about the economic outlook for 2020. Then we discuss what a downturn could mean for consumer behavior, investor behavior, and, ultimately, food & beverage companies. Recorded: December 10, 2019 This episode features Senior Market Strategist Christian Lawrence, Global Beverage Strategist Stephen Rannekleiv, Senior Analyst Jim Watson, and Analyst Bourcard Nesin.
Tue, December 03, 2019
Deal and No Deal: Beverage M&A in 2019
It’s been a big year for M&A in the beverage alcohol industry. In this episode, we review the most important deals of 2019: the big, the small, and the unexpected. From the surge of craft-beer and spirits acquisitions to blockbuster, billion-dollar deals, we tell you what happened, how it affects your business, and what it means for the future of the industry. Please note: this episode was recorded on Nov. 22nd 2019. This episode features Rabobank’s global beverage strategist Stephen Rannekleiv, senior analyst Jim Watson, and analyst Bourcard Nesin, the millennial responsible for killing everything that was fun in the 1980s.
Wed, November 06, 2019
Eric Ottaway and Brooklyn Brew Up Something Special
Brooklyn Brewery has just launched their first non-alcoholic beer in the US, called Special Effects, after its resounding success in Europe. Non-alc beer may often be seen as an alternative to traditional beer, but our guest, Brooklyn CEO Eric Ottaway, insists that Special Effects offers incremental sales, bringing “more places, more occasions, and more people” into the beer category. In the US, non-alc beer sales are tiny but growing quickly, and despite large brewers reportedly prioritizing the category, we’ve seen very little innovation in non-alc beer. In this episode, Eric sits down with the RaboResearch team to discuss his company’s surprising push into and refreshing approach to the non-alc category and whether non-alc beer can gain a meaningful foothold with US consumers.
Tue, October 15, 2019
Hard Seltzer Storms the Light-Beer Fortress
Hard seltzer brands like White Claw and Truly have stormed onto the scene, injecting growth, excitement, and more than a little anxiety into the struggling US beer industry. Light and bubbly, and imminently 'sessionable,' hard seltzer has become a category unto itself. Its viral popularity offers big brewers an opportunity to draw female consumers away from the wine & spirits category – something they’ve struggled to achieve for decades. But, in order to do so, they face an unfamiliar challenge: Can they capture market share from 'big seltzer?'
Wed, September 18, 2019
¡Viva la Revolución! Coffee Drinkers Take to the Streets
All around the world, the growth of out-of-home coffee consumption has attracted a wave of investment from coffee players and non-coffee players alike. Coffee companies are facing new competition from all sides. Startups like Luckin’ are using tech and delivery to take new business models from zero to V60 in no time flat. Quick-service restaurants, supermarkets, and convenience stores are using coffee to attract new consumers throughout the day – often at the expense of established players. Since there is no single-origin for the changes in the out-of-home coffee world, we pour over the new businesses, strategies, and technologies that define the future of the industry. This international episode of the podcast features Rabobank’s global strategist Stephen Rannekleiv and senior analyst Sudip Sinha calling in from Manila, Phillipines, and senior analyst Jim Watson and analyst Bourcard Nesin calling in from New York City.
Tue, August 20, 2019
Joining Forces: How ZX and Kombrewcha Work Together
Kombrewcha, a hard kombucha company, joined the ZX Ventures portfolio in 2016. Kombucha is now a billion-dollar global industry. And while the famously tart, probiotic beverage has naturally occurring alcohol, Kombrewcha (4.4% ABV) was the first brand to take things one step further and introduce hard kombucha to the alcohol space. In this episode, Liz Tomic from ZX Ventures makes an encore performance alongside Kombrewcha CEO, Garret Bredenkamp, to explain how they work together to perfect their product, scale their business, and maintain the entrepreneurial spirit along the way. This episode also features Liquid Assets mainstays Jim Watson and Bourcard Nesin.
Tue, August 13, 2019
ZX Ventures: Inside AB InBev’s Growth and Innovation Group
ZX Ventures is AB InBev’s global growth and innovation group. They are best known as a corporate venture fund, boasting an impressive and far-reaching portfolio that includes Swish Beverages (Babe Wine), Hiball Energy, RateBeer, Master of Malt, and Tripel Karmeliet, among others. But ZX Ventures is much more than a corporate VC. Their 1,500-person team is tackling everything from e-commerce and brand experience to international craft. In this episode, Liz Tomic, Global Director of ZX Ventures’ Explore Fund, explains how ZX operates, her team’s investment strategy, and how they balance independence and accountability while driving innovation at the world’s largest beer company. This episode also features Rabobank’s global beverage strategist Stephen Rannekleiv, senior analyst Jim Watson, and analyst Bourcard Nesin.
Wed, July 24, 2019
The Triple Bottom-Line With Jackson Family Wines
Jackson Family Wines has achieved a 33% drop in greenhouse gas emissions and a 60% reduction in the water required to produce a bottle of wine over the last decade. In February, the company, together with Familia Torres, announced a new working group, International Wineries for Climate Action, with a mission to decarbonize the wine industry. On this episode, Katie Jackson and Julien Gevreau from Jackson Family Wines share their bold vision for a more sustainable wine industry and the progress they’ve made in their own operations to reduce emissions and increase efficiency – all while becoming more profitable in the process. This episode was recorded on location at JFW headquarters in Santa Rosa, California, and is hosted by Rabobank’s global beverages strategist, Stephen Rannekleiv and also features Rabobank’s Andre Baladi. This episode replaces an episode titled ‘JFW – Preview’ which was accidentally published on July 23.
Tue, June 25, 2019
Lessons in Craft M&A with Pernod and Park Street
This week, two fantastic guests help us understand the drivers of M&A in craft spirits and what both founders and investors must do to create a successful long-term partnership. We highlight best practices – and potential pitfalls – in executing an acquisition. Nick Papanicolaou, VP at Pernod Ricard’s New Brand Ventures division, offers buyer insights. He helped execute investments in Smooth Ambler Spirits, mescal brand Del Maguey and, most recently, Rabbit Hole Distilling. Emily Pennington, content manager at Park Street Imports, represents the craft brand point of view. Lastly, this episode also features Rabobank’s global strategist Stephen Rannekleiv and analyst Bourcard Nesin.
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