The five things that will make or break the craft spirits industry
Liquid Assets: A Beverage Industry Podcast
Craft spirits companies have seen an abrupt shift in fortune. Loaded with debt, rising cost of goods sold, and declining demand, many are struggling to survive. With help from our expert panel, we explore the greatest challenges craft distillers are facing and some of the financial and strategic decisions that could prove the difference between closure and living to sell another year. Guests on today’s episode: Maria Pearman – Advisory Partner / fractional CFO, GHJ Margie Lehrman – CEO, American Craft Spirits Association Becky Harris – President & Chief Distiller,...
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Outgunned and outspent: How independent RTD brands are gaining a foothold in the US
Liquid Assets: A Beverage Industry Podcast
The odds are stacked against them. They have less money, less influence with distributors, and fewer R&D resources to alchemize the perfect drink, yet smaller RTD brands are going toe-to-toe and often winning the race to capture the fastest-growing space in the beverage alcohol business. In this episode, Evan Burns, CEO at The Finnish Long Drink, and Clement Pappas, cofounder and CEO of Stateside Brands – the company that owns Surfside – explain how, against all odds, they built successful brands in the face of powerful competition. They share some of the hidden advantages that...
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Global beer results prove why diversification is so important
Liquid Assets: A Beverage Industry Podcast
We look back at the results from the first half of 2025 and check in on the performances of the world’s largest global beer companies (Heineken, Carlsberg, AB InBev, Molson Coors, Constellation Brands, and Royal Unibrew). We also look at three major themes affecting the beer business in 2025: the dramatic impact of harsh immigration policies on American Latinos, the struggles of European brewers to push costs onto consumers, and the urgency and surprising success of global beer businesses betting big on non-alcoholic beverages. Want to sign up for our written research? Have a...
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Southern Glazer‘s on competition from beer distributors, national contracts, and pricing strategy
Liquid Assets: A Beverage Industry Podcast
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits is the largest alcohol wholesaler in the United States. We caught up with Mark Chaplin, John Wittig, and David Chaplin, three of Sourthern’s senior executives, to discuss the toughest issues facing alcohol distribution in 2025 and increasing pressure to become a total beverage distributor. Note: This episode was recorded only a few days prior to Southern’s acquisition of AB InBev’s wholly owned New York City distribution operations. In the coming weeks, we will have the Southern team back on the show to discuss that transaction. Catch up...
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How are importers managing tariffs and declining demand?
Liquid Assets: A Beverage Industry Podcast
With tariffs, falling demand, and an unfavorable exchange rate, it can feel as though the cosmos are conspiring to make life hard for US importers. However, many import brands and bulk products remain very competitive in the US market. In this episode, we discuss how importers are adjusting to survive and if not thrive in the current operating environment. This is episode two from our discussion with Ryan O’Hara, CEO of MHW, and Serena Campell, Operations Director for USA Wine West. Check out episode one here: Want to sign up for our written research? Have a question, qualm, or...
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How to import wine and spirits into the US
Liquid Assets: A Beverage Industry Podcast
Winning in the US market is the holy grail for many brands around the world, but how do you get started? What type of importer should you use, what should you expect from them, and what should you be prepared to bring to the table? What gets an importer excited to support your brand? In this episode we speak with Ryan O’Hara, CEO of MHW, and Serena Campbell, Operations Director for USA Wine West, for a crash course on how to maximize your chance of succeeding in the competitive, confusing, and tremendously large US wine and spirits market. This is part 1 of a two-part episode. ...
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Everything you need to know about hemp
Liquid Assets: A Beverage Industry Podcast
It seems unthinkable that a simple legal loophole for hemp would lead to the de facto legalization of marijuana edibles in the United States, but here we are. Intoxicating hemp products are everywhere, and everyone seems to be excited about them. But the story of hemp-derived THC's rise and the greatest threat to its future are inexorably linked to its legal status. In this episode, we speak to two legal experts, Marc Hauser and Rebecca Stamey-White, about how the intoxicating hemp business came to life, how long it could last, and how the sector's tenuous legal status is influencing every...
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Inside the boardroom: What a company board really does and how to do it better
Liquid Assets: A Beverage Industry Podcast
Caroline Levy and Carol Reber know a lot about being on a board. Between them, they sit on the board of six different companies that include Celsius Holdings, Far Niente Wine Estates, Health-Ade, Arterra Wines Canada, Rack & Riddle, and Athletic Brewing Company. On today’s episode, Carol and Caroline share their journeys and bring us up to speed on what a company board of directors actually does, who should be on them, and what characteristics distinguish a good board from a bad one. Want to sign up for our written research? Have a question, qualm or story to tell, reach out via email: ...
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Every diversification strategy, ranked
Liquid Assets: A Beverage Industry Podcast
In this episode, we discuss all the ways a beverage firm can diversify its business and the consequences when things go wrong. Whether it is geographical expansion, vertical integration, moving into adjacent categories, or route to market, we debate the merits, downsides, and myriad real-world examples of seven different diversification strategies and runway for each strategy to be successful going forward. Read our report on diversification strategies: . Want to sign up for our written research? Have a question, qualm, or story to tell, reach out via email: . Check out the rest of our...
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How to save money on ingredients (and still taste good), featuring Kerry Group
Liquid Assets: A Beverage Industry Podcast
What happens when you move a production plant from Europe to the United States or switch from Florida oranges to Brazilian oranges? Does your product still taste the same? Has technology made it possible to replace 50% of the sugar in a beverage with zero-calorie sweetener and avoid a nasty aftertaste? John Kelly and Paul Villis from Kerry Group join us to talk through how beverage brands are changing ingredients and deciding to focus on either reformulation (i.e., cost savings) or innovation (i.e., revenue growth). Want to sign up for our written research? Have a question, qualm or...
info_outlineEconomics 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.
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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.