🪴 Is Massachusetts’ Hemp Retreat a Harbinger?

Hemp beverages took another hit last Thursday, losing access to most mainstream retail outlets through a decision by state regulators.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) issued a joint statement through the state’s Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) declaring it “unlawful to manufacture and/or sell food or beverages” containing hemp-derived cannabinoids outside of the dispensary channel, applying to both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Brown-Forman announced a sales slump yesterday in its earnings report, driven by lower volumes of tequila and whiskey, and the broader slowdown in the spirits industry. 

• The maker of Jack Daniel’s reported an 8% decline in reported net sales to $1.0 billion in Q4 FY 2024.
• Overall, reported net sales in the U.S. decreased 4%, with the decline partially offset by price increases.
• Bright spots include  recent acquisitions Diplomático Rum and Gin Mare (+61%), as well as RTD New Mix (+32%).

CEO Lawson Whiting was optimistic that trends would improve towards the end of the year, and said that the downward trajectory was primarily an “inventory correction” issue at the consumer level.

Check out the full rundown on BevNET.

Thanks to innovative technology from industry leader Alland & Robert, Farbest Brands now offers Beyond Acacia®! This exclusive, easy-to-use gum acacia has high-density granules that help optimize beverage production – with benefits like improved solubility and high dispersion. Learn more

The CPG Week team pulled out their legal pads and took seats in the gallery this week to discuss some of the courtroom drama brewing in the industry recently. 

⚔️ Senior reporter Brad Avery kicks off the case docket discussing developments in the long-fermenting family power struggle at Lifeway Foods.

🥤 Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous cracks open the can on Poppi’s class-action suit claiming its gut-friendly claims are unfounded.

❌ Finally, the team wade into a case out of the U.S. District Court of Northern Georgia claiming that General Mills allowed a racist and discriminatory workplace in one of its manufacturing facilities for over two decades.

Listen now on Nosh and subscribe to get a fresh episode every week.

• Details from a recent IWSR report on the challenges ahead for the spirits segment
• News that a global coffee shop is now selling via another delivery service

Become a BevNET & Nosh Insider to gain access to exclusive Insider-only newsletter content, as well as all digital content on BevNET.com and NOSH.com. Tap into our video archives, including Community Call and educational series, unlock event and job listing discounts, and engage with our community of  food and beverage professionals.