Rip Van’s Post

I'm beyond HYPED to announce that Wild Bill's has rocketed into the top 5 fastest-growing products on RangeMe, sharing the spotlight with stellar brands like poppi (Mother Beverage), OLIPOP PBC, Perfy, and The Coca-Cola Company. It's thrilling to be recognized among such iconic names! Rocket Pop’s spot on this list transcends mere seasonal trendiness—it’s a testament to its year-round appeal and our commitment to authentically enhancing experiences wherever people gather. I might be a bit biased, but honestly, no one nails experiential, occasion-based selling quite like Wild Bill's. We're not just showing up; we're a major hit across an insane variety of events. I kid you not, we do over 400 events a year—everything from comic and anime conventions to e-sports competitions, county and state fairs, motorcycle rallies, air shows, military reunions, renaissance faires, civil war reenactments, regattas, car shows, steampunk festivals, Scottish and Highland games, Celtic festivals, Italian feasts, food truck festivals and more. At Wild Bill's, we don't just attend these events; we transform them, enhancing every experience with our unique flavors, one sip at a time! To discover more about the Wild Bill's event experience, please check out this video: https://lnkd.in/ewwDA96U NielsenIQ Byzzer powered by NielsenIQ ECRM Allison Ellsworth Vasa Martinez #CPG #Beverage #Retail #Grocery #Foodservice #Events #VeteranOwned

To sell more beverages at retail, you gotta "get lips to the liquid," says Michael Russo, Chief Growth Officer at Wild Bill’s Craft Beverage Co. And Wild Bill's certainly knows how to do that. For more two decades the brand has been selling its nostalgic flavors of soda from taps on portable wagons at fairs, festivals and other events such as New York's Comic Con. Customers would buy a 34-ounce barrel mug with the Wild Bill's logo etched onto it (and often customized with the event logo, too), fill up, and return for unlimited refills during the event. The variety of sodas includes classic favorites like Root Beer, Black Cherry, Orange Cream, and Vanilla, as well as seasonal flavors like Rocket Pop and non-boozy Mojito in the summer. Customers would then register their mug online to receive event alerts and special promotions. However, when the pandemic shut down in-person events, Wild Bill's pivoted and launched a line of ready-to-drink beverages in cans that are now available in more than 1,300 stores. With in-person events now back in full swing, and the Wild Bill's pop-ups at 400 events each year, the brand has started leveraging these massive sampling opportunities to drive sales at retail. Brand ambassadors at these events are well-versed in which local retailers carry the RTD cans and provide coupons to drive traffic to them. In addition, since customers register their mugs online, Wild Bill's keeps them aware of new retail locations and also sends them promotions via email. For example, Wild Bill's has pop-ups at 50 events in Ohio each year, and at these events its brand ambassadors direct customers to Jungle Jim's International Market to find the RTD cans. In this video with Joseph Tarnowski, recorded at ECRM's Foodservice Session, Michael gives an overview of the company, and details on how "getting lips to liquid" at these events helps to drive sales of the RTD sodas at retail. He also discusses their plans to expand distribution at independent restaurants, so if you are a foodservice operator looking to add a bit of nostalgic flavor to your mix of beverages, you can find Wild Bill's on RangeMe or at an upcoming Foodservice Session (we'll link to it in the comments below). #beverage #foodservice #retail #restaurants #hospitality #cpg #ecrmrangeme

🚀 Big thanks to ECRM for featuring our Chief Growth Officer, Michael Russo, in a fantastic interview discussing Wild Bill's omni-channel strategy! Joseph Tarnowski, speaking from the perspective a of buyer, posed the PERFECT question that truly captures what sets Wild Bill's apart: "How are you going to support the product once it's on my shelves and get it into consumers' baskets?" The answer is simple: we build brand loyalty by delivering an authentic, unique, and nostalgic experience at local events—something we've been successfully doing for 20 years. 📍 Special shoutouts to our amazing partners where this strategy is perfectly displayed: - Associated Food Stores and FanX® Salt Lake Comic Convention™ in the Utah market - 35+ events in New Jersey annually to support ShopRite, Kings Foods, Balducci's Food Lover's Market, Livoti’s Old World Market, etc. - 30+ events (The Ohio State Fair, Fan Expo Cleveland, etc.) in Ohio annually to support Jungle Jim's International Market, Walking Distance Brewing Co., Candy Craze, Urbana Brewing Co., etc. 💡 When the pandemic hit, we pivoted to launch our ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages in cans, now available in over 1,300 stores. With events back in full swing, our pop-ups at 400 events annually are key to driving sales at retail. Our brand ambassadors expertly direct customers to local retailers and provide coupons to boost traffic. Michael also shares insights on expanding our distribution to independent and small/medium sized chain restaurants. If you're a foodservice operator looking to add some nostalgic flavor to your beverage mix, you can find us on RangeMe or at an upcoming #ECRM Foodservice Session. Check out the full interview with Joseph Tarnowski and learn how "getting lips to the liquid" is driving our retail success! 🍻 #Beverage #Foodservice #Retail #CPG #Restaurants #Hospitality

📣 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER ISSUE OUT NOW 📣 As the drinks industry prepares for Christmas, we’ve rounded up tips from the trade on how retailers can make this festive season a success (pages 20 - 27). Elsewhere, NIQ’s Rob Hallworth outlines what the off-trade can expect this Christmas in light of inflation and duty changes (11). In drinks categories, Giles Fallowfield Fallowfield looks at the potential for prestige and vintage Champagne (32 - 33), while Nigel Huddleston explores how the fortified wine category will navigate Christmas as tax increases for higher abv products (34 - 35). And as home drinking continues to grow in popularity, Lucy Britner offers advice for retailers on how to make the most of cocktail ingredients with input from industry experts (29 - 30). In this issue, our big interview is with Diageo GB’s commercial director for take-home, James Halliday, who shares his thoughts on consumer trends, brand strategy and working with retailers (16 - 17). In the world of marketing, social media expert Luma Monteiro FWS offers insights into making the most of Instagram (37), and YesMore’s Tom Harvey makes a case to bring back fun brand campaigns (14 - 15). PLUS, read all of our regular features such as retailer profile and meet the maker (48 - 49), the Jeff Evans beer review (47) and Jason Millar’s wine column (18). This issue also contains a rundown of this year’s International Beer Challenge results (43 - 45). If you have a story to share, or you want to get in touch with the editorial team, please contact [email protected] or [email protected] #DrinksRetailing #DrinksIndustry #BeverageIndustry #News #Magazine #Christmas #Christmas2023 #Xmas #ChristmasDrinks #ChristmasTrends #Trending #Drinks #Retailer #Supermarket #Wine #FortifiedWine #Champagne #HomeCocktails #Cocktails #Beer #Interview #Marketing #WineIndustry #SpiritsIndustry #BeerIndustry 

Today is arrival and setup for participants at ECRM's On & Off Premise Adult Beverage session in Bonita Springs, Fla. So, what happens on setup day? - Buyers pick up their badges and are given their schedules of meetings, which are highly curated, matching them with those brands the best meet their needs and objectives. - Brands pick up their badges and are directed to their meeting space (the Innovation Pipeline ballroom booth for 10-minute meetings, or their meeting room for 20-minute Planning Session meetings). All of their samples and displays will be waiting for them in their meeting space which they can set up however they like. Tonight we have the roundtable discussions, which will feature 4 tables, each covering a different topic related to the category. Participants choose a table topic and sit for a 25-minute casual conversation with other attendees, then break, choose another table, and sit for 25 more minutes. These are a great opportunity for getting insights on a variety of topics. Buyer and seller meetings start tomorrow! #wine #beer #spirits #foodservice #retail #cocktails #ecrmrangeme

I'm making a bold claim today, and I stand by it proudly: No other consumer goods brand comes even remotely close to Wild Bill's in terms of physical presence at live enthusiast events. We're talking over 400 events annually – from the bustling energy of Comic Con to the rugged charm of rodeos, the exhilarating atmosphere of air shows on military bases, and the heartwarming feel of county fairs across the U.S. This isn't just about being there; it's about making an impact. At Wild Bill's, we've been on a relentless, nationwide marketing journey for over two decades. Our commitment? To engage with diverse audiences in the most direct, authentic way possible. Our strategy? To be where our customers are, come rain or shine, from Oregon to North Dakota, from the Ohio State Fair to every corner of this great nation. We're not just attending these events; we're creating experiences. Wild Bill's is more than a product – it's a phenomenon that resonates with people from all walks of life. Our expansive presence is a testament to our brand's adaptability, appeal, and the sheer joy we bring to every glass of our craft soda. So here it is, loud and clear: When it comes to live events, Wild Bill's is hands down, unequivocally, the leader in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. Full stop. Here's to making every event a Wild Bill's event in 2024! 🥤🎉 #WildBillsCraftBeverage #LiveEvents #CPGIndustry #MarketingStrategy #BrandExperience #CraftSoda

Mocktails are no longer an option at your event, they’re a necessity. If your bar isn’t serving mocktails you’re not only losing out on a market, you’re devaluing your attendees and providing a non-inclusive event. The sober and sober curious community has grown at a rapid rate these last few years, with a recent study stating that 61% of Gen Z’s in 2024 are sober curious while an increasing number of millennials have joined the movement as well. It’s time to get creative with your bar menu and provide mocktail options both with and without zero-proof spirits (because some people want to taste a spirit-like flavor and some don't). The sober community wants more than sparkling water and soda, they want thoughtfully crafted and elevated beverage options. Mocktails make sense for business! They showcase that you’ve got the sober community in mind and open you up to a new market financially. Photo by Wade Muir #Mocktails #EventIndustry 

All the Oh Fresh products are delicious and refreshing 

Anyone in my network attending give me a shout. Be good to catch up and chat about how BES Group Asset Reliability can help you reduce your maintenance costs, production losses, and excess energy consumption.

How much caffeine must be in a sports drink before it is viewed as an energy drink? What is it that truly defines a non-alcoholic adult beverage? How do you best merchandise the beverage category in the face of these blurring attributes? These were some of the topics covered by Circana's Scott J. Love in his presentation at ECRM's Convenience Session in Denver this week titled, "Small Baskets, Big Opportunities." In this video, ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski and Scott explore how these increasingly blurred lines in beverage attributes can impact how convenience retailers merchandise their beverages, given the limited space they have for each category, and how beverage brands can best position their products to help rise above the noise. #conveniencestores #retail #cpg #beverage #ecrmrangeme