Topkey’s Post

The term "sober curious" used to be a buzzword mostly tied the month of January but it's now a year-round affair - pretty crazy to see how views on this concept have changed in just a few years. Love the interview with Bill Shufelt from Athletic Brewing Co. ---they're a great of example of what can happen when you make a great product. And now they're the top selling beer in Whole Foods Market (alcoholic or non)?? Wild. Also another example of a product that's taken a regular place in my fridge. It's going to be fun to see the innovation that continues to come out of this category... #foodandbeverageindustry  #foodandbeverage  #beverages #beverageindustry #sobercurious #alcoholfree

🚀 Pioneering Partnership Alert: DISCUS & The Tasting Alliance 🚀 In a move that signifies a new era for the spirits industry, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) has forged a strategic partnership with The Tasting Alliance, the organization behind the world's most prestigious spirits and wine competitions. This collaboration promises to deliver exceptional value to DISCUS members, offering them a 10% discount on competition entries. It's an opportunity for brands to gain international prestige and recognition, enhancing their global footprint. Explore how this partnership not only benefits DISCUS members but also sets a new standard for excellence and innovation within the spirits and wine competition arena. Join us in celebrating this momentous union that marks a renaissance in the spirits world. https://lnkd.in/e7H7MkZU #StrategicPartnership #SpiritsIndustry #BusinessCollaboration #InnovationInSpirits #CraftDistilling #GlobalCompetitions #IndustryLeaders #MarketExpansion

This is how we see Brewmeister! 👀☕ But how do you see us? Share your Brewmeister experience below! 🤩 #BrewmeisterReviews #CustomerPerspective

Whatcha get when you combine RevOps ⚙️ , beer tastings 🍻 , and ocean waves 🌊 ? A whole lotta #RevOpsAF fun, that's what 😎 RevOpsAF 2024 is happening in San Diego at the end of May. And sure, we'll have lots of great sessions from speakers like: Hilary Headlee (EVP Sales and Success at Insight Partners) Jeff Ignacio (Head of GTM Operations at Regrow Ag) Kevin Knieriem (President, Strategic GTM at Clari) Melanie Fellay 🐙 (CEO at Spekit 🐙) But we also wanna have some fun outside of sessions, which is why we are organizing 4️⃣ different networking events as part of the conference, ALL of which are included in your ticket 🎫 Like this Ocean Beach Brewery tour (brought to you courtesy of our friends at Openprise), where you'll get: Beer-tastings at 3 different breweries 🍺 Along with a walking tour of Ocean Beach🚶 If you haven't already, snag your ticket and learn more about the event → revopsaf(.)com #revops #revenueoperations #salesops #salesoperations #marketingops #mops #alwaysbelearning

Does a gold in something like Bohemian-style Pilsner at the Great American Beer Festival offer more than bragging rights and good feelings? In 2021, I wanted to find out if medals actually impacted sales for our Feel Goods Company newsletter, Sightlines+. Based on an analysis of IRI-tracked sales data, winning medals at GABF almost never translated to added or prolonged success for a brand. Instead, the most quantitative use for medal wins was more about brand awareness than anything else. • Von Ebert Brewing leaned on medals to secure placement at Safeway grocery stores during the pandemic.  • True North Ale Company got a leg up on selling a gold medal-winning Mexican Lager into local accounts, "but the question is then how will that style do vs. an IPA long term because, well, IPA is still king," founder Gary Rogers said at the time. This week will offer great reason to celebrate award-winning beers from all over, but a gold medal may not translate into gold on a sales sheet in November. *If you're a producer who's seen medal wins turn into longterm sales success, let me know!*

Company acquisitions can be seen as opportunities for growth, innovation, and expansion. They allow companies to reach new markets, acquire talented teams, and access valuable resources, ultimately paving the way for greater success and impact. Each acquisition represents a milestone in the company's journey, demonstrating resilience, vision, and the willingness to adapt to changing landscapes. Embracing acquisitions with enthusiasm and a forward-thinking mindset can inspire employees, stakeholders, and the broader community, fostering a culture of progress and achievement.

I never thought about pursuing a career in modelling... Thankfully (for us all) I won't be any time soon, but don't let my mesmerising performance distract from the vital role steel kegs can have in your supply chain, and in the search for increased environmental sustainability in your business. Check out this short video by the Steel Keg Association here⬇

E-commerce in the bev-alc space is as much about building brands as it is about selling them. The E-Premise is the new On-Premise when it come to investment in the future.

Since 2017, Bill Shufelt (CEO, Athletic Brewing Co.) went from hedge fund trader to the CEO of the leading producer of non-alcoholic craft beer. Unlike my typical tech-focused chats this one centers around a product I personally love. In the conversation, Bill tells stories of the unscalable but crucial strategies he used to build a brand, push past rejection, and redefine the non-alcoholic beer industry. → The unscalable activities that made Athletic a household name Athletic Brewing’s brand was built on unscalable activities, like handing out samples at races. Now, Bill often runs into high LTV customers at races he hasn’t attended in years when they say things like, “I met you in 2018 and my fridge has been full of your beer ever since.” While each sampling felt minor in the moment, Athletic has now activated thousands of events, and the long-term impacts accumulate. → How rejection helped Athletic build a competitive advantage Facing initial rejections from every contract brewer in the US, Bill took a bold step in building their own brewery. In hindsight, it allowed them unparalleled control over every aspect of production, from ingredient quality to rigorous testing of each batch. By handling everything in-house, Athletic also gains the flexibility to innovate and respond to market demands quickly—benefits that would have been unattainable had they relied on external partners. → Bill’s genius sales tactic Bill personally signed 300 deals with retail stores using clever tactics. Before pitching a buyer at a store, Bill would recruit a random grocery store shopper to pretend that they were super interested in the beer while Bill was pitching the deal. This approach helped break initial skepticism and build early buzz around their offerings, which helped Athletic secured shelf space and propel forward. For more stories and lessons from Bill, check out the full episode at: https://lnkd.in/gJjHJz_w

I posted this video about a week ago. My prediction: the bottom is in for beer and 2024 will largely be a year of (at least modest) expansion. Well, yesterday the National Beer Wholesalers Association released the Beer Purchasers' index for March and showed the strongest results since mid 2021. I'm not saying I FULLY called it, but I'm feeling pretty good about the prediction right now 😎. From this mornings' Mark Brown report: "The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) released the Beer Purchasers’ Index (BPI) for March 2024.   After a quiet start to the beer industry’s year, March saw distributor ordering levels kick into gear as the beer purchasers’ index rose to 53 — the first reading above the expansionary benchmark (50) in 2024 and the highest March BPI reading since 2021.    The combination of readings for the BPI (53) and at-risk inventory (47) measures, along with increased YoY ordering volumes in six of seven measured segments, points to a significant shift toward a more positive outlook for the beer industry in 2024."