Many AB distribs face big Bud Light drops and open hostility from many consumers, and so a couple of examples of local responses have started to pop up, where distribs took matters into their own hands in their own communities. City Beverage, an AB distributor in Hutchinson, KA issued a statement on social media on Tuesday: "Recently, there has been a lot of discussion within our local communities regarding a can of Bud Light that was produced for a social media influencer," it began. "We want to provide some clarification to our local business partners and friends as there is currently an abundance of unclear and false information circulating about this topic." AB is "our largest supplier with a very large media presence," said City, "including hundreds of influencers. That recent Bud Light influencer campaign that has gone viral was not a political statement, nor was the can intended for market distribution" and it's not "for sale to the public." It wasn't produced in an AB brewery but rather a "third party agency…. This particular can design decision circumvented the proper approved channels and this lack of oversight is being addressed," the post continued.

Looks like so-called HALO Investment Summit won't get to become a tradition after all: Credit Suisse has confirmed to us that conference featuring "healthy, active lifestyle, leisure and outdoor" players convened by longtime analyst Kaumil Gajrawala won't be taking place this May 23. Of course, that's not a shock after long-challenged bank found itself in shotgun marriage to acquirer UBS in wake of Valley National Bank failure and Kaumil moved on. Inaugural event last year had brought intriguing updates from operators of cos like Vita Coco, Oatly and HumanCo, among bev-adjacent presenters (BBI, May 26 and 31) .

Publicly traded copacker Wildpack Beverage has continued with its financial housecleaning, inking $12.5 mil secured term loan from Sandton Credit Solutions Master Fund at 13% interest rate while saying issuance of financial report will be delayed until new auditor is aboard. All interest accrued during term of bridge loan will be added to principal balance, with Vancouver-based co using proceeds to continue building out infrastructure. Meanwhile, co cited change in auditor for delay in filing its 2022 financials. "The Audit Committee is working diligently to appoint a successor auditor, and to work with such successor auditor to complete the financial statements," it reported, and "expects to be in a position to issue and file the required filings by no later than June 30."

In recent months Amazon has been closing experimental bricks & mortar stores like 4 Star and Amazon Go without much explanation, causing widespread curiosity among investors and rivals about where it's going with its retail strategy. In annual shareholders letter last week, Amazon ceo Andrew Jassy reiterated that ecomm giant remains committed to devising effective retail strategy, tho he stopped short of indicating what direction this is likely to take. From what he wrote, it's not clear that Seattle co has figured it out yet.

Ryse Supplements, whose Ryse Fuel Energy Drink has been making rapid headway winning distribution partners who've recently lost Celsius or C4 energy brands, has inked its first major c-store deal. Long Island-based brand said it's entered every QuikTrip across US, its first chainwide gas station launch. Brand seems to be in coolers there at price of 2 for $4.50 or $2.79 per 16-oz can. Both the supplements and the canned line have also entered all Dick's Sporting Goods stores. As reported, Ryse is among the growing ranks of energy players, notably Ghost, that are seeking to ride cobranding partnerships to instant awareness, in Ryse's case via ties to likes of Sunny D, Kool-Aid, Ring Pop and Country Time Lemonade (BBI, Dec 19) . . . Nguyen Coffee, whose Brooklyn-based founder Sahra Nguyen is on a mission to elevate the humble robusta coffee bean of her native Vietnam, has expanded its canned line into 280+ Whole Foods stores spanning 24 states and Canada. The line launched less than 4 months ago in Condensed Milk and Coconut versions. One foto posted by user shows sold-out shelf with $4.99 tag for small can, so entrepreneur has glammed up the sometimes-despised bean . . . After a successful pitch at Walmart's annual open call event last Jun, Proud Source aluminum-bottle water has entered 1,100 of its stores, with more on horizon.

Join us for the 2023 Beer Insights Spring Conference, coming in just one month, May 17-18 at the Four Seasons Chicago. Our jam-packed agenda will offer new perspectives, candid conversations and plenty of networking opportunities to help you navigate the dynamic US beer biz. Sign up today to lock in your spot.

Molson Coors is reportedly in talks to move its hq in Chicago out of its ~167K sq foot space at S Wacker Drive to a space less than half that size at new BMO Tower, per commercial real estate tracker CoStar. In an email response to group, chief comm and corp affairs officer Adam Collins didn't confirm or deny negotiations but noted that MC's "current lease is up in 2024" and co is exploring its options. "We also may ultimately renew our lease at our current location," wrote Adam. CoStar said if deal completed at BMO Tower it would be another example "of the so-called flight to quality" happening with many cos around the country swapping larger older spaces for a smaller and more luxurious locations.

Seems Allagash's move to Reyes in CA (see Apr 14 issue) was the last piece of the puzzle for Breakthru/Wine Warehouse deal. Deal officially closed Apr 17, as cos announced and sibling pub Craft Brew News reported. Now operating as "Breakthru Beverage California," division will be "led by acting EVP Greg Akins and operate within the parent company's newly defined West Region, which also includes" AZ, CO and NV. Breakthru's footprint now spans "16 markets with more than $7.5 billion in annual sales revenue." Co's now operating as four North American regions under the leadership of chief operating officer Julian Burzynski.