About the Hosts
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Looking for a niche podcast in the beverage alcohol industry? The Beverage Information Group Insider podcast looks at the U.S. and global alcohol industries, with a focus on retail trends and best practices. We speak with business leaders in retail, branding and marketing to keep a pulse on the state of the alcohol industry. Download or subscribe to our podcast to remain current in the business of booze.
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Episodes
Tuesday May 05, 2026
Tuesday May 05, 2026
What is the state of the wine industry in 2026? And should we be worried or cautiously optimistic? For answers, we talk with Eric Hemer, Senior Vice President of Product Education for Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, and the new cohost of Southern Glazer’s popular industry podcast, Served Up.
Friday Apr 24, 2026
Friday Apr 24, 2026
How can beverage alcohol retailers optimize sales through better category management? For answers, we speak with James Jackson, Sr. Director of Strategic Partnerships & Growth Initiatives at The Association of Retail and Consumer Professionals. For more info, and to sign up for their newsletter, check out Catman.global.
Wednesday Mar 18, 2026
Wednesday Mar 18, 2026
With beverage alcohol wholesalers struggling to meet shifting consumer demand while keeping their customers happy, we turn to Mark Chaplin, president, commercial sales at Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, for insight on how the company is facing these challenges head-on. Our discussion covers some of the struggles the middle tier is facing, such as the slow down in premiumization sales and the rise of cannabis-infused beverages, and how wholesalers can adapt.
Tuesday Mar 03, 2026
Tuesday Mar 03, 2026
While the beer industry has been going through a rough patch in recent years, there are some bright spots. In this episode we talk with Master Cicerone Neil Witte, a consultant to the Beer Institute, on what to look for this year, from lighter lagers and flavored brews to small packaging and an increase in no- and low-alcohol beer.
Tuesday Feb 17, 2026
Tuesday Feb 17, 2026
With the alcohol industry facing plenty of challenges this year, we turn to food & beverage lawyer Oren Bitan, a partner at Buchalter in Los Angeles, for insight on the biggest issues. Our discussion covers everything from tariffs and cannabis beverages to consumers cutting back on alcohol and the outlook for celebrity beverage endorsements in 2026.
Tuesday Jan 13, 2026
Tuesday Jan 13, 2026
What’s going to be hot for 2026? We discuss with the folks at af&co. and Carbonate, the agencies behind the 18th annual Hospitality Trends Report. Tune in to hear why modern Mexican mixology is the drink trend of the year, what wine varietals people will be looking for, the tropical flavor that will be popping up in cocktails, and why we’re excited that Minneapolis is the food city of the year for 2026.
Tuesday Dec 30, 2025
Tuesday Dec 30, 2025
What is the impact of AI in the beverage alcohol industry? For answers, we talk with Ryan Malkin, Principal Attorney at Malkin Law, which specializes in the beverage alcohol industry. Malkin also discusses the recent changes in the hemp-derived THC drinks business and what the future holds there.
Thursday Dec 11, 2025
Thursday Dec 11, 2025
What is the future of THC drinks, after the U.S. government scheduled the hemp loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill to close on Nov 13, 2026? For answers, we speak with Xander Shepherd, co-founder of the THC beverage brand Artet.
Melissa Dowling
Melissa Dowling is the editor of Cheers, the beverage business magazine for full-service restaurants and bars, which also includes the Cheers@Home digital consumer magazine and the Cheers Beverage Summit professional event. Founded in 1990, Cheers reaches more than 130,000 on-premise beverage professionals nationwide with each edition. Prior to joining Cheers in 2012, Melissa was the editor for business-to-business magazines targeting executives in the direct marketing, ecommerce and retail industries.
Kyle Swartz
Kyle Swartz is editor of Beverage Dynamics, the nation’s only trade magazine dedicated to the off-premise alcohol industry. Prior to this position, he covered politics on the editorial board of a daily newspaper in Connecticut. His joke (which is also the truth) is that the politicians drove him to alcohol. Kyle resides in south-central Connecticut with his wife and 1-year-old daughter. His drinks of choice are craft beer and bourbon.