On & Off

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Aurum Maui, a new restaurant from Destination Hospitality Group, weaves sustainability into every detail of the bar and beverage program, from repurposing citrus peels and fruit offcuts to composting and using reusable or compostable straws. In this episode Aurum Maui’s bar manager Ryan Dunton shares some of the restaurant’s sustainable practices.