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
Thursday Dec 02, 2021
Thursday Dec 02, 2021
Everybody knows that Covid-19 has sped up the evolution of alcohol ecommerce and technology by leaps and bounds. But what comes next? What follows this unprecedented push forward for alcohol tech? Will there be a pullback, dangers ahead, or greater implementation of these cutting-edge technologies. Editors Kyle Swartz and Melissa Dowling debate whether alcohol delivery is a "fourth tier" and rant about their frustrations with QR codes on-premise. Listen in for that and more about the future of alcohol technology.
Wednesday Oct 27, 2021
Wednesday Oct 27, 2021
In this episode, Editors Melissa Dowling and Kyle Swartz celebrate the amazing work of women in the alcohol industry by interviewing two female rockstars at Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits: Bridget Albert, National Director of Education Beam Suntory, and Julie Milroy, VP of On-Premise. The discussion centers around the enormous role and success of women in the industry, and how the alcohol business can continue to improve the treatment of women.
Wednesday Sep 22, 2021
Wednesday Sep 22, 2021
Following Part 1 of this two-part episode, Editors Melissa Dowling and Kyle Swartz dive into another set of trends currently affecting the beverage alcohol industry. These include celebrity-backed alcohol brands and their common pitfalls; the rise of CBD beverages and what comes next for the nascent category; and the continued shortages for all things needed in alcohol packaging. Also, the editors discuss what makes The Rock so damn likeable as an actor, and what is the proper way to consumer THC edibles.
Friday Aug 27, 2021
Friday Aug 27, 2021
What’s trendier in the alcohol industry than American whiskey? But can our brown spirits boom continue at such a rapid pace? In this episode, Editors Melissa Dowling and Kyle Swartz sit down with industry veteran Maggie Kimberl, content editor of American Whiskey Magazine and president of the Bourbon Women Association. Kimberl leads our discussion about the future of American whiskey, growth prospects, American single malt, the secondary market, and her work in highlighting the amazing women who make this industry run. Fill your Glencairn glass and listen to this one!
Wednesday Jul 28, 2021
Wednesday Jul 28, 2021
What are the biggest trends right now across the entire alcohol industry? In part 1 of a mulit-part podcast, Editors Melissa Dowling (Cheers magazine) and Kyle Swartz (Beverage Dynamics magazine) discuss the hard seltzer boom, the rise of RTDs, the golden age of American whiskey, and the current shortage of glass and aluminum packaging. How long will all of these trends last? And what exactly is driving them? For answers, just click play!
Wednesday Jun 23, 2021
Wednesday Jun 23, 2021
Why aren't Millennials drinking wine? And why is wine consumption broadly declining? In this episode, Editors Melissa Dowling and Kyle Swartz interview wine educator and author Marnie Old, who previously served as the director of wine studies for Manhattan’s French Culinary Institute. Marnie delves into the issues facing the wine industry, and what wine companies must do to win back consumers being lost to spirits and beer.
Wednesday May 26, 2021
Wednesday May 26, 2021
Make yourself a Moscow Mule and download this episode to learn about all things vodka in 2021. What are the hottest trends in clear spirits? What's the latest from craft vodka? What cocktails are helping drive the category? How much does Co-host Kyle Swartz actually know about "Sex in the City"? All this and more in our latest episode.
Monday Apr 26, 2021
Monday Apr 26, 2021
The Covid-19 pandemic completely changed the alcohol industry with cocktails to-go, direct-to-consumer shipping and alcohol ecommerce. These and other pandemic challenges necessitated adaptation from beverage alcohol regulators, who stepped up with responsible alcohol practices tailored to our modern crisis. In this episode, we recall these challenges from 2020, and also look ahead for what's next in responsible alcohol practices in 2021. Editors Melissa Dowling and Kyle Swartz interview Steve Schmidt, Sr. Vice President for Public Policy and Communication for the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA).
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.