In 2024, the beverage alcohol industry saw some highs and lows. While tequila and ready-to-drink cocktails continued to lead the industry in innovation, the distribution tier faced legal challenges and other changes. As we head into 2025, the landscape of our industry continues to evolve due to several mergers, acquisitions, and investments. To put the year in perspective, Park Street University is looking back at some of the top news stories of 2024, along with the top-performing blogs, podcasts, and videos.
Top News Stories of 2024
Uber Shuts Down Drizly After $1.1 Billion Acquisition
Uber shut down the alcohol delivery service Drizly just three years after acquiring it in a massive $1.1 billion deal. Reports suggested that the functions of the service would be further integrated into the UberEats app.
FTC Targeting Southern Glazers With Lawsuit
The FTC filed a lawsuit against Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits for allegedly violating the rarely-enforced Robinson-Patman Act. The law prohibits unjustified price discrimination and aims to promote fair competition between small and large businesses.
Sazerac Signs Deal to Acquire BuzzBallz
Sazerac announced an agreement to acquire Buzzballz, a Texas-based ready-to-drink alcohol brand. Founded by Merilee Kick in 2009, Buzzballz has grown into one of the world’s fastest-growing ready-to-drink brands, with operations in all 50 U.S. states and 27 countries.
Clase Azul Loses Trademark Lawsuit Against Casa Azul
A judge ruled against Clase Azul’s trademark infringement claims against Casa Azul, allowing both tequila brands to continue operating under their respective names.
President-elect Trump Threatens Tariffs on Mexico and Canada
President-elect Donald Trump threatened to impose new tariffs on Mexico and Canada to pressure the countries into cracking down on illegal immigration and drugs. The potential 25% tax would cover all products from Mexico and Canada, including tequila and Canadian whisky.
Top Park Street Blog Posts of 2024
Alcohol E-Commerce Strategy in 2024
Park Street University compiled the best insights and analysis from our archives to provide a comprehensive review of the e-commerce sector’s standing and offer strategic insights for suppliers navigating this evolving digital marketplace.
How Sellers and Buyers Can Prepare for Acquisitions
Preparing a business for acquisition in the beverage alcohol industry is a complex and lengthy process requiring meticulous attention to detail. Buyers and sellers can better prepare for these events by understanding the steps required on both sides to optimize the process.
Essential Steps to Building a Brand As An Industry Outsider
While extensive experience in the alcohol industry can be advantageous for launching a new brand, some of the most disruptive and game-changing brands have emerged from founders with little to no prior industry experience. The Park Street Insider Podcast has hosted many successful founders, offering insights into how they educated themselves and navigated the complex world of alcohol branding and regulations.
Roundup of Mergers and Acquisitions in 2024 So Far
Despite a slowdown in overall investment, the first half of 2024 saw several significant mergers and acquisitions in the beverage alcohol sector. Strategic buyers, and even several private buyers, capitalized on evolving consumer trends and market opportunities. A total of 34 noteworthy deals were recorded during this period.
Alcohol Beverages, Products & Brands Launched So Far in 2024
Stay up to date on the latest product rollouts and innovations across beverage alcohol with Park Street University’s round-up of new SKUs launched across the industry for the entire calendar year.
Top Podcast Episodes of 2024
What’s Trending— Tracking Spirits in the Modern M&A Market
At this year’s American Craft Spirits Association Convention in Denver, Emmett Strack was joined by a group of experts within the M&A landscape to discuss the ebbs and flows of investment activity in recent years. The group offered insight into the market conditions, performing categories, and underlying consumer behavior driving investor decision-making in 2024.
What It Takes— BuzzBallz CEO & Founder Merrilee Kick
BuzzBallz CEO and founder Merrilee Kick joined Emmett Strack and the Park Street Insider Podcast to share her journey of building Buzzballz into one of the largest ready-to-drink suppliers in the world, operating across all 50 states and 27 countries.
What’s Trending— Spirits Distributors’ Tips for Brands in 2024
Emily Pennington sat down with key figures at Southern Glazers, Breakthru Beverage Group, Skurnik Wines & Spirits, and the Independent Distributor Network at Bar Convent Brooklyn to discuss the current state of beverage alcohol’s second tier. This diverse cast of key wholesalers offered a window into how distributors are viewing and operating the market for spirits brands in 2024.
What it Takes— Ilegal Mezcal Founder John Rexer
Now a global leader in the mezcal category, Illegal Mezcal founder John Rexer sat down to chat with Park Street’s Emmett Strack at Bar Convent Brooklyn last month. The two discussed how Rexer turned an experimental passion project in Guatemala into a global supplier owned by Bacardi.
What It Takes— Bardstown Bourbon Company CEO Mark Erwin
The Park Street Insider Podcast welcomed Mark Erwin, the CEO of Bardstown Bourbon Company, for an in-depth conversation on the development of the Kentucky-based distillery. He and Andres Correa discussed how the brand initially developed its collaborative distilling model and grew it into a platform that could support the needs of its partners while growing its own brand.
Top Park Street University Videos of 2024
Introduction to the Florida Liquor Market
Andres Correa, Content Specialist at Park Street University, discussed the key facts that liquor brands need to know in order to enter the booming Florida liquor market.
Strategies to Increase Liquor Brand Awareness in the Early Stages
Benedict Gordon, Co-Owner of Phoenyx Spirits, revealed his strategies to increase liquor brand awareness through the creation phases and into the first days of on-premise sales.
Crafting a Profitable Liquor Sales Strategy
Sarah Nagel Sisisky, Supplier Development Director at Park Street Companies, charts the margins that liquor brands can expect when making retail sales in order to ensure a profitable strategy.
Marketing Beverage Alcohol On-Premise vs. Off-Premise
Danielle Zig, Co-Founder and CEO of Coconut Cartel, provides some examples of how beverage alcohol brands can wisely spend their dollars marketing on-premise vs. off-premise.
Current Alcohol Business Models
Emily Pennington, Senior Manager, Content & Education at Park Street Companies, discussed how brands have shifted away from reliance on traditional distribution models and on-premise bars, using BuzzBallz as a case study.