Spotted at NACS: Smirnoff Ice “Shorties,” Monster’s Michelada Take and BeatBox Copycats

Dear Client:  Considering the primacy of the convenience channel not just for overall beer sales, but also increasingly for its innovations, BBD swept through the National Association of Convenience Stores show to spot some of the latest supplier plays.   A few noteworthy trends jumped out to your editor, as follows.  GRAPE THE HOT FLAVOR FOR 2025; FOLLOWS FLAVOR’S POPULARITY IN ENERGY CATEGORY. Several large brewers are betting on grape being the hot flavor in 2025, and, as such, are debuting