Beverage Group Vice President Jeremy Nedelka Tel : 763-383-4413 email : jnedelka @ epgacceleration . com

Editor , Off-Premise Kyle Swartz Tel : 763-383-4447 email : kswartz @ epgacceleration . com

Associate Editor Jamie Stafford 763-383-4485 email : jstafford @ epgacceleration . com

Contributing Editors Melissa Dowling , Marnie Old , Tom Shay

Sr Regional Sales Manager Mark Marcon Tel : 763-383-4456 email : mmarcon @ epgacceleration . com

National Account Director Debbie Rittenberg Tel : 763-383-4455 email : drittenberg @ epgacceleration . com

Associate Managing Art Director Nicole Siewert

Senior Product Manager , Data & Insights Marina Velez Tel : 763-383-4453 email : mvelez @ epgacceleration . com

LIST RENTAL Kris Grauer email : kgrauer @ npsmediagroup . com Tel : 203-822-7933

REPRINTS For more information on e-prints or reprints from Beverage Dynamics magazine , visit https :// epgacceleration . com / marketing-services / and contact us today or email us at info @ epgacceleration . com

Sr VP / Audience Development Joanne Juda-Prainito Corporate Operations Director Bernadette Wohlman CEO Marion Minor

BRAND ACCELERATION

IN THE MIDDLE OF MY daughter ’ s first birthday party in early January , we all got down onto the floor . The toy cars came out . Suddenly , all the young couples with little kids were zipping and rolling Mario Kart Matchboxes back and forth . My daughter Jo Jo , teething , chewed on Toad ’ s head .

This group playtime had happened unconsciously , unplanned . Nobody suggested it , and I cannot remember who was first to the floor . It does not matter . What does matter is the difference in activity . Getting together four years ago , my friends and I — then largely childless — would have ordered beers and bourbon , and chatted about our favorite local breweries . Now , after the Millennial baby boom that happened during the pandemic lockdowns ( what else were we to do ?) a new paradigm has set in . Jo Jo ’ s noontime birthday party had a cash bar . Not a single beverage was purchased .

Which is not to predict declining alcohol sales . ( Much the opposite , and as many of you know full well , being a parent involves / requires ample drinking .) Rather , this observation is to suggest that change happens quicker , and more unconsciously , than perhaps we give credit . Without a word , playtime had supplanted our old group routine . A new paradigm , sudden and unannounced .

How can you best approach this phenomenon ? One manner is to remain vigilant . Stay on top of the latest trends , shifting consumer preferences and evolving social attitudes . You accomplish this every time you open our magazine , or visit BeverageDynamics . com . We exist to keep you informed and up to date . So peruse our annual New Products Guide on page 25 , a definitive list of the most important new releases from the past year . Make sure that nothing has slipped past you .

Another helpful way to manage constant change is by joining beverage alcohol retail organizations . Your state associations , for instance . Or the Wine and Spirits Guild of America , which celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2023 . As part of our coverage of this momentous occasion , we interview many members and explore the guild ’ s past , present and future on page 9 .

However you handle the reality of nonstop change , most important to remember is that you do not have to do it alone . We have your best interests in mind here at Beverage Dynamics , as do the organizations and mastermind groups that you can join . Get down onto the floor , pass the toy cars around and play an active part in a group moving ceaselessly into the future .

Beverage Dynamics is published by EPG Brand Acceleration Editorial and executive offices at 10405 6th Ave N , Suite 210 , Minneapolis 55441 Telephone : 763-383-4400 Fax : 763-383-4499

Kyle Swartz Editor , Off-Premise

www . beveragedynamics . com January 2023 • Beverage Dynamics 5