The Tapped In Sales podcast is back with an in-depth recap of the 2025 Beer Business Daily Beer Wine & Spirits Summit, held in sunny Palm Beach, Florida. Packed with actionable insights, industry-shaping trends, and bold predictions, this year’s summit did not disappoint.
The BBD Beer Wine & Sprits Summit is unique three-day beverage alcohol industry trade press event. The content generally includes a distributor panel, a representative from each of the large suppliers, and the BBD team always does a great job bringing new, interesting industry discussion points to light.
Attendees can choose if they want to attend the Beer Summit (first half) or Wine & Sprits Summit (second half), or both.
Attendees include beer distributors, wine and sprits distributors, soft drink bottlers who sell alcohol products, suppliers and beverage manufacturers (from the big brewers and big wine and sprits suppliers all the way to your local craft and startup beverage companies including N/A and Delta-9), financial analysts (representing banks and hedge funds), industry associations (NBWA), and other industry professionals and journalists.
VXP’s Bud Dunn attended in 2025 and brought back these notes, which we cover in-depth on this podcast episode.
Key Themes from the Summit
- Premiumization is Leading the Charge
High GP items are dominating the market, with positive trends across categories that focus on profitability. As Mikey notes in the episode, “Almost all the green are high GP items.” This shift isn’t just organic—it’s something distributors can influence by leaning into premiumization strategies. Bud emphasizes that distributors have more control than they realize in steering their market toward high-margin products. - The Rise of Pacifico
Pacifico is emerging as Constellation’s next breakout star, with potential to replicate Michelob Ultra’s meteoric rise. Mikey highlights how lifestyle branding plays a critical role in Pacifico’s success, connecting with adventurous, outdoorsy consumers. That iconic bright yellow can might just be the brand’s ticket to becoming the next household name. - The Evolution of Formats
Convenience is king. From canned wine to BeatBox, consumers are gravitating toward portable, shareable formats. BeatBox, born out of a Shark Tank idea, exemplifies this shift, offering wine in a more transportable and on-the-go friendly container. As Bud and Mikey discuss, this is more than a passing trend—it’s a transformative moment for the beverage industry. - Delta 9 and the Cannabis Beverage Debate
Delta 9 beverages continue to divide the industry. While some distributors see massive potential, major players like Anheuser-Busch remain cautious. Bud speculates that these companies might be positioning themselves to capitalize on the segment once it aligns with their strategic interests. Is this a case of “wait and see” or a missed opportunity? - Crossover Brands & Market Expansion
Products like Hard Mountain Dew and Zoa Energy are challenging traditional definitions of beer and beverages. While some see these as “one-and-done” novelties, others view them as stepping stones to capturing a broader audience. Jim Koch of Boston Beer predicts that Hard Mountain Dew will be the most successful crossover product in five years. Will it live up to the hype?
What This Means for Distributors
The insights shared at the BBD Summit highlight opportunities for distributors to:
- Capitalize on premiumization by focusing on high GP items.
- Leverage lifestyle branding to connect with consumers on a deeper level.
- Embrace alternative formats like canned wine and RTDs to meet evolving consumer demands.
- Prepare for the Delta 9 wave, ensuring they’re ready when the category matures.
- Experiment with crossover products to test new market opportunities.
Listen to the Episode
Want the full breakdown of the 2025 BBD Summit? Tune in to the latest episode of Tapped In Sales for all this and more. 👉 Watch or Listen Now: