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More adventurous consumers are demanding luxurious, upscale offerings or traditional favorites offered in new ways.

As the beverage industry progresses, a cocktail isn’t just a cocktail and a bartender isn’t just a bartender anymore.

As beer drinkers look for new, flavorful options, analysts note that sour beers are delivering on that need state.

Increased data proliferation allows vendors to personalize the vending experience for consumers and — from an operational standpoint — track which products are most popular where and respond accordingly.

To help drive sales, retailers are placing varying beverage products in coolers near cash registers to drive impulse purchases.

PepsiCo Inc., Purchase, N.Y., announced the launch of PepsiCo Foodservice Digital Lab, a first-of-its-kind suite of capabilities built to connect foodservice operators with the companies, services, insights, and solutions best-suited for their specific digital and online needs. Digital Label is powered by extensive proprietary and syndicated research into restaurant and food ordering interactions as part of the consumer digital journey, the company says.

Red Bull and SONIC, Oklahoma City, Okla., have combined forces to create the all-new Red Bull Slush this summer. The new SONIC Red Bull Slush serves up Red Bull in a frozen, icy Slush form. The foodservice outlet also is offering Cherry Limeade Red Bull Slush, which combines Red Bull with a SONIC icon.

Retro cocktails, pop-up bars with themed cocktail creations, tasting events and consumers seeking “Instagram-able” ideas are helping to drive foot traffic to the relatively flat on-premise channel.

Consumers’ acceptance of purchasing consumer packaged goods (CPGs) from a variety of retail outlets as well as their desire for more choice is not just impacting retailers but the entire distribution network as it looks to accommodate a much more diverse shopping universe.

Lavazza, a brand of Turin, Italy-based Lavazza Group, launched a new cold-brew offering in the United States. Made from ¡TIERRA! Colombia, the cold-brew coffee features a unique blend characterized by a sweet and smooth taste and a rich body, it says.