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Three of the top five fastest-growing spirits brands are vodkas, but whiskey is the category with the most momentum, according to the 2015 SpiritsTAB Report from Chicago-based Technomic Inc.

Heineken Light, a brand of Heineken USA, New York, N.Y., announced that this summer, the brand’s Best Tasting Light 360 degree program will inspire LDA+ shoppers to set a new standard for their summer gatherings by choosing Heineken Light as their go-to light beer, the company says. National TV, digital and web activations, social support and retail and on-premise activation will help shift the light beer conversation back where it belongs – taste – to drive trial and incremental sales of superior tasting, higher margin Heineken Light, it says.  

In its 30th year of honoring the nation's best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, a brand of Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo Inc., in collaboration with USA TODAY High School Sports, today announced Luken Baker, of Oak Ridge High School in Conroe, Texas, as its 2014-15 Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year. Baker was surprised with the news at school by former three-time MLB All-Star Roy Oswalt.

Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc., Canton, Mass., The J.M. Smucker Company, Orrville, Ohio, and Keurig Green Mountain, Inc., Waterbury, Vt., announced that Dunkin' K-Cup pods are now available for sale at thousands of retailers nationwide for the first time, the companies say. As part of an agreement between the three companies first announced in February, Smucker will distribute and market Dunkin' K-Cup pods exclusively to grocery chains, mass merchandisers, club stores, drug stores, dollar stores and home improvement stores. Keurig will distribute and market Dunkin' K-Cup pods exclusively to specialty stores such as Bed Bath & Beyond, Kohl's and Macy's, as well as office supply retailers such as Staples and Office Depot beginning this summer.

Many of America's largest food and beverage (F&B) companies are in trouble, Rabobank, New York, says in its new report, "Dude, where's my consumer?" Iconic brands are increasingly out of favor with U.S. consumers, whose preferences and priorities have evolved, Rabobank says. Rabobank analysts predict that unless large F&B brands take bold action, they run the risk of following baby boomers (once their core consumer) into retirement.

Lake Wales, Fl.-based Florida’s Natural Growers recently launched two new ready-to-drink lemonades, a traditional Lemonade and a Lemonade with Strawberry, that hit shelves in early May. The drinks are premium, not from concentrate lemonades, made with real sugar, and they accomplish a philanthropic mission, too. All of the profits from the sale of the items will go to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to finding cures for all kids with cancer.

Vancouver, Canada-based Clearly Canadian announced it is officially making its return to household fridges and coolers everywhere this summer thanks to the resounding support from its fans, the company says. With over 30,000 cases already pre-sold on the ClearlyCanadian.com, the flagship Canadian beverage brand recently announced the launch of its Indiegogo campaign, which will enable even more fans to get in on the action, support production and pick up a case or two, it says.

Alexandria, Va.-based International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) encouraged consumers to take action during National Hurricane Preparedness Week, which ran throughout the week last week, May 24-30, which coincides with the start of hurricane season, the association says.

Ito En North America Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y., the premier leading green tea company announced the award of their new Matcha Love Culinary Matcha as "Best New Product-Tea as an Ingredient" at the World Tea Expo 2015, the leading tradeshow and conference focused 100-percent on premium tea and related products held in Long Beach, California, May 6-8.

Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards, a brand of Brown-Forman Corp., Louisville Ky., and Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area announced that the annual Wishes in Wine Country event collectively raised more than $936,000 to benefit children suffering from life-threatening illnesses this year. The event, which curates the best food and wine produced in Sonoma County, hosted 800 guests on the croquet lawns of Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards on May 16, as part of the ongoing partnership, the companies say. This year, fundraising efforts were able to support a total of 24 wishes to children of the Greater Bay Area.