The beer industry is facing some serious turbulence, and we're here to break it all down. In this episode, Bud and Mikey tackle the latest market shifts, from tariffs shaking up imports to energy drink drama and distributors navigating unpredictable trends.

What’s Inside This Episode?

🍺 Tariffs & Their Impact – What do the new 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports mean for the industry? Will Constellation (and others) eat the cost, or will we see a price increase shake up the market?

⚡ Energy Drink Wars – AB’s massive 5x GP distributor termination on 1st Phorm Energy and what it means for wholesalers. Plus, the return of Jack Owok with AI Energy—because of course, he’s back.

📉 Artificial Growth vs. Real Sales – From RTDs to non-alc, how much of the category’s ‘growth’ is legit? Mikey shares his insights on the industry’s biggest mirage.

📊 Beer Sales Pulse Check – BPI numbers are flashing warning signs, but is it time to panic? We break down the latest trends and what they actually mean for distributors in 2025.

🏔️ Road Warrior Adventures – Bud and Mikey share their latest travels, including Best Western dining surprises, getting lost in the mountains.

Tapped In Takeaways✅ The tariff situation could trigger earlier-than-usual price increases—but not right away.

✅ Energy drink brands continue to cycle through wholesalers—will First Form finally stick?

✅ Sales data shows a tough February, but don’t hit the panic button yet.

Chapters00:00 Introduction and Week Recap

04:11 Market Insights and Sales Strategies

08:06 Impact of Tariffs on the Beer Industry

14:24 AB's Energy Drink Strategy

21:10 Artificial Growth in Beverage Sales

25:59 BPI and Market Trends

31:44 Social Factors Affecting Beer Sales

34:34 New Chapter

🎧 Listen now and stay ahead of the game!

📢 Like what you hear? Subscribe, share with your team, and tag us with your thoughts!

===============

YouTube: Watch on YouTube: Tapped In Sales Spotify Podcast: Listen & Watch on Spotify Podcasts Tapped In Sales

Apple Podcasts: Listen on Apple Podcast Tapped In Sales

Connect with Us:  

Follow us on LinkedIn for the latest episodes, industry news, and insights from the beer distribution world.

About Tapped In Sales:  

Tapped In Sales is a podcast dedicated to beer distributors and beverage industry professionals who are looking to elevate their sales strategies and drive profitability. Hosted by industry experts Bud Dunn and Mike Hall, we dive deep into real-world stories, actionable insights, and the latest trends to help sales teams and managers unlock their full potential. Each episode blends data, strategy, and motivation, making complex topics easy to understand and implement.

This podcast is powered by VXP Tech – the leading Sales Strategy Management system designed for beer distributors. VXP simplifies the complexities of goal setting, variable compensation, and sales team performance, helping you master your market and grow profits, case by case.

Stay tuned for expert advice, fresh perspectives, and tools to sharpen your sales approach!

If you enjoyed the episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend!