Live from the Beverage Forum at the Westdrift Manhattan Beach in Manhattan Beach, California, With Stephen Curry

May 5, 2026

352

Live from the 2026 Beverage Forumat at the Westdrift Manhattan Beach in Manhattan Beach, California

The sold out 2026 Beverage Forum, the beverage industry’s premier executive conference, was held at the Westdrift Manhattan Beach, that is set against the picturesque backdrop of Manhattan Beach, California. It is one of the most intimate shows, and the only Global All-Beverage Executive Conference, where attendees were able to build their network, and gave them access to meet and speak to head buyers, and gave them the full experience, while bringing together “the best of the best” industry leaders including founders, retailers, suppliers, and investors driving the next era of beverage innovation, and category growth.

The 31st Annual Beverage Forum is one of the industry’s most influential gatherings, bringing the leaders behind many of today’s fastest-growing and category-defining beverage brands, and is a global executive conference series connecting leaders across beverage, retail, investment, and innovation, and this year’s program explored the forces transforming the beverage landscape, from evolving consumer behavior and retail strategy to the expanding role of capital, culture, and celebrity in building the next generation of beverage brands. This business event had over 1,300 people, over 75 speakers, 40+ retail partners, and 150+ brand partners, and featured: keynote conversations, executive panels, interactive workshops, curated sessions, retailer conversations, CEOs, founders, retail executives, investment partners, commercialization leads, innovation strategists, marketing executives, operators, high-value networking designed to shape the future of the industry, and media who influence category growth and direction!

There were Keynote conversations with: celebrities, NFL champion and Garage Beer co-owner Jason Kelce, major retail leaders, including Brian Salmon, Vice President of Beverage at Walmart, Don Clark, Chief Merchant at Sprouts Farmers Market and Shawn Darmody, Vice President of Merchandising, Snacks, Beverages, Candy and Impulse at Target.

There were panels on protein with Actor and Producer Chris Pratt and Jocko Willink, partners behind Jocko Fuel and Warrior Kid- Chris Pratt is an Investor in Jocko Fuel & Co-Owner of Warrior Kid at Jocko Fuel & Warrior Kid,

and PLEZI’s NBA Basketball legend: Stephen Curry, as you can see in the above and below photos:

Also: Cheech Marin, the Co-Founder & Owner at High & Dry, and Robin Thicke Singer & Entrepreneur.

Consumer changing behavior has geared toward beverages that are functional with a focus on health and wellness. Ready-to-drink cocktails and low/no-alcohol products are also showing rapid growth in the better-for-you category. Influencer driven marketing and cultural relevance are helping drive the growth.

In the below photo are Left to Right: World Champion boxer: Ryan Garcia, and Ian Somerhalder, who has Brother’s Bond Bourbon: Danny Stepper, CEO and Co-Founder of L.A. Libations, is one of the beverage industry’s most influential innovators. Through L.A. Libations, he has helped forge strategic partnerships with Molson Coors, The Coca-Cola Company, and Keurig Dr Pepper, while helping launch high-profile beverage brands including BERO (Tom Holland), HAPPY (Robert Downey Jr), PLEZI (Michelle Obama and Stephen Curry), and ZOA (Dwayne Johnson)! In the photo above you can see on the left: Elizabeth Banks (born Elizabeth Mitchell; February 10, 1974) who is an American actress and filmmaker. She is known for playing chaperone Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games film series (2012–2015) and an ICCA commentator in the Pitch Perfect film series (2012–2017). She made her directorial film debut with Pitch Perfect 2 (2015), whose $69 million opening-weekend gross set a record

and on the right: Entertainment & Sports Today’s Health & Beauty News Reporter: Renee Esebag, who is also the founder of Good Money Featuring, Le Bon Argent Champagne & Good Money Whisky, and partner to music icon Ty Dolla$.

In the above photo are: Founder of archer Roose rtd wine is Marian Leitner -Waldman / Sprouts grocery vp panel.

Each day at The Beverage Forum they had Breakfasts, Lunches, and Networking Parties: A special thanks to our Health & Beauty News Reporter: Renee Esebag for this News show. Renee is also the founder of Good Money Featuring, Le Bon Argent Champagne & Good Money whisky, and shared that she felt the forum was a very successful event and hopes to be a panel participate next year alongside partner and music icon Ty Dolla$.

Founded in 2009 and headquartered in El Segundo, California, L.A. Libations is the leading emerging brand creator, incubator and accelerator — serving as the Emerging Brand Category Captain for the country’s largest retail chains and a trusted advisor on emerging brand strategy and assortment. With deep strategic relationships across the industry’s most powerful players — including The Coca-Cola Company, Molson Coors and Keurig Dr Pepper — L.A. Libations has a proven track record of high-profile brand exits including Zico Coconut Water, Core Water, and BODYARMOR, as well as launching iconic brands alongside partners like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Michelle Obama, Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Holland. Each year, the company meets with 200+ entrepreneurs, leveraging its vertically integrated platform to help the most innovative better-for-you beverages launch, scale, and win at retail. L.A. Libations also owns and produces The Beverage Forum, the industry’s premier annual gathering of brands, retailers, investors, and innovators. L.A. Libations is also the General Partner for Taste Tomorrow Ventures a $30mm Emerging Brand Venture Fund. For more information, visit lalibations.com.