2026 - Beverage Forum Winter Edition - Pitch Slam

The Beverage Forum Winter Edition 2026

November 12 & 13 2026 | Eden Roc Hotel | Miami, FL

The Beverage Forum Winter brings its curated leadership platform to Miami Beach for the first time, bringing together leading beverage buyers, retailers, founders, executives and industry leaders from across the U.S. and Latin America. With representation from companies including Sensapure, Circana, Nigel Wright Group, and New Caney, the Winter Edition offers a unique setting to connect, discover new opportunities and shape the next era of beverage growth across the Americas.

The Beverage Forum Winter 2026 Pitch Slam gives emerging beverage brands the opportunity to pitch live in front of leading industry decision-makers. Up to 10 finalists will be selected to compete for a prize package with an advertised aggregate value of approximately $350,000 (USD), comprising services and support from participating industry partners.

The prize package is designed to support commercial growth, retail readiness, product and brand development, consumer and category insight, and market expansion, including opportunities relevant to brands seeking to enter or scale in the U.S. or Latin American markets.

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Before You Apply

Key Participation Requirements

There is no fee to submit an application.
If selected as a finalist, you must attend The Beverage Forum Winter in person at Eden Roc Miami Beach on November 12, 2026.
Finalists must purchase a valid Beverage Forum Winter event ticket within 72 hours of the finalist notification email. Purchasing the ticket within that 72-hour period confirms acceptance of the finalist place.
- Early Bird tickets are $899 through October 31, 2026 and $999 thereafter, subject to availability and the event ticket terms.
If a selected finalist does not purchase the required ticket within 72 hours, the finalist place will be forfeited and may be offered to another applicant.
Applicants must satisfy all eligibility requirements set out below and in the full Pitch Slam Terms & Conditions.

This page is a participant-friendly summary. Entry to and participation in the Pitch Slam are subject to the full Pitch Slam and event Terms & Conditions available on The Beverage Forum Winter event page and during event checkout. If there is any inconsistency between this page and the full Terms & Conditions, the full Terms & Conditions will apply.

Prize Package

Total Prize Package Value: $350,000 (USD)

Circana – Category & Consumer Insights

Advertised value: $100,000 (USD)

Circana provides consumer behavior, category and market intelligence to help businesses make more informed commercial decisions.

Expected to commence in April 2027, the winning brand will receive one custom 2027 Beverage Category Insights Deck tailored to its drinks category, expected to include:

In-depth insights into the winner’s beverage category and the evolving competitive landscape
Broader consumer trends shaping beverage purchasing and consumption
Analysis of key category growth drivers and emerging opportunities
A data-led view designed to help inform future growth, positioning and commercial strategy

This component is a one-time custom insights engagement. Final scope, data availability, timing and deliverables remain subject to Circana’s confirmation and any partner-specific terms.

Sensapure – Flavor & Formulation

Advertised Value: $100,000 (USD)

Sensapure Flavors is a US-based flavor and formulation house built for functional food and beverage brands. We blend functional beverage innovation, flavor science, sensory expertise, and real-world application know-how to help brands move from concept to shelf faster — serving as a true development partner from first formulation through commercial scale.

Whether launching a brand extension or leveling up a new concept, the Pitch Slam winner receives up to 5 rounds of concept and flavor development with Sensapure’s team, including:

Custom new flavor creation
Flavor matching + optimization for current SKUs
Masking of functional ingredients
Access to Sensapure’s SensaNaturals natural flavor systems
Beverage pilot plant access (OMVE equipment)
SensoryQuant™ analytical testing
Scaling and IP assistance to move from pilot batch toward commercial production
Turn-key / concierge support for bringing a functional beverage to market

From first sip to final SKU, Sensapure delivers flavor science, speed to market, and data-backed consumer validation.

Nigel Wright Group – Executive Search & Recruitment Package

Advertised Value: $100,000 (USD)

Nigel Wright Group is a global executive search and recruitment consultancy specializing in the consumer packaged goods industry. With teams across North America and EMEA, they support consumer brands in identifying and hiring senior leadership across C-suite, VP, Director, and specialist functions including Sales, Marketing, E-Commerce, Supply Chain, Operations, R&D, HR, Category, Insights, Procurement, and more. nigelwright.com

Prize includes:

Complimentary executive search and recruitment services
Support identifying, evaluating, and placing senior-level talent
Access to Nigel Wright Group’s CPG-focused talent network across the U.S. and Europe
Executive search services valued at up to $100,000

Prize applies to one eligible executive search assignment, subject to mutually agreed role scope and search terms.

New Caney Beverage – Production & Supply Chain Package

Advertised Value: $50,000 (USD)

New Caney Beverage is a Texas-based beverage manufacturer and co-packing partner supporting emerging and established brands with production, packaging, and supply chain solutions. Their capabilities include carbonated beverages in cans and non-carbonated beverages in PET and HDPE formats, along with broader manufacturing support for growing beverage brands.

Prize includes:

Dedicated production line time
Production and supply chain consulting
Coverage of an initial production run of up to 1,000 cases
Support valued at $50,000

Eligibility: Available to non-alcoholic beverage brands only and limited to eligible can and PET formats compatible with New Caney Beverage’s production capabilities.

Judges will be announced soon

Pitch Format

Each finalist will receive 60 seconds on stage to pitch their brand, followed by live questions from the judging panel. The running order, Q&A duration and detailed event timing will be communicated to finalists before the event and may be adjusted by the organizer where reasonably necessary for event operations.

Eligibility

To apply, the brand and applicant must meet the following requirements:

The applicant must be a beverage brand producing alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages.
The brand must be legally incorporated in the United States or Latin American market permitted under the full Pitch Slam Terms & Conditions.
The brand must have annual revenue of less than $5 Million (USD), or the equivalent in its local currency, based on its most recent completed financial year unless otherwise stated in the full Terms & Conditions.
Only one application may be submitted per brand.
The individual submitting the application must be authorized to submit it on behalf of the brand.
If selected, the finalist must be able to attend and pitch in person at Eden Roc Miami Beach on November 12, 2026.
If selected, the finalist must purchase a valid event ticket within 72 hours of the finalist notification email.

Additional eligibility, compliance or redemption requirements may apply to individual prize components and will be set by the relevant prize partner.

How It Works

PITCH SLAM IMPORTANT DATES

Applications open: Thursday, October 22, 2026Applications close: Monday, November 2, 2026 11:59 PM PTFinalists notified by email: Tuesday November 3, 2026Finalist acceptance deadline: Within 72 hours of the time stated on the finalist notification emailFinalists announced publicly: Friday, November 6, 2026Live Pitch Slam: Thursday, November 12, 2026Venue: Eden Roc Miami Beach, 4525 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140

Participant Terms – Summary

No application fee. There is no fee to submit an application; however, a selected finalist must purchase the required event ticket to participate.
One entry per brand. Duplicate applications may be disregarded.
Selection and judging. Finalists and the winner will be selected in accordance with the judging criteria and process described in the full Terms & Conditions. The organizer’s decision will be final to the extent permitted by law.
Prizes. Prize components are supplied by the relevant prize partners, have no cash alternative unless expressly stated, and are non-transferable unless the organizer or prize partner agrees otherwise in writing.
Partner terms. Individual prize components may be subject to separate eligibility requirements, geographic limitations, scheduling, capacity, data availability, onboarding requirements or other reasonable partner terms.
Prize changes. If a prize partner cannot provide a stated component, L.A. Libations and/or The Beverage Forum may substitute, amend or withdraw that component in accordance with the full Terms & Conditions and applicable law.
Publicity. Information identified in the application as suitable for publicity, such as the brand name, mission, website, logo and finalist status, may be used in connection with administering and promoting the Pitch Slam and The Beverage Forum Winter, as described in the Privacy Notice and full Terms & Conditions.
Personal data. Personal information will be handled in accordance with the applicable Privacy Notice. Information will only be shared with event or prize partners where there is an appropriate purpose and lawful basis for doing so.
Full terms govern. These points are a summary only. The full Pitch Slam and event Terms & Conditions available on the event page and during checkout govern entry and participation.