The canned cocktail brand, which launched earlier this year, blends premium liquor with sparkling water and fruit juice in an appeal to Gen Z.

The snacking giant said the deal for Evirth “represents an important step” in expanding its presence in these categories, a core focus alongside chocolate and biscuits.

The acquisition proposal comes as Lifeway has been embroiled in a bitter family dispute between the CEO and her relatives and urged by a large shareholder to sell itself.

The innovation, the first outside of its signature condiment in more than five years, comes as the packaged food giant looks to generate $2 billion in incremental net sales by 2027.

A shortage of maple syrup last year was another casualty of recently unpredictable winters but, so far, 2024 is shaping up to be a sweet year for the industry, experts say. Quebec's maple ...