These 15 food and beverage brands found their fans—using buzzy content and IRL activations

Whether pouring shots of tequila at a music festival or creating a new condiment, these food and beverage companies found their way to consumers’ hearts. In a crowded field like food and beverage, companies must do all they can to stay ahead of the pack. The 2025 Brands That Matter honorees in the space used inventive campaigns, celebrity influence, and nostalgic throwbacks to stand apart. Corona brought its product to Olympian heights, and Sprite reinvigorated a classic slogan with a new generation of talent. Sometimes achieving brand relevance is as easy, as Heinz proved, as putting a little mustard on it.