Beverage Industry Top Stories, News, and Analysis

Could anyone have guessed that in its 80th year of business, The Double Cola Company, a stalwart of classic Americana and traditional sodas, would venture into… the coconut water category? Perhaps not, but Double Cola, like many other CSD companies, is doing its best to adapt to wave after wave of consumers increasingly mindful of what they drink and the impact of sugary beverages on overall health and wellness.

Leonard Marsh, a co-founder and former president and CEO of Snapple, died on Tuesday. He was 80, and the last of the Snapple founders to pass away.

Sambazon’s Purifying Cleanse is three-day juice cleanse program that consists of three organic superfood blends each packaged in a 1 L Tetra Pak. Unlike many other juice cleanse beverages coming onto the market, the new products are not high pressure processed. Nevertheless, Sambazon has created an affordable and well-formulated program that could find significant mainstream appeal.

In a move that is certain to raise some eyebrows, John Cochran has departed as CEO of AQUAhydrate and taken the top spot at fast-growing Ole Smoky Distillery. Although it is unclear if the split was a mutual decision, the timing of Cochran’s exit is somewhat perplexing, particularly after several recent high-profile distribution wins for AQUAhydrate.

With fast-rising competitors marketing their bottles as an embodiment of sleekness and modernity, Evian felt the need for a change.

With fewer than 40 seats remaining, BevNET Live Summer ’13 is almost sold out! If you are interested in attending BevNET Live Summer ’13 on June 4 & 5 in New York City, register now! Our program, which will offer critical insights and information about cutting edge trends and growing opportunities in the beverage space, is sure to help you grow your business.

Billed as an “organic beet performance supplement,” Red Ace is — as you’ve probably guessed by now — made with beet juice concentrate. Packaged in a 2 oz. glass bottle, the product contains added guayusa, water, lemon juice and other flavors. All in all, we’re quite impressed with the formulation, flavor and branding.

There are only TWO WEEKS left until BevNET Live Summer ’13, which takes place on June 4-5 in New York City at the Metropolitan Pavilion. Space is filling up fast and the event is expected to be SOLD OUT within days. If you haven’t already done so, NOW is the time to register!

Watermelon and aloe are just about as perfect of a flavor pairing as there is, so it’s no surprise that ALO Comfort tastes as good as it does. Overall, it’s one that definitely lives up to the standard set by the other flavors.

The folks at Harmless Harvest just can’t seem to shake the innovation bug. Having launched the first 100 percent “raw” and organic coconut water two years ago and recently unveiled a unique cold brewed drink made with raw tea leaves, the company has introduced a new bag-in-box coconut water dispenser. The dispenser was jointly developed with Whole Foods Market, a key strategic retail partner for Harmless Harvest.

Amy Taylor, the VP/GM, Red Bull North America East, will add her views and observations to a panel on the role of culture at successful entrepreneurial beverage companies during this summer’s BevNET Live event. Ms. Taylor, who was previously VP Marketing, Red Bull North America, was a featured speaker at BevNET Live in December, 2011, discussing the role of earned media in brand building.

As winds of change sweep through the beverage industry, more and more CSD companies are realizing that they must adapt to a society ever more focused on health and wellness. Jones Soda is one such outfit and recently introduced a new line of natural sodas made with a proprietary blend of sweeteners. The drinks are quite good, although the packaging could use a bit more emphasis on their low-calorie formulation.