Hiball Coconut Water is a non-carbonated product is made with 100 percent organic coconut water sourced from the Philippians and infused with brand’s proprietary blend of energy ingredients, which includes organic caffeine, ginseng and guarana. Hiball founder Todd Berardi told BevNET that the hybrid, multifunctional product is aimed at energy drink consumers seeking additional benefits of hydration and recovery that are commonly associated with coconut water. The beverage will debut nationally at Whole Foods, which has a 90 day exclusive on the beverage beginning on June 1.

Additionally, Hiball is in the final stages of development for a chocolate-flavored line extension that Berardi hopes to launch on Aug. 1. The beverage contains 85 percent coconut water and is made with organic, Fair Trade-certified cocoa and sugar. Berardi described the product as more of an indulgent drink than the regular coconut water, but noted that the chocolate variety will contain a reasonable calorie count — under 140 per 15 oz. can.

Berardi noted that the products have been in development for about a year and played a significant role in the brand’s packaging shift from glass bottles to aluminum cans. With a retail price tag of $3.99, the beverages are certainly positioned as premium products, yet Berardi said the price is justified by the rather expensive cost to produce the drinks. In addition to using high quality ingredients, the beverages must undergo a complex cold fill process in order to make them shelf-stable and maintain an 18-month shelf life.

Although the can that Hiball uses for its coconut water will – unlike its other cans – not feature a cold-activated label, the new package has been a boon for the company and key driver of distribution gains in natural and grocery channels. In recent weeks, Hiball has landed new retail authorizations at Wegmans, Sprouts and nationally at Safeway, where the brand is positioned in the mainline energy set in 1,400 of the grocer’s locations and in the natural set in the remaining 500 stores. Additionally, Hiball will be sold in specialty retailers Fresh & Easy and Lunds/Byerlys this month and, in perhaps the biggest win for the brand, gain shelf space for its entire product line at 1,500 Kroger and Kroger-affiliated stores.

Berardi hopes to continue the brand’s tremendous gains in distribution, and will look to expand and solidify availability of Hiball. He noted that the company is currently evaluating new opportunities in club, mass, drug and DSD channels through its partnership with brand incubator L.A. Libations.

With year over year sales growth well into the triple digits, Berardi sees the new coconut water products as a key to maintaining, and even surpassing, its upward surge. And despite a category that nearing saturation, Berardi said that Hiball’s coconut water is not coming into compete with current brands. Rather, the new product is “doing something different” and that at its heart, Hiball remains an energy drink company first and foremost.

Held on Monday, June 3,  the day before BevNET Live begins, Beverage School is an intensive, half-day “Beverages 101″ program that will provide participants with valuable information geared toward early-stage entrepreneurs and industry newcomers, including lessons on product development, sales and marketing, supply chain management, distribution, and more.

The session is open exclusively to attendees of BevNET Live who are new (or relatively new) beverage company entrepreneurs.

There is no additional cost for the program, however, only a limited number of seats remain for Beverage School.

If you have already signed up for BevNET Live and wish to attend Beverage School, notify BevNET sales representative Jon Landis TODAY.

Reserve Your Seat at Beverage School >>

Here is the agenda in full:

GREENWOOD, S.C. —

“We are extremely honored to represent our home state of South Carolina as the official beverages of the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association.  Our partnership will help us in many ways to educate our youth and continue our fight against obesity and diabetes”, said CEO Sammy Nasrollahi of Hydro One Beverages.

“The goal of the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association is to provide the best tools, through partnerships, to educate and develop our coaches into the best they can become.  Through our partnership with Hydro One Premium Beverages we now have an “All Natural” sports beverage to offer our student athletes.  Hydro One Premium Beverages is not only providing great beverages with their BODE Sport but also educating our children on proper nutritional hydration that will last a lifetime. I feel very strongly that our relationship with Hydro One Premium Beverages will empower all of our members with the knowledge and ability to hydrate our athletes for peak performance as well as help fight against the continuous spread of obesity and diabetes among our students and student athletes”. R. Shell Dula Executive Director, SCACA

About Hydro One Premium Beverages

We are committed to providing healthier beverage alternatives for our society while developing into a world leader in the promotion and education of proper nutritional values.

MATAWAN, N.J. —

Caffeinated energy shots are one of the fastest growing retail categories with 2012 sales exceeding $1.4 billion.  Although 164 million adults are daily consumers of caffeinated products, only 8% of adults regularly purchase energy shots. The overwhelming majority of consumers are reluctant to use energy shots because of their chemical composition, which they feel is unhealthy and skepticism regarding their effectiveness.  Even 47% of energy shot users report their consumption would increase if there was a natural alternative. Proven all-natural Body Glove SURGE is a game changer because it will significantly expand the energy shot category.

Combining protein, honey, green tea, coconut water, pomegranate and other high-antioxidant fruits, all natural Body Glove SURGE has been studied by researchers at Montana State University. The study, which will be presented at the American College of Sports Medicine’s annual meeting, showed Body Glove SURGE was more effective than 5-hour EnergyÒ in speeding reaction times, extending endurance, improving alertness and raising mental focus.

CHICAGO —

Made with premium Jamaican coffee, real cane sugar and all-natural ingredients, Marley’s One Drop is available in coffee, mocha and vanilla light flavors. The company hopes this new package will help it further capitalize on the continued growth in the ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee segment.

Originally introduced in 9.5oz. glass bottles, Marley Beverages chose to move into the Rexam SLEEK can because of its durability, portability and brand differentiation as it helps the beverage stand out on retail shelves. Marley’s also benefits from the fact that aluminum cans are the most sustainable packaging choice in the world, as they are recycled at more than double the rate of any other beverage package.

“There is nothing better than drinking an iced cold coffee beverage from a can,” said Lee Brody , global marketing director, Marley Beverage Company. “We wanted to showcase the premium look of our Marley’s One Drop line and help it stand out on the shelf. We were able to achieve both in a very powerful way with the Rexam SLEEK can.”

Rich Grimley , president and CEO, Rexam BCNA, says the beverage can is the right choice to package coffee beverage growth. “Specialty coffee brands are recognizing the value of aluminum beverage can packaging in building their business. Marley’s is a valued customer of ours and we’re excited to help them extend their brand with the best in graphics display, filling and distribution economics and sustainability superiority.”

Marley Beverages remains committed to spreading the positive message to embrace charities, causes and ideas that can change the world. Marley’s beverages products benefit 1Love.org, the Marley family non-profit initiative, which works to promote the legacy of their father by supporting charities that empower youth, protect the planet and promote peace.

Marley’s One Drop cans are working their way into retailers nationwide.

About Marley Beverage Company
Marley Beverage Company is a partnership with the family of legendary reggae artist Bob Marley . Marley Beverage Company develops and promotes a wide range of healthy, natural drinks.

About Rexam
Rexam is a global consumer packaging company. We are one of the leading global beverage can makers and a major global player in rigid plastic packaging for healthcare applications. We are business partners to some of the world’s most famous and successful consumer brands. Our vision is to be the best global consumer packaging company.

We have 67 plants in 24 countries and employ 11,100 people. Our sales from ongoing operations in 2012 were in the region of$6 billion. Rexam is a member of the FTSE 100 and its ordinary shares are listed with the UK Listing Authority and trade on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol REX.

LOS ANGELES —

As a BODYARMOR SuperDrink™ partner, the San Francisco star will participate in regional and national events, promotions, and more.

“The baseball season is long and especially as a catcher, you need the right nutrition and hydration in your system to perform all season. More than any other solution I’ve tried, BODYARMOR SuperDrink has the electrolytes, antioxidants, and vitamins to help keep me going,” Posey said. “I started drinking the product during Spring Training, and once I saw how it helped me perform, joining the BODYARMOR team was something I wanted to do. BODYARMOR works.”

“We’re excited to have Buster, one of the most dynamic young superstars in baseball, on the BODYARMOR SuperDrink™ Team,” said Mike Repole, Chairman of BODYARMOR SuperDrink™. “We see only super things in his future and our future, as Buster is both an All-Star talent and genuinely great guy.”

Since entering the big leagues in 2010, the 26-year-old Posey has made an immediate impact, having helped guide his team to a world championship and winning Rookie of the Year honors. Posey led his team to the world title once again in 2012, while also earning the league MVP and batting title.

BODYARMOR SuperDrink™, creator of the SuperDrink™ beverage category, is packed with a proprietary blend of electrolytes, antioxidants, and vitamins that provide an unparalleled combination of Superior Nutrition and Superior Hydration. BODYARMOR SuperDrink™ is leading the next generation of active lifestyle functional beverages helping consumers perform both on and off the field.

BODYARMOR SuperDrink™ comes in six delicious flavors: Strawberry Banana, Fruit Punch, Tropical Citrus, Orange Mango, Blueberry Pomegranate, and Mixed Berry.

Posey is represented by CAA Sports, a division of Creative Artists Agency (CAA).

About BODYARMOR Nutrition, LLC

Award-winning entrepreneur and beverage industry veteran Lance Collins, creator of FUZE® Beverage and NOS® Energy Drink (sold to the Coca-Cola Company in 2007), brings new innovation to the beverage marketplace with BODYARMOR SuperDrink™. Leadership includes Chairman Mike Repole, co-founder and president of vitaminwater® (also sold to Coca-Cola in 2007). Each bottle of BODYARMORSuperDrink™ is formulated with electrolytes, antioxidants, and vitamins providing consumers Superior Nutrition and Superior Hydration. BODYARMOR SuperDrink™ has twice the electrolytes of the leading sports drink, 100% DV antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E, as well as 200% DV B vitamins. BODYARMOR SuperDrink™ is sold by select convenience, natural foods, fitness, drug, and grocery retailers across the country.

ATLANTA — 

To celebrate the spirit of independent stylists and fashionistas everywhere, Diet Coke is launching the second season of its annual Diet Coke Young Designer Challenge – an opportunity of a lifetime for a style maven to become the next great fashion designer. Diet Coke is the number one calorie-free brand and number two beverage in the country behind Coca-Cola. The brand is inviting creative individuals to submit a Diet Coke-branded T-shirt design inspired by the extraordinary style of its new partner Taylor Swift for the chance to have their original creation featured in all U.S. Target stores this fall. Fans can submit their design through May 31 at DietCoke.com/DesignerChallenge.

While submissions were only accepted from students at select design schools last year, the fashionable twist in 2013 is that anyone in the U.S. with a creative and inspired idea can submit a Diet Coke T-shirt design.

Adding to the excitement, acclaimed fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff, along with the top creative minds at Diet Coke and Target, will select the winning Diet Coke T-shirt design. The judges will select the top design from a pool of 10 finalists, which will be determined from an online public vote in June.

“The Diet Coke brand is the epitome of style, and I’m delighted to be involved in this unique design challenge as a judge,” said Minkoff. “As someone who took a chance and moved to New York to chase a dream, I can’t wait to join Diet Coke and Taylor Swift to support a young, talented individual in pursuing their own dreams.”

In addition to having his or her design available in the soft drink aisle in all U.S. Target stores beginning September 1, the grand-prize winner also will receive a $10,000 cash prize to pursue creative endeavors, plus a fly-away trip to meet Swift at one of her final U.S. RED Tour stops in Nashville, Tenn., this September.

“Season two of the Diet Coke Young Designer Challenge gives all of our fans the extraordinary opportunity to make their dreams of becoming the next big designer a reality,” said Erik Jenkins, Diet Coke Brand Manager. “We’re excited to see how fans infuse the aspirational and modern Diet Coke brand and Taylor’s chic style into their design submissions.”

Fans interested in submitting a T-shirt design can visit DietCoke.com/DesignerChallenge to view inspirational photos and contest rules, download hi-res assets and learn more about the Diet Coke Young Designer Challenge. Budding designers also will find creative inspiration from a video featuring Swift sharing her thoughts on personal style and how she approaches fashion. T-shirt designs must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, May 31.

The top 20 designs will be posted online at DietCoke.com/DesignerChallenge beginning June 16. Through June 30, people who vote for their favorite Diet Coke T-shirt design will have the opportunity to win an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Nashville, Tenn., this September to meet Swift and attend one of the final concerts on her U.S. RED Tour.

The grand-prize winner of the contest will be announced later this summer. To encourage the talented finalists to continue pursuing their creative passions, two runners-up also selected by Minkoff and the judging panel each will receive $2,500. The remaining 17 finalists will receive $250 each. The winner of the 2012 Diet Coke Young Designer Challenge was Gustavo Alonso, an up-and-coming design student at Miami International University of Art and Design, who wowed the judging panel with his design featuring a mysterious woman in a chic, red trench coat.

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world’s most valuable brand, our Company’s portfolio features 16 billion dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world’s largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of more than 1.8 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world’s top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system employees.

About Taylor Swift

Lauded by The New York Times as “one of the most important pop artists of the last decade,” and by Rolling Stone as “one of the few genuine rock stars we’ve got these days,” 23 year-old Taylor Swift is a seven-time GRAMMY winner, and is the youngest winner in history of the music industry’s highest honor, the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. With the 2012 release of her album RED, she is the only female artist in music history (and just the fourth artist ever) to twice have an album hit the 1 million first-week sales figure. She holds the record for the biggest digital sales week ever for a song by a woman, and for the second-largest song sales week overall, as well as the worldwide iTunes record for highest ever first-week album sales. With RED, Taylor became the first artist since the Beatles (and the only female artist in history) to log six or more weeks at #1 with three consecutive studio albums.

Taylor has an album on Rolling Stone‘s prestigious The 50 Greatest Albums of All Time (by women) list, and Time magazine has named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world. She is Billboard‘s youngest-ever Woman of the Year, and her more than 100 industry award wins have included the American Music Awards’ Artist of the Year, the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music’s Entertainer of the Year and three European Music Awards.

Taylor, who writes all of her own songs, has career record sales in excess of 26 million albums and 75 million song downloads worldwide, and her two most recent albums are two of only 18 albums in the entire history of music to sell more than 1 million copies in a single week. She has had singles top both the country and pop radio charts around the globe, and has thus far scored 13 #1 singles across multiple radio formats. She is one of the top 5-selling digital music artists worldwide, and is the top-selling digital artist in country music history.

About Rebecca Minkoff

With a vision of building a lifestyle brand for the downtown romantic, San Diego-born designer Rebecca Minkoff founded her company in 2001 after she developed a small apparel line. She spent the next few years working on the small collection until 2005 when Rebecca developed the “Morning After Bag”. The bag became an overnight sensation and Rebecca began solely concentrating on developing additional styles to build out her romantically themed day-to-night handbag collection. After four years of consistent growth in accessories under her belt, Rebecca returned to her original love of apparel design and introduced a ready-to-wear collection in 2009. Rebecca Minkoff’s designs are a favorite for modern, trend-setting everyday women and celebrities alike.

About Target

Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) serves guests at 1,832 stores – 1,784 in the United States and 48 in Canada – and at Target.com. Since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its profit through community grants and programs; today, that giving equals more than $4 million a week.

PURCHASE, N.Y. —

To bring the campaign to life, Manzanita Sol enlisted world-renowned percussionist, Rafael Padilla , and international flautist,Pedro Eustache , to create the music for the brand’s award-winning TV commercial using only Manzanita Sol bottles, caps and straws, showcasing a truly creative and unique production technique.

“Manzanita Sol’s true-to-fruit flavors have always been a refreshing alternative to lemon-lime and cola beverages, and now, with the addition of Mango Citrus Sol and Pina Sol , our consumers have even more of an enjoyable selection to choose from,” saidMartha Bermudez , Brand Director, Manzanita Sol.  “From our unique flavors to our innovative commercial music, Manzanita Sol has embraced what it means to ‘do what’s different’ and we’re excited to invite consumers to do the same.”

Starting today, Manzanita Sol ambassadors will begin sharing how they “Do What’s Different” in their hometowns across visual arts, music, mixology and fashion. Ambassadors include:

• Carlos Donjuan , visual artist from Dallas, Texas
• Antonio & Jesus Estrada , fashion designers from San Diego, Cali.
• Goldie Garcia , visual artist and jewelry maker from Albuquerque, N.M.
• Sergio Serna , mixology expert from Chicago, Ill.
• Jorge Villanueva , musician from Los Angeles, Cali.

Beginning May 31 through October, Manzanita Sol will visit major Hispanic festivals and retailers in California, Texas andChicago to give consumers an opportunity to sample all five flavors in unique and unexpected ways – while doing the limbo, hitting a pinata, playing the drums, dribbling a soccer ball – and share photos of those fun experiences via their social channels.

Mango Citrus Sol and Pina Sol will be available by Memorial Day weekend in key markets, including California, New Mexico,Texas, Chicago and Las Vegas. The new flavors will be available in 12-oz. single-serve glass bottles (suggested retail price of$0.99-$1.25) and 2-liter multi-serve bottles.

About Manzanita Sol:

With its distinctive, true-to-fruit apple flavor, Manzanita Sol arrived in the U.S. from Mexico in 2005 and has become a refreshing alternative to the usual lemon-lime and cola flavors ever since. Manzanita Sol is joined by four other great tasting flavors – Toronja Sol, Tamarindo Sol, Mango Citrus Sol and Pina Sol – that provide the perfect options for those who want more from life and to try something different.

About PepsiCo:

PepsiCo is a global food and beverage leader with net revenues of more than $65 billion and a product portfolio that includes 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in annual retail sales.  Our main businesses – Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay and Pepsi-Cola – make hundreds of enjoyable foods and beverages that are loved throughout the world.  PepsiCo’s people are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for people and our planet, which we believe also means a more successful future for PepsiCo.  We call this commitment Performance with Purpose: PepsiCo’s promise to provide a wide range of foods and beverages from treats to healthy eats; to find innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment by conserving energy and water and reducing packaging volume; to provide a great workplace for our associates; and to respect, support and invest in the local communities where we operate.

LOS ANGELES — 

“Timing Jason’s hire to coincide with the launch of our new fund allows us to hit the ground running as we add new brands to our portfolio,” said William Anderson, founder and CEO of First Beverage Group. “Jason’s multi-faceted experience with building great consumer brands will be an enormous asset to our company, our team and our partners.”

“Jason has diverse talents and a deep knowledge of this industry,” said Tom First, managing partner of First Beverage Group, who previously worked with Camillos at the juice company First co-founded, Nantucket Nectars.  “He has been a key player in the success of several great brands and I’m excited to work with him again.”

Camillos, who has over 21 years of experience in the food and beverage industries, is an expert at driving success with emerging brands and will be responsible for managing all operating activities of First Beverage’s portfolio companies. Before joining First Beverage, Camillos most recently led market development efforts at Unreal Brands, a candy start-up company based in Boston. Prior to that, he was senior vice president of business development at Glaceau, where he established a business planning and commercial operations infrastructure that was critical to the successful management of the fast-growing enhanced water business. His efforts helped to position the company for sale to the Coca-Cola Company in 2007 for the historic sum of $4.2B. Camillos has a BA in English from Princeton University and lives in Connecticut.

“I have always been passionate about creating and building things, whether a brand, a company or a team,” said Camillos. “We have seen so much innovation in the beverage industry over the last 20 years, and the pace at which new ideas come to market seems only to grow quicker. It will be a thrill to be at the forefront of this activity and to be a promoter of change in this incredibly dynamic industry.”

About First Beverage Group

First Beverage Group is a full-service financial services firm dedicated exclusively to the beverage industry. First Beverage focuses on providing growth solutions to leading operators in all segments of the beverage industry through a comprehensive range of products, including investment funds for growth capital and investment banking. Headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in Boston and New York, the First Beverage team has over 200 years of experience in the beverage industry.

Move over, soy… almond products are hotter than ever. In its quarterly earnings call, WhiteWave Foods CEO Gregg Engles announced that almond-based food and beverages sold under the company’s Silk brand grew by an astounding 55 percent in the first four months of 2013 compared to the same period last year. While net sales of all Silk branded plant-based products grew by 13 percent in the first quarter of 2013, Engles called out the “torrid growth” of its almond business, and noted that sales of its almond products are “quickly approaching the size” of its soy-based foods and drinks, according to an article on FoodNavigator-USA.com.

Although demand for almond products appears to be thriving, it’s rather unlikely that we’ll see an almond-based energy drink anytime soon. The same can be said about Monster Beverage Corp’s Monster Ultra Pink, a planned extension of the company’s Zero Ultra line. First announced in December, the female-targeted, zero-calorie, zero-sugar energy drink turned some heads with its hot pink-colored can. However, Monster has shelved plans to bring the product to market, according to BeverageDaily.com, although it’s not entirely clear as to why it did so. In its fourth quarter 2012 earnings call, Monster CEO Rodney Sacks said that the company decided to defer the launch of Ultra Pink “for now.” In its place, Monster will introduce a similarly-named line extension called “Monster Ultra Blue” sometime in the first half of 2013.

While Monster’s use of the word “ultra” to label an energy drink line is more about branding than anything else, it’s perhaps the best adjective to describe the level of quality and freshness of Suja’s range of raw juice products. In order to maintain the integrity of the products, the high-pressure processed juices must remain at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. As a way to protect its premium positioning in the market, the company recently introduced a program called “TempTrips” in which a temperature-tracking radio frequency device is randomly placed in one box of each pallet shipped to its retailers, including its largest, Whole Foods Market. Upon receipt, retailers are asked to return the device to Suja to make sure that the temperature inside the box has not gone above 39 degrees. As an incentive, for every TempTrip device that Suja receives back from Whole Foods, the company will make a $25 donation to the retailer’s Whole Planet Foundation, a global micro-lending program.

LANILAI Relaxation Drink, the brand is Hawaiian owned and founded by a biochemist and kite surfer Man Nguyen. LANILAI Inc. announced today that the Hawaiian Stress Relief drink will be distributed by Total Wholesale Distributor (TWD) throughout Nevada and California.

Total Wholesale Distributors, Inc. is a full service, integrated marketing and distribution company for healthy, natural and specialty beverages.  With 20 years of experience in the State of Nevada, TWD promotes health and wellness through marketing and sales distribution of healthy, natural and specialty beverages in our market. TWD is committed to being the finest sales and marketing organization, superior customer service through innovative techniques.

LANILAI Relaxation Drink is building a strong collaboration with TWD distribution, which starts in Las Vegas also known to local Hawaiians the ninth Island (Hawai’i has 8 major islands) next week and in neighboring state of California. LANILAI will focus on authentic Hawaiian cultural activities to establish grassroots.

“LANILAI is pure Aloha” Man said “LANILAI® Relaxation Drinks can be emotional for people because it brings a taste of Hawai’i for those who have immigrated to Las Vegas from Hawai’i and seeking a taste of home. For people who just needs a stress relief and what paradise tastes like, LANILAI is pure aloha”.

LANILAI Relaxation Drink is a new line of functional Drinks which is the antithesis of the energy drink craze: also known as the ‘Anti-stress drink’ or ‘Relaxation Drink.’  LANILAI is the first beverage in the world to offer anti-stress and anti-aging all in one.  LANILAI provides a healthy happy buzz without alcohol.

LANILAI offers a unique Hawaiian tropical blend of natural herbal passion flower and botanical resveratrol from the skins of purple muscadine grapes. This fusion of relaxation and anti-aging with exotic fruits, create a Drink that is both enticing to the palette and functional in its purpose.

LANILAI issued a statement about the deal with TWD:

LANILAI Relaxation Drink and TWD Distribution have reached a deal to distribute LANILAI® throughout the Nevada. The distribution partnership will focus on Las Vegas while building out the state of California.

“We are extremely excited about the distribution partnership with TWD Distribution as this is validation of the LANILAI brand’s promising future,” said Scott Ford, public relations representative for LANILAI Inc. “We have a unique and collaborative relationship with our seasoned distribution partners, and certainly TWD Distribution is a key partner in our venture. Our distribution and retail partners have contributed greatly to our progression.”

ATLANTA —

“We’ve become a key supplier to a much wider variety of industries with more advanced products,” said Jack Toepke, Chairman and CEO. “Our equipment and systems are now in use around the world, and serve as the standard for excellence in numerous fields.”

“TOMCO2 Systems offers a range of products for use in such widely diverse industries as fire suppression, water treatment including desalination, oil field fracking and poultry pathogen management. While a traditional focus continues on equipment for the storage, application and transportation of carbon dioxide, we now offer numerous advanced systems to a wider range of customers.

“The name TOMCO2 Systems better conveys the growth in our expertise and our ability to innovate. We build on the base of high quality solutions and devoted customer support that has established us a valued and trusted provider to businesses of all sizes in many fields.”

Originally a company that manufactured, installed, and serviced CO2 storage tanks, TOMCO2 Systems has since added products such as CO2 transport equipment, CO2 pellet equipment, and dry ice presses. The first major growth into application systems was the development of a patented water treatment process for use in municipal and private facilities that has since become the industry standard. TOMCO2 Systems water treatment systems are installed in more than 1,500 facilities throughout the United States and around the world.

Our fire suppression division offers a complete line of low pressure and high pressure CO2 systems for the world’s power generation industry, automotive industry, steel industry or inerting of hazardous operations. We currently protect more than 400 locations in 28 countries.

The headquarters and main manufacturing plant in the Atlanta suburb of Loganville has undergone numerous expansions. Additional locations include a sales and fabrication facility in Cincinnati, Ohio and a sales office in Madrid, Spain.

“I’m thrilled to be able to expand our range,” says CEO Jonathan Newman. “Given the success of the natural range, I’ve been having requests from retailers for more products, and have worked with them to deliver some great flavours based on a tropical theme”.

“I really believe the new SKUs will be a game changer, especially our dairy free Chocolate and Espresso Coconut Milks. Not only are they incredibly tasty and beautiful to look at in their distinctive ‘black packaging’, but they are highly nutritious. Dairy free is a huge category, and these unique alternatives provides a great alternative to soya and rice milks.”

Amongst the first retailers to stock the new lines are Planet Organic and Wholefoods, both whom have had tremendous success with CHI’s natural range. Planet Organic reported that CHI was the best-selling drink in the entire business (out-selling water) during their March promotion. In it’s nascent existence, Chi saw a rapid and exponential growth during 2012 and has seen a 300% rise in the first quarter of 2013. Wholesaler Tree of Life reported that Chi was the fastest growing brand in the category and outsold all brands in their accumulative lives at Tree. Chi is now stocked across the country and is doing robust business in independents as well as some major chains including WH SMITH and Ocado. Indeed, stacked up next to major player, Vita Coco, Chi has been outselling the former market leader in both WH Smith and other retailers.

Commenting on the success of the product, Newman says “We’ve spent no money at all on above the line marketing and we don’t have A list actors or singers promoting our product. I think the success of CHI has to do with several things – strong visual design backed up by a great taste. In addition the resealable Dreamcap means consumers don’t have to drink it all in one go.”

Chi was started by Newman in 2011 after a trip to Thailand. Newman, who is a filmmaker by trade, juggles making films and running the business.

“It’s been a challenging couple of years,” Newman comments. “Last year I shot a $25m film and it was concurrently our first and the busiest year of trading for CHI. It’s also been a steep learning curve for me, as I do not have retail or manufacturing experience, so it’s been very much learning on the go and I’ve made my share of mistakes. That said, the business is going from strength to strength and expanding rapidly, and all of the challenges that comes along with running an expanding business have been ever present with this venture.”

• Attendees will have the chance to hear – and join in – discussions with four separate classes of the distribution business, from those dealing with national chain accounts to those targeting influencers and sole proprietorships in Manhattan.
• Additionally, the BevNET Live crowd will hear presentations from two key retail platforms, Kroger and Fresh Direct, on the best ways to get into their stores and advice on negotiating the supplier/distributor/retailer relationships that can ultimately determine profitability.
• Beverage companies will have the chance to engage distributors and retailers directly as they enjoy new products at the BevNET Live sampling bar. Key distributors from across the region and the country will be attending.

As a special bonus, the Tuesday evening cocktail event at BevNET Live is being sponsored by NIDA – the Northeast Independent Distributors’ Association. This will give attendees an even better opportunity – to enjoy a “free fill” on the distributors themselves – while further networking with new partners.

Over the course of its two-day program, BevNET Live will feature four different one-on-one distributor interviews, featuring candid but in-depth assessments of four classes of trade. To get a look at natural and specialty, up-and-down-the-street, regional, and national distribution angles, the distributors to be interviewed will include:

• Nat Noone, founder of Green Shoots Distribution Inc. – Nat started Green Shoots in 2010; it is an elite, employee-owned refrigerated DSD distributor focusing on Natural, Specialty, Universities and Prestige Accounts.
• Gerry Martin, VP of Marketing and Immediate Consumption Sales, Polar Beverages Corp. – a 33-year veteran of the beverage business, Gerry joined Polar, the country’s largest independent soft drink bottler and a “Super-Regional” beverage and distribution company, in 1996.
• Pat Bolden, Co-Founder, L.A. Libations – Pat is in charge of national accounts for L.A. Libations, a national beverage innovation company strategically aligned with the Coca-Cola Co. and Anheuser Busch InBev to incubate start-up brands and bring them to scale at retail.
• Lou Ferraro, President, Preferred Beverage Inc. – After a 25-year career in beverage, Lou started Preferred Beverage in 2011; it has grown into a full-service beverage distribution company servicing 4,000-plus accounts in the five boroughs of New York City, as well as Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties.

About BevNET Live

BevNET Live is a two-day forum for beverage entrepreneurs, suppliers, distributors, retailers and investors to gather, speak, exchange ideas through interactive panels and lectures, and enhance their marketing and product development strategies. Attendees can tap the expertise of investment professionals who can help groom them to attract money, business owners with inspiring success stories, and the BevNET.com community, which has spent a decade dedicating itself to careful reporting on the fast-moving beverage industry. More than just a conference, BevNET LIVE includes networking options including the BevNET LIVE Expo, beverage breaks, a cocktail reception and more.

BevNET Live Summer 13 – Time is Running Out!; Reserve Your Seat Now!>>

Here is Red Bull’s press release on the new Camo Cans:

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (May 14, 2013) – Memorial Day through Labor Day, Red Bull Energy Drink will be delivering wings via camouflage cans available for purchase through military channels and retailers immediately surrounding bases.  A portion of the proceeds from the Red Bull Camo Can will benefit the Military Warriors Support Foundation and their Homes4WoundedHeroes program, which awards mortgage-free homes and three years of family and financial mentoring to combat wounded heroes of Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Military members around the world rely on Red Bull to get them through long shifts or to aid their focus in extreme situations, so it’s nice to see the Camo Can as a tribute to the dedication of our troops,” said Retired 3 Star General Leroy Sisco, Founder and CEO, Military Warriors Support Foundation.  “Red Bull’s 2012 Camo Can donation to our Homes4WoundedHeroes program provided homes for two combat wounded American veterans and this year, Red Bull hopes to double that.”

For more than 25 years, millions of people around the world seek daily energy from Red Bull to aid them while engaging in sports, working, studying and driving, or for an afternoon pick-me-up.  Red Bull vitalizes body and mind.

The Red Bull Camo Can will be sold as a single 16 oz. can and available in Red Bull Energy Drink, Red Bull Sugarfree and Red Bull Total Zero varieties.

For more information, please visit http://www.redbullusa.com/products and http://militarywarriors.org.

DJ Khaled

MIAMI — OPREME Energy, a new Energy Drink introduced to S. Florida, has announced that its endorsement deal with Record producer & executive DJ Khaled has ended.

“It was nice having DJ Khaled on board with OPREME Energy,” says President/CEO, Ryan “Egypt” El-Hosseiny.

DJ Khaled signed the deal back in October 2012 prior to the company releasing its New drink in mid-December 2012. OPREME Energy is expanding quickly in S. Florida, the unique packaging, smooth taste and no crash guarantee has given OPREME the recognition by consumers as a premium energy drink.

While OPREME continues to expand in Florida and plans to release in other states this year, you may purchase OPREME Energy online at opreme.com.