FINANCES
Reeds Inc., makers of Reed’s Ginger Brew and Virgil’s Root Beer, continues to claim the four top selling natural sodas, and has refocused its sales staff to target mainstream grocery channels, which they expect to bring the company 20 percent growth for 2008.The company announced last week an 18 percent increase in sales in the first quarter of 2008 over the same period last year. The company said in a press release that it also expects its profit margin to increase by five percent this year due to a price hike to cover the rising cost of raw materials. Reed’s also reduced its sales force from 33 to 17 people, which is expected to save the company $2 million per year. • NutriPure Beverages, Inc. and former CEO Steve Nickolas have reached an amicable settlement regarding NutriPure’s relationships with Nickolas and XND Technologies, Inc. Under the terms of the settlement, the parties have agreed to rescind NutriPure’s agreement to purchase XND’s assets outright and have restructured their relationship in a way that will allow the companies to jointly proceed with the planned rollout of the Nu2O product line of premium enhanced bottled water products while simultaneously allowing NutriPure to pursue additional acquisitions and ventures in the “healthy water/healthy food” industry. • Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. cited sputtering North American 20 oz. bottle sales and “weakening economic trends” in a second quarter earnings outlook that that failed to meet Wall Street’s expectations. The company also said that unless things improve, its full-year earnings forecast is in jeopardy. Read more here.
LAW AND POLICY
Canada's top court swatted down a $300,000 damage award to a man who says he became depressed, anxious, obsessive and phobic about flies after finding a dead insect in his bottled water. Read more here.
DISTRIBUTION
RAGE Beverages announced placement through Fas Mart/Shore Stop and Royal Farms stores. Distribution for all Fas Mart/Shore Stop locations is being done through Otto Distribution. All 120 Royal Farms have been placed through Eby Brown. • Saladworks, LLC and AriZona Beverages announced that they have signed a multi-year beverage agreement. The deal makes AriZona the exclusive bottler of the Saladworks franchise. Terms were not disclosed. • Celsius Holdings has entered into a new distribution partnership with Griffin Beverage Company. With this agreement, Celsius beverage will complete its distribution coverage for the state of Michigan. • Coke Zero has tripled its availability at food service fountains – now in 14,000 outlets. Read more about it here.
PROMOTIONS/APPEARANCES
Skinny Water promoted its distribution agreement with Lukoil in the Philadelphia area by offering gas for $0.00 per gallon. See the video here. • The Coca-Cola Company and Special Olympics announced the renewal of their partnership through 2011 and further strengthened their 40-year relationship with the election of Coca-Cola executive J. Brady Lum to serve as the new President and Chief Operating Officer of Special Olympics, Inc. • RAGE Beverages reached a deal with MMA TKO Championship Boxing as the official Energy Beverage of TKO • On September 7th, 2008, Red Bull Soapbox Race will be taking a road trip to Canada for the very first time, racing down Vancouver's West 4th Avenue. • The National "got milk?" Milk Mustache Campaign and Everyday Food magazine are searching for the "ultimate" smoothie recipe in honor of June Dairy Month. Smoothie aficionados seeking a taste of fame are invited to share their favorite recipes for a chance to win $1,000 and have their creation featured in the Today's Special's section of Everyday Food magazine. • The Orange County Flyers professional baseball team has teamed up with SlumpBuster Energy on a sponsorship agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, SlumpBuster will be the official energy drink of the Orange County Flyers and be available at Goodwin field and surrounding retail outlets.
![[Get Copyright Permissions]](http://license.icopyright.net/images/icopy-w.gif){kind=small}
