ON TOP
- Full Motion Beverage, Inc. announced it has completed the acquisition of Mojito Brands, Inc. Mojito is the producer and creator of MOJAVA. Link
- Liberal magazine Mother Jones attacked Fiji bottled water, drawing connections between the company and Fiji’s military government. Link
- Hansen Natural Corp. announced the appointment of Nick R. Gagliardi as chief operating officer of Monster Beverage Co. Gagliardi will oversee the Monster business and report directly to Mark Hall, president of Monster Beverage Co. Gagliardi, 52, most recently served as president of Liquid Investments, a wholesale beverage distribution holding company based in San Diego. He previously held positions at Labatt USA and Colgate-Palmolive. Link
ON THE SHELVES
- Mary Jane’s Soda Inc. has launched a beverage formulated with Kava Root. The drink claims to stimulate a positive mood, increase mental clarity and reduce stress without causing inebriation or any negative side effects. Link
DISTRIBUTION
- Double D Functional Beverage has concluded a deal with Loblaws group that will make Beaver Soda available right across Canada in the nation’s largest grocery retailer. Link
- Vignette Wine Country Soda has announced that it will now be available at Dean & Deluca stores in New York. Link
IN THE COURTS
- Lawyers for the partnership between PepsiCo and Starbucks compared a pair of businessmen suing to company to disgraced financier Bernard L. Madoff. The men claim they had an agreement with Starbucks/PepsiCo for the rights to sell bottled Frappucinos in vending machines. Link
LAW, POLICY, AND ADVOCACY
- Manhattan U.S. District Court Judge Deborah Batts ruled that most provisions of New York’s new bottle deposit law – which had been delayed by an injunction – could take effect immediately. That means soda and beer companies have to return the bulk of unclaimed deposits to the state, and the handling fee for stores and redemption centers will increase from 2 cents to 3.5 cents per container. Link
- The Washington media market was saturated last month by an advertising campaign featuring a slim adult couple on a budget holiday, sipping small cans of soda and objecting to “taxes on simple pleasures.” The spot was paid for by the beverage industry-funded Americans Against Food Taxes. Link
- Gluten-free beer can now be labeled as such under Food and Drug Administration regulations. Link
BRAND MARKETING & PROMOTION
- The Coca-Cola Co. has launched a Twitter and Facebook page to raise consumer awareness of its “Freestyle” soda fountain. Link
- Xyience announced the winner of its Harley-Davidson and Kum & Go promotion. Link
- Global Water Solutions’ AQUAVYBE water is the water sponsor for “Run Across America,” Reza Baluchi’s run to promote peace and attempt to break a Guinness World Record. Ceremonies kicked off in L.A. on Sunday Aug 16th. He will run 81 miles a day raising money for charities.
TRENDS AND STUDIES
- A new study indicates that online advertising boosts retail sales of consumer packaged goods brands by an average of 9 percent — comparable with the lift from TV ad campaigns. Link
FINANCIALS
- AnheuserBusch InBev reported second quarter and half year 2009 results. Total 2Q09 volumes decreased 1.1 percent. Revenues grew 1.4 percent in 2Q09 and 2.9 percent in HY09. Link
- Skinny Nutritional Corp. announced net revenues of $1,190,960 for the three months ending June 30, 2009. This represents an increase of $1,011,374 (563 percent) over revenues for the three months ending June 30, 2008. Link
IN THE MEDIA
- ABC News aired a piece labeling coconut water as nature’s Gatorade. Link
- The Washington Post published an article surveying the anti-energy trend, with call-outs to drank, Purple Stuff, Vacation in a Bottle and Blue Cow. Link
- TheBostonChannel.com ran a story highlighting owater‘s addition of Boston College women’s tennis coach Cynthia Tow. Link
SUPPLY SIDE
- Amcor PET Packaging has formed a partnership with McCormick Distilling Company to introduce a 15 percent Post Consumer Recycled addition to McCormick PET bottles. Scheduled to begin this fall, the rollout will initially include 50 mL, 1L, and 1.75L bottle sizes, with plans to introduce 15 percent PCR to remaining lines in 2010. Link
- Bottle maker Plastipak Packaging Inc. plans to build a new plant in Victorville, Calif., to make bottles for customer Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. Link
ETC.
- In another attempt to capitalize on the backlash against bottled water, an entrepreneur has introduced the “Source” system of refillable water bottles and dispensers. Link
- Atlanta Braves second-baseman Martin Prado left a game on Saturday with a headache after consuming an energy drink. Link
- Milford, Mass. spent $200,000 on bottled water given freely to residents as the town grapples with bacterial contamination in its public water supply. Link
- A company called SolarX, which makes sunglasses and ornaments sold in mall kiosks, has taken over the former site of a Pepsi bottler in Batavia, N.Y. Link