BevNET
Beverage Industry News, Reviews, Events, & Jobs
Press Clips: Coke Offers $1M for Sweetener Innovations
Coca-Cola offers $1 million for new artificial sweetener innovations; Soda tax thwacks Chicago's suburbs; Will Smith plugs JUST Water on James Corden's "Carpool Karaoke"; NPR takes a look at the rise of seltzer; Bai seeks a more mature brand image.
Review: Mother Kombucha
Mother Kombucha is a line of small batch “living teas” that are produced in Florida and are available in both keg and bottled format. For the purposes of this review, we’re taking a look at their five flavor RTD lineup, which includes four kombucha varieties and a fifth variety that’s a switchel.
5 Ways Logistics Can Support a Growing Brand
As beverage companies navigate growth, having a strong logistics strategy can make all the difference. Understanding how new customers, locations, or products will impact costs, and building networks accordingly, enables companies to use transportation as a competitive advantage. Here are 5 areas where logistics can impact success.
People Moves: Suja CMO Heather MacNeil Cox Departs
CMO Heather MacNeil Cox leaves Suja after three years with company; Harmless Harvest VP of Marketing makes jump to outdoor apparel industry; Target adds new grocery-focused executives; DPS shuffles executives following departure of Bai CEO
Welch’s Prepares Soda Line Revamp
In a press release last week, the Concord, Mass.-based company announced a partnership with Global Beverage Corporation, an independent company that was created to lead an expansion of the Welch’s soda line with new flavors and formats.
Review: Glim Activated Charcoal Water
Utilizing activated charcoal as its key ingredient, Glim describes itself as an “alternative water.” The product, which is made with filtered water, natural flavor, charcoal powder, citric acid, and stevia, has zero calories or sugar.
Taste Radio Ep. 70: Suja CEO: Here’s How To Make Your Own Luck; Kefir’s Moment
This week's episode spotlights a recent conversation with Jeff Church, the co-founder and CEO of Suja, who opined on the role of luck in business, why a thorough understanding of consumer demand is critical to success, and explained how “the rule of twos” helped steer the company through its growth and development. Also included in this episode: an examination of the emerging market for kefir and the latest edition of Elevator Talk with Bronya Shillo, the founder of Fishers Island Lemonade.
Grain Gains: Canvas Spins Beer Byproduct into Plant-Based Protein
Canvas, a beverage startup backed exclusively by Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB) "disruptive growth organization" Zx Ventures, is looking to spent grain -- the nutrient-rich byproduct of the beer brewing process -- as the key ingredient to fuel its new line of plant-based barley beverages launching this fall.
Kill Cliff Fuels Up With Sunrise Investment
Sunrise Strategic Partners, an investment firm with a focus on healthy and sustainable foods, announced Thursday that it has acquired a minority ownership stake in Kill Cliff. The deal marks the eighth investment for the young firm and the first beverage brand addition to its portfolio.
Review: Zola Organic Hydrating Energy Drink
Earlier this year, Zola announced “Zola 2.0,” which featured new ownership and a plan for to restage both its packaging and a broader line of products. The recently announced Zola Hydrating Energy line is the company’s first new offering since this announcement.
Distribution: Gains for Koia, Picnik
Planet-based protein drink Koia adds six new retailers and debuts a new reduced price point, Austin-based cafe Picnik launches its RTD butter coffee at Whole Foods, and JUST Water lands an exclusive partnership with the Houston Zoo.
Review: Ethan’s Apple Cider Vinegar Shots
Ethan’s Apple Cider Vinegar Shots, which are the work of Ethan Hirshberg (yes, he’s the son of Stonyfield Farm chairman Gary Hirshberg), are an attempt to take the health benefits of apple cider vinegar and deliver them in a manner that’s both palatable and authentic.
Koa Ceases Operations, Founder Joins Dirty Lemon as COO
Unable to secure the necessary funding to continue production of its uniquely formulated beverages, Koa has shut down. Launched in 2009, the company developed a proprietary process to extract sugar and calories from a blend of fruit and vegetable juices, resulting in a clear, nutrient-rich drink that Koa marketed as “olakino.” Founder and president Adam Louras has moved to Dirty Lemon Beverages, a maker of detox and wellness drinks sold direct-to-consumer, as its COO.
IRI Report: Navigating Consumer Differences & Desires
Consumers are buying into new kinds of store programs and formats that better fit their needs– and it’s evolving the food industry as retailers know it, according to market research firm IRI’s Channel Performance Report released last month.
Ethan’s Shots Aim For Cider Vinegar Success
In developing a new line of 2 oz. apple cider vinegar shots, Ethan's founder Ethan Hirshberg aims to create an appealing delivery system for an ingredient that’s not so appealing on its own.
