Respectable growth from The Coca-Cola Company and Monster Energy Corp. helped non-alcoholic beverage sales in C-stores rise 3.4 percent in Q1 despite poor weather, according to a survey of over 15,000 retailers conducted by Wells Fargo Securities.

As kombucha continues to penetrate mainstream retailers, brewers are exploring new ways to capture a larger share of the expanding set and create differentiation within it. Following the example of craft beer, they are increasingly looking to cans as a way to realize kombucha’s full potential.

Brew Dr. Kombucha has appointed EVP of Business Development Marty Wall as the company’s first President, the company told BevNET on Wednesday; John Fieldly approved as permanent CEO of Celsius

Clean Cause — which markets a natural energy drink line, a premium water and a ready-to-drink sparkling yerba mate beverage — is helping individuals struggling with substance abuse addiction begin the process of rebuilding their lives after completing a rehabilitation program.

For non-alcoholic beverages in particular, the rise of craft beer had a huge impact in that it brought a perception of premium back to cans.

Having filed multiple lawsuits over the past year against brands such as Health-Ade, Humm, and GT’s Living Foods, Tortilla Factory -- the parent company of Kombucha Dog -- filed complaints against an additional four kombucha brands earlier this week.

After enjoying strong performance in conventional and mass retailers in a Tetra Pak, coconut water brand Vita Coco aims to use a new PET bottle as a springboard for continued growth in the convenience channel.