Coco Gauff Takes Center Court With Naked Brand
Bottled fruit juice smoothie maker Naked has tapped tennis prodigy Coco Gauff as its first “chief smoothie officer.” The multi-year business venture will see Gauff collaborate with the brand on future product development.
During the U.S. Open in 2023, Gauff sparked interest with her changeover snack of choice, homemade fruit salad. According to Naked, the tennis star is leveling up her fruit game by putting her unmatched mark on the brand.
“We are thrilled to welcome Coco to the family, and to dream and develop the future of the Naked brand and product portfolio with her unique spin,” said Glen Walter, CEO of Tropicana Brands Group, in a press release. “As an athlete, advocate, daughter, sister, friend and now chief smoothie officer, Coco is truly a multi-hyphenate and knows better than anyone that you can be many things at once.”
PAI-owned Naked Juice produces a wide portfolio of smoothie products across five categories: Machines, Blends, Protein, Craveworthy and, its most recent addition, Lower Sugar. The brand also carries Organic Coconut Water.
Ozzy Says Don’t Snort Liquid Death’s Death Dust
Liquid Death has teamed up with Ozzy Osbourne – who knows a thing or two about poor decisions – in a new ad spot advising kids not to snort the brand’s Death Dust hydration powder packets.
“Death dust? Take it from me, don’t snort that stuff. Whatever you do, don’t try freebasing it. And never, ever inject it,” Osbourne tells the two teens mixing the powder into their Liquid Death canned water.
The campaign comes in response to an influx of comments on Liquid Death’s Instagram post announcing the launch of Death Dust, with users writing things like “ ‘Don’t snort it’ challenge accepted” and “Just did three lines.”
In February, the “entertainment-first” beverage company made the jump into the rapidly growing hydration category with the release of Death Dust, which adapts three of the most popular flavors from its sparkling waters – Severed Lime, Mango Chainsaw and Convicted Melon – into electrolyte drink mixes. Each single-serve packet contains B and C vitamins, 200mg of potassium, 300mg of sodium, 40mg of magnesium and 35 calories.
The World’s Ugliest Dog Scores Partnership With MUG Root Beer
Wild Thang, the 8-year-old Pekingese who recently took home the title of the 2024 World’s Ugliest Dog, will soon have his very own mug featured on limited edition MUG Root Beer cans. This marks the glugly (glamorous/ugly) pup’s CPG debut.
MUG Root Beer was a first-time sponsor of the event and rewarded the top three winners with a collective $10,000 in prizes. Wild Thang, the first-place winner, received $5,000, second place took home $3,000 and third place won $2,000.
The brand’s current mascot, Dog, is giving up his spot in 1,000 cans which are set to launch in mid-July. Fans can enter for a chance to win the cans by entering on MUG’s social media channels.
Lindsay Lohan, Pure Leaf Ask America to Rally Around the Workplace ‘Tea Break’
Premium iced tea maker Pure Leaf and actress Lindsay Lohan are asking the nation to rally around the age-old notion of the workplace tea break, which the brand claims has become a forgotten concept.
”At Pure Leaf, we are intentional about how we craft our delicious real brewed iced teas so you can feel refreshed and revitalized. We know a lot of people are not taking enough quality breaks during the workday, so we’re launching the Pure Leaf Tea Break to remind people that a moment to reset is very important and revitalization is just a sip away with our delicious, iced teas made from a few high-quality, simple ingredients, and naturally occurring caffeine from tea leaves,” said Julie Raheja-Perera, General Manager/VP at Pepsi Lipton Partnership North America, in a statement.
To bring back the tea break – intended to alleviate workplace fatigue – Lohan stars in a digital film that playfully leans into today’s hustle culture and encourages the modern workforce to take a moment and reset with Pure Life’s wide range of Original and Zero Sugar teas.
The campaign also includes the launch of Pure Leaf’s Tea Break Grant Program in partnership with Edelman, which will provide funding for small businesses and non-profits to implement break initiatives aimed at promoting employee revitalization.
Mark Wahlberg Joins Free Rein Coffee
Free Rein Coffee Company, the coffee and lifestyle brand founded by “Yellowstone” star Cole Hauser, has named actor and entrepreneur Mark Wahlberg as its latest investor and ambassador.
According to the announcement, Wahlberg is a longtime supporter of veteran causes and was inspired by Free Rein’s mission to “Serve Those Who Serve,” as it gives back to those who serve their country and community – including active military, veterans, first responders, nurses and teachers.
“Free Rein is a natural for me given my history of working with veteran causes and their coffee is a staple in my daily routine,” said Wahlberg in a statement. “Cole and I share an ongoing commitment to veterans and the belief that hard work is the destination, not just the path. I’m excited to help Free Rein advance its mission to Serve Those Who Serve.”
Founded in 2023 in San Angelo, Texas, Free Rein’s coffee lineup features 8 different slow-roasted blends including American Dirt, Homestead, Texas Pecan, Mesteno, Prospect, Branded, Heavy Spur and Pumpkin Spice available in bean, ground, and pod formats.
C4 Teams With Ludacris for Summer Giveaway
Some may say C4’s newest marketing effort is ludicrous.
To celebrate the launch of its 7-Eleven exclusive Creamsicle C4 Energy flavor, the brand has partnered with award-winning rapper Ludacris for what it claims to be the summer’s sweetest giveaway. Luda will “Rollout” the chance to win a C4 Yellow Acura Integra S, one of the vehicles seen in the Fast and Furious film franchise, and will personally deliver the vehicle himself.
From June 26 through August 7th, consumers can enter for a chance to win the vehicle exclusively through 7-Eleven, Speedway and Stripes Retailers. The winner will also receive an exclusive training session with George Bamfo Jr. and a year’s supply of C4 Energy.
Meanwhile, consumers can purchase the Orange Creamsicle C4 Energy Drink at 7-Eleven and its family of stores, where it will be an exclusive product for the next 12 months. Each 16 oz. can of the zero sugar, sweet-treat inspired drink is packed with 200mg of caffeine.
Other noteworthy marketing news:
- Non-alcoholic canned cocktail brand Free AF has launched “The Driest January Campaign,” which aims to normalize the choice of not drinking. The brand is making this the driest July on Earth by giving away a road trip through the hottest, driest place on Earth – Death Valley, USA – to one lucky winner.
- PLEZi Nutrition, the beverage company co-founded by former First Lady Michelle Obama, has launched the PLEZi Absurdly Good Games – an online competition that invites young people to share the “absurdly good” ways they stay active for a chance to win prizes.
- Organic sports hydration drink maker Recover 180 has grown its roster of athlete partners with the addition of New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe.
- Oatly has announced a multi-year sponsorship with EF Pro Cycling, the longest-running team in the U.S. Through the partnership, the alt-dairy producer will become an “official performance partner” of the men’s and women’s teams and the “official worldwide co-title sponsor” of the women’s team.
- Diageo’s 21 Seeds has tapped actress Rachel Bilson and Fake Empire, the production company co-founded by “The O.C.” executive producers, for a new ad campaign featuring Bilson’s character on the hit show, Summer Roberts.
- Just Ice Tea’s new summer campaign, “Tea Marks the Spot,” will see the brand popping up across the country and giving fans the chance to win a year’s supply of tea.
- Lucky Energy Drink is celebrating everyday athletes with its latest campaign, aptly named “Athletes.” The overarching message of the campaign, which takes aim at society’s unrelatable, hyper depiction of athletic success is, “You may not be an “It” athlete, but so f**king what? Keep going.”