Adrianne DeLuca is the Assistant Managing Editor - Newsletters for BevNET and NOSH.
Two Mexican-inspired spirit-based cocktail startups announced distribution gains this week, with RTD sparkling mezcal maker Elenita and tequila seltzer brand Volley both adding new DSD partners. Also, Lucky Jack partnered with Fresh Thyme Market and shelf-stable kombucha maker KÖE has added a number of new retail doors in the convenience, drug and grocery channels.
Iconic Protein has unveiled a new minimalist packaging design and green-centric color scheme with the goal of engaging consumers with the functionality and ingredients of each product.
This year’s Forbes list of the top wealthiest self-made women featured four founders, leaders and executives behind some of CPG’s most notable brands. Released this week, the full list includes 100 of the top female entrepreneurs and executives, two-thirds of which either founded or cofounded their company and 26 who have served as CEOs.
In this week's distribution roundup: Pure Green onboards with GoPuff, Organifi makes its retail debut, Notco expands distribution in natural and conventional grocery and Southern Glazer’s adds more CBD with Mad Tasty.
Having long been interested in an acquisition, kefir company Lifeway Foods announced it has reached an agreement to purchase California-based GlenOaks Farms Inc. Lifeway CEO Julie Smolyansky said the move comes after the company proved its resilience in the face of the pandemic while also aligning with the strategy for Lifeway’s 2.0 growth plan. Lifeway is expected to purchase the company for $5.8 million in cash by the end of August 2021.
In this week's People Moves: Tractor Beverage Co. announced it has repositioned key figures within its executive team, cannabis beverage maker purejuana announced the appointment of Paulo Sobral as Sales Leader, Bert Naverrete joined ZX Ventures as General Partner, Head of Growth Equity Fund and Basemakers brings Faithe Rayns on as Chief Operating Officer.
Organic flavored sparkling water brand Nixie has introduced a new Strawberry Hibiscus flavor this week to “perfectly encapsulate those last two weeks in July,” said Nixie Water Founder and CEO Nicole Bernard Dawes.
Launched this month by two former dairy industry executives, Yoi is taking a gut-health approach to plant-based milk through a slow-cultured combination of nut and seed milk. The inspiration behind the brand’s culturing techniques are also tied to its name; meaning ‘good’ in Japanese, Yoi made its debut at local San Francisco farmers markets and is now on the shelf at 20 independent grocers in the Bay Area.
Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) is raising its annual guidance from 4% to 6% to 6% to 7% after seeing broadly positive momentum in its Q2 2021 earnings report, the company announced today. Net sales during the quarter rose 9.6% to $3.14 billion and adjusted operating income grew 8.3%.
Non-alcoholic beverage sales continue to slow down, but remain positive with a 3.7% increase over the two-week period ending July 17, 2021 on a year-over-year basis, according to an analysis of Nielsen data by Goldman Sachs Equity Research. Volumes continue to shift back towards the on-premise channel during this period which is inclusive of the July 4th holiday while sales climbed 16.4% on a two-year stack basis (last year’s report of the same period began July 5).
As the final step to complete a merger with European fresh produce company Total Produce that began in February, this week Dole Packaged Foods intends to raise $559 million from an initial public offering. The merger forms the world’s largest fresh produce provider, joining Dole’s 109,000 acres of land, 162 distribution and manufacturing facilities, 75 picking houses and 12 cold storage facilities with Total Produce’s global import and distribution network.
North Carolina-based grocer The Fresh Market filed for an initial public offering this month for the second time in the company’s almost 40-year history. This second IPO could bring significant changes to the grocer’s position in the retail landscape, forcing them to optimize operations at the expense of local and emerging brands.
In this Ingredients Roundup: NURA introduces organic 5-HTP supplement CLEANMOOD, an unexpected frost causes Arabica coffee prices to plunges, , Blue California and Conagen promote energy and healthy aging through new ingredient, Welcome Dairy Holdings Acquires North Star Processing and Monin Introduces Energy Boost.
In this weeks distribution roundup: Bimble expands to Rhode Island with Horizon Beverage, 'Try My T' makes its retail at Southern California Whole Foods, Cruise Beverage partners with Egizii Distributing, and the latest from Take Two, KRISP DRINKS, Zenify, Keef Brands, Hylux and Shine Water.
