Elanita is a line of ready-to-drink sparkling cocktails that are produced in Mexico and based on Espadin mezcal. The products currently feature two flavors, Cucumber Lime Basil (6.5% ABV) and Pineapple Jalapeno (7% ABV), both of which are packaged in 12 oz slim cans.
Ready-to-drink cocktails take the spotlight here, including a collaboration between Reed’s and Full Sail Brewing Co., a new seltzer with a tequila twist and an approachable sake-in-a-can, while there’s also notable spirits releases in SVEDKA’s Pure Infusions collection and limited time offerings from Crystal Head and Bombay Sapphire.
Emily Kanter, co-owner and CEO of Boston-area natural products retailer Cambridge Naturals spoke about the history and evolution of the retailer and the factors that determine its unique product selection. She also discussed how she develops relationships with brand owners, evaluates emerging trends and why Cambridge Naturals was one of the first area stores to carry CBD-infused products.
NoMI Sparkling Water is a zero calorie unsweetened sparkling water made by Mitten Fruit Company of Kalamazoo, Mich. The product’s key feature is its use of real fruit extract, which is the only other ingredient aside from carbonated water.
BevNET and NOSH’s weekly live call-in show, Office Hours, returns Tuesday, July 7 at 3 p.m. ET. NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg will bring Darla Mears, the Chief Customer Officer at Kodiak Cakes, and Cheryl Christian, the EVP of Sales at Bobo's, on the livestream to dive into sales strategy and take questions from viewers.
The fifteenth round of Elevator Talk Livestream features leaders from Safe + Fair, BRITE Bites, Black Rifle Coffee, Minna and JAJA. This week's special co-host is Kari Pedriana, Co-Founder & CEO of Green Spoon, who will share her thoughts, questions and feedback with the participants.
Summer is officially upon us and brands are offering consumers a variety of new beverage options for the warmer months ahead, such as Owen’s Craft Mixers’ collaboration with Barstool Sports and a new zero sugar CBD sports drink from Defy. Check out the gallery for June’s notable releases, including new flavor launches from Minna, Rebbl and Perrier.
We are taking a short one-week hiatus from our regular Office Hours schedule this week to bring you a special encore presentation from BevNET & NOSH Virtually Live Summer 2020, featuring a panel discussion with Greg Fleishman, CEO and co-Founder of cooking and lifestyle brand Foodstirs; Maya French, co-founder of plant-based beverage brand Koia; and Raquel Tavares, founder and CEO of ghee butter brand 4th & Heart about brand building during a time of crisis.
Jim, Jake and Jordan DeCicco, co-founders of surging “Super Coffee” brand Kitu Life, explained why success is as much about avoiding the wrong moves as it is about making the right decisions. They also discussed the role of mentors in steering strategy, adjusting their management style to meet the needs of an evolving workforce and their perspective on raising capital and aligning with strategic investors.
This edition of Taste Radio Insider features highlights from interviews with six entrepreneurs and experts who joined us during the first half of 2020, including TRUFF hot sauce founders Nick Guillen and Nick Ajluni; Anouck Gotlib, CEO of Belgian Boys; Nona Lim, founder/CEO of Nona Lim; GT’s Living Foods founder/CEO GT Dave; Ashley Thompson, co-founder/CEO of MUSH; and Lee Robinson, director of dairy and beverage for Whole Foods Market.
Over recent years, the explosion in craft distilleries across the U.S. has sparked renewed interest in cocktail culture and mixology. Now, a new generation of ready-to-drink cocktail brands are taking that ethos and injecting new life into a category that has been previously defined by flavored malt or wine-based beverages.
Announced in February, Humm Zero is the Oregon-based kombucha company’s first entry into a shelf stable format and the first that doesn’t have added sugar (beyond what is consumed by yeast during fermentation).
Henry Chen, founder/CEO of SPI West Port, the owner of ALO Drink, ALO Snacks, Jen Collagen and Woodridge Snacks, spoke about the importance of staying true to the company’s core focus, who he views as the ultimate industry gatekeeper, how the company strategizes around retail placement and the key element entrepreneurs can’t overlook when scaling.
Having built its reputation as a premium tea company, Rishi is now moving into ready-to-drink with the launch of its new Sparkling Botanicals line. Sitting somewhere between sparkling water and sparkling tea, the line contains 5-15 calories per can with no added sugar or sweeteners. They are formulated with real ingredients and don’t contain any added flavorings or extracts.
