This week, we sat down with the co-founders of Vail-based private equity firm Manna Tree Partners and the founders of three portfolio companies, Verde Farms, Health-Ade and Gotham Greens, to explore the relationship between investor and entrepreneur. The discussions revealed how their personal friendship established a baseline for trust and helped create positive outcomes for all involved.
In this marketing roundup, Pepsi partners with The Los Angeles Football Club to launch a community giveback program, PEN15 stars Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle bring the LAHAughs with their new sparkling water campaign and BODYARMOR and DRNX Adaptogenic Waters score big with top athletes.
In this week’s roundup of new product launches, ZOA Energy expanded its energy drink line with the launch of 12 oz. cans, Nuun re-launched its functional hydration portfolio and Q Mixers debuted two non-carbonated mixers just in time for warmer weather. Plus, sparkling water brands Aura Bora and AHA both added new flavors.
BeGOAT is a new line of sparkling functional beverages that are powered by cascara. The product seven flavors, all of which contain only 25 calories and 5 grams of sugar while delivering a potent 200mg of caffeine. BeGOAT is packaged in a slim 12 ounce can.
In this week's Distribution Roundup, craft mocktail brand Jeng partners with beer distributor Sarene to service the East Coast, while Alkaline88 targets fitness and nutrition retailers via Europa Sports, plus news from Wynk, RISE Brewing Co., Poppilu, Play Mode and Rowdy Energy.
Brad Kintzer, Chief Chocolate Maker at TCHO, discussed the company’s emphasis on sustainable and ethical sourcing as a key metric of quality, how it defines “better” when evaluating progress, how he’s been inspired by winemaking and why, despite TCHO’s cachet, the brand recently introduced massive changes in its formulation and branding.
Avacajoe is a line of RTD coffees that blend cold brew coffee with avocado milk to create the first “avocado coffee.” The product line is packaged in 7.5 oz cans and available in three flavors: Dark Roast, Vanilla and Mocha.
New beverage startup Kowa has teamed with ingredient maker Nura to feature its branded organic 5-HTP supplement in its line of mood-boosting functional drinks; U.K.-based ingredients manufacturer Tate & Lyle announced last week that it has signed an agreement to acquire Chinese fiber producer Quantum Hi-Tech Biological Co., Ltd for $237 million; and more news from Kerry and Sweegen.
In this week’s roundup of new product launches, both Coca-Cola and MTN Dew rolled out new limited edition soda flavors targeting the gaming community, regional cannabis beverage makers introduced new line extensions, and the gut health boosting soda and seltzer trend continues with launches from emerging player Poppi and newcomer Aqua ViTea.
In this episode, Taste Radio’s hosts discussed new products in several food and beverage categories, including a nootropic-boosted hydration drink brand launched by an NFL star and NFT icon, a nostalgia-inspiring cinnamon spread, RTD milk teas and spiked tonics, artisanal and low-sugar sweets and perhaps the best-tasting tortillas on the market. They also riffed on this weekend’s Specialty Coffee Association trade show and a funding round for a brand of experimental condiments and beverages.
Spring is here, but ready-to-drink cocktail brands are already getting ready for the summer with a number of new product launches made for the heat – including vodka spitzes, frozen margaritas, and a classic Cape Codder.
In this Distribution Roundup, Ruby Hibiscus Water goes sparkling via Amazon and Earth Fare, nut milk maker Three Trees goes chainwide in Whole Foods Market stores and TEN Alkaline Spring Water flows into Meijer stores across the Midwest.
In this marketing roundup, Sparkling Ice honors America’s veterans through its third annual Cheers to Heroes campaign, plant-based beverage maker MALK encourages consumers to take their bottle and #turnitaround and SodaStream partners with David Hasselhoff to save the baby sea turtles. Plus, the founders of Finnish Long Drink try to help America become the happiest place on earth.
Bentley Hall, the CEO of California-centric online grocer Good Eggs, spoke about how an intimate understanding of its customers and a highly-curated selection of products helped grow annual revenue to over $100 million. He also explained how Good Eggs articulates quality, its process for vetting and adding new brands to its service and how the company evaluates new platforms and technologies when mapping out its growth strategy.
