Brad Avery

Brad Avery

Senior Reporter

Brad is a Reporter for BevNET.com.

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Posts by Brad Avery

Expo East 2017: RTD Tea Innovates with Ingredients

At Natural Products Expo East 2017, held Sept. 14-16 in Baltimore, Md., several beverage entrepreneurs showcased what have until now been largely unseen types of tea, as well as innovative herbal infusions, in the U.S. market.

Expo East 2017 Recap

Natural product brands and manufacturers of all sizes and types came from across the country to Baltimore, Md., last week for Natural Products Expo East 2017. From subtle product updates to category-disrupting innovations, this year’s expo, held Sept. 13-16 at the Baltimore Convention Center, gave attendees a chance to see and experience the latest developments in beverage firsthand

People Moves: Radden Leaves Red Bull for Califia

Patrice Radden leaves her influential post at Red Bull to join Califia Farms as VP of Communications; Soylent announces two new executive positions including former DRY Soda EVP Melody Conner; Disruptive water cooler maker Lavit adds Amy's Kitchen president to its Board.

HiTouch Distribution Digging Deep in Southern California

Two and a half years in, HiTouch services all 52 Whole Foods throughout the Southern California region, including parts of Arizona and Nevada, as well as other natural supermarkets such as Mothers Market, Jimbo’s, and Bristol Farms. The company has also crafted a diverse portfolio of craft food and beverage brands.

Bulletproof Launches First RTD Coffee

Bulletproof is shooting exclusively into Whole Foods nationwide with its first ready-to-drink line of cold brew butter coffees, a long rumored expansion from the company’s ground coffee and cafe business.

People Moves: Soylent Co-Founder Moves On

Soylent co-founder and chief technology officer John Coogan has left the company to pursue independent consulting; Long Island Iced Tea Corp. brings on Rob Stefanizzi; Shawn Sugarman leaves Moon Juice; Sidney Horn joins Halen Brands

Functional Beverages Find New Energy with MCT Oil

Much of MCT oil’s newfound recognition in food and beverage is due to its purported health benefits. Studies have shown it to be a particularly effective component of the "healthy fat" trend. High in saturated fats, the body quickly converts MCT into energy, making it popular amongst proponents of the paleo and ketogenic diets.

Califia Farms Grows On-Premise with New Partnership

Califia Farms announced Monday a new on-premise partnership with The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, launching the company’s Barista Blend Almondmilk nationwide in select cafe locations. The deal brings Califia Farms’ total on-premise presence to roughly 2,500 locations, making its barista-focused business the fastest growing segment of the company.

Ocean Spray Relaunches Pact

Initially launched in 2014 through a distribution partnership with PepsiCo, the original Pact beverages were marketed to consumers as a cleanse drink. The new 16 oz. bottles feature cleaner-looking packaging that highlight the beverage’s low-calorie count and emphasize its fruit content.

Genius Juice Relaunches Coconut Smoothie

Approximately a year after Genius Juice discontinued its flagship coconut smoothie line, the beverage maker is shifting gears once again with a relaunch of its original product. CEO Alex Bayer said the company never wanted to discontinue its smoothie line, but that the company’s distribution had grown too wide for its manufacturing capabilities.

Spindrift Signs with Big Geyser

In a move that will give Spindrift a deeper presence l in the New York metro area, the sparkling water company today announced a long-term distribution deal with DSD giant Big Geyser.

Royal Cup Acquires Icebox Coffee

In a press release last week, Royal Cup announced the closure of the acquisition, which included both the Icebox brand trademark and the New Orleans company’s production facilities. Icebox founder and president Bebe Goodrich has joined Royal Cup as director of liquid product innovation, overseeing the newly formed ready-to-drink arm.

Bootleg Bucha Busting Out of Buffalo

Buffalo, New York is well known for its sports teams, lakes, and chicken wings. Now a new kombucha company is looking to add fermented tea to that storied list and spread the “Buffalove” across New York state and along the East Coast.

Press Clips: Coke Offers $1M for Sweetener Innovations

Coca-Cola offers $1 million for new artificial sweetener innovations; Soda tax thwacks Chicago's suburbs; Will Smith plugs JUST Water on James Corden's "Carpool Karaoke"; NPR takes a look at the rise of seltzer; Bai seeks a more mature brand image.