Brad Avery

Brad Avery

Senior Reporter

Brad is a Reporter for BevNET.com.

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Posts by Brad Avery

Analysts: A PepsiCo/Vita Coco Deal Would Reshape Coconut Category

Last week a Reuters report that PepsiCo was in talks to acquire Vita Coco maker All Market Inc. had the beverage industry buzzing over what could be yet another billion-dollar acquisition of an entrepreneurial beverage company by a strategic giant.

People Moves: Crowley Joins Soylent

KeVita's former chief strategy officer Bryan Crowley joins Soylent as president, Stumptown taps former Boombotix CEO Sean Sullivan for top positions after Ricci departure, Jacqueline Harrigan leaves marketing post at Agua Brands as the company partners with an agency.

Press Clips: Bai Creative Moves In-House, Fake RC Cola Tweet Goes Viral

Bai CMO Michael Simon discusses the company's decision to move creative in-house; Twitter bans a fake RC Cola parody account after its political tweet goes viral; Nutrition Policy Institute members call for energy drink caffeine caps; Nostalgia helps drive a Clearly Canadian revival; USA Today reports on the rise of craft soda

DrinkMaple Adds New Funding, Makes Distribution Gains

Last month, the Vermont-based maple water brand announced it had received $250,000 in funding from Vermont venture capital firm FreshTracks Capital as part of a $4.35 million Series A round that was led by venture capital firm Cleveland Avenue.

In the Courtroom: Odwalla Class Action Dropped

Consumers drop Odwalla "evaporated cane juice" class action suit, Hint asks for a stay on lawsuit challenging its "all natural" claims, Lakewood Organic Juices faces challenge to its "cold pressed" and "fresh pressed" claims in new class action suit.

True Nopal Forms Joint Venture with Suntory International

Fourteen months after cactus water brand True Nopal signed an exclusive international distribution deal with U.K.-based Lucozade Ribena Suntory Limited (LRS), the companies are tying the knot with a joint venture, True Nopal Ventures LLC. The new partnership is intended to boost True Nopal’s sales in the U.K. and Ireland.

Bulletproof Shows Off its Guns with $19M Series B

The round was led by CAVU Venture Partners, a well-known food and beverage investment firm which boasts alumni brands such as vitaminwater, Sweet Leaf Tea and Deep Eddy Vodka.

Wells Fargo: Bai Outlook Optimistic Despite Lowered Expectations

Investors have sought more details about DPSG's revised growth plan for Bai and on whether its management team can deliver on high expectations. On Tuesday, a report from Wells Fargo Securities offered a clearer analysis of the acquisition, the guidance revision, and the future of Bai, presenting optimism along with some explanations

Press Clips: Kombucha in Cans, How Slingshot Coffee Entered Target

Cans open new packaging opportunities for kombucha, how Target sought out Slingshot Coffee, caffeine overdose kills South Carolina teen, woman wins "hot coffee" injury lawsuit against Starbucks, new study says carbonated beverages increase appetite.

Owl’s Brew Lands $4M in Series A Round

Owl’s Brew, makers of tea-based cocktail mixers and a tea-and-beer Radler line, announced Thursday it has closed a $4 million series A funding round. The round included large investments from firms Cambridge Companies SPG and Anheuser-Busch InBev’s ZX Ventures.

Nestea Takes ‘Less is More’ Revamp On Tour

After announcing earlier this year that the tea brand would be relaunched with new packaging and a cleaner formula, Nestle Waters North America is now taking the new Nestea to several U.S. cities with a touring “tiny home,” starting Wednesday in New York City’s Herald Square.

Honey Finds Sweeter Spot With Beverages

In 2015, an internal volumetric study from the National Honey Board surveyed food and beverage companies and found non-alcoholic beverages have surpassed baking as the most popular category for honey.

Industry Vets to Take on Cancer with Gratitude Foods

Inko's Founder Andy Schamisso and Attitude Drinks CEO Roy Warren have teamed with former Marvel Comics VP Bill Jemas for a new company that will focus on food and beverage products featuring ingredients said to help prevent cancer.

Vita Coco Calls Drinks “Squid Free,” Consumer to Pursue Legal Action

Vita Coco aimed to put a lighter note on a media blitz that occurred this week after several media outlets reported a New York woman had found a mysterious object in a carton of coconut water. In a press release issued today, the company stated that its beverages are “delicious, refreshing, safe and most definitely ‘squid free.’”