As businesses worldwide feel more urgency to improve their environmental sustainability standards, carton-packaged water brand Boxed Water says it is doing better than ever. Founded in 2009 as Boxed Water Is Better, the Michigan-based brand has served as a pioneer of the carton-packaged water space that has in the intervening years seen competition emerge from rivals boasting their own sustainability narratives within the space for better-for-the-planet packaging.

Functional soda startup Perfy has announced plans for an NFT-based consumer loyalty program set to launch next month; Plant-based snack brand Vegan Rob’s is looking to battle world hunger with a new cryptocurrency, Vegan Rob’s Token (VRT), announced this month.

This month, the New York-based company launched Bear’s Fruit Sparkling Water with Probiotics, its first non-kombucha line. According to co-founder Amy Driscoll, the functional sparkling water line has been in development for over two years.

Shire City Herbals, a maker of apple cider vinegar tonics, has shut down. In an email sent to customers this week, as well as a message on its website, the company said it intends to fulfill its remaining paid orders but is no longer accepting new sales and will cancel outstanding unpaid orders.

PepsiCo-backed German start-up brand air up is seeking the sweet smell of success as it launches its “scent-flavored hydration system” products online in the U.S. this summer. Founded in 2019, air up produces a line of refillable water bottles and scented “flavor” pods that enhance plain water by tricking the brain into perceiving taste through smells – a concept the company refers to as “retronasal smell."

Entertainment Arts Research Inc. (EARI Beverage Group), a diversified beverage and media group, announced today it has acquired Original New York Seltzer LLC and its production arm, LA Bottle Works Inc., for an undisclosed sum. Founded in 1981, Original New York Seltzer produces a line of mid-calorie craft sodas made with cane sugar and no artificial coloring and packaged in 10 oz. glass bottles.

The Alkaline Water Company, maker of the Alkaline88 bottled water brand, announced record revenue of $60.6 million in its full fiscal year 2022 earnings report last week, up 32% year-over-year for the 52-weeks ending March 31. However, the growth was accompanied by substantial net losses of $39.4 million, prompting the company to highlight plans to reduce costs and ensure profitability in the future.

As concerns about the economy worry consumers and investors alike, consumer brand investment firm Coefficient Capital and analyst firm The New Consumer have released a mid-year 2022 Consumer Trends report, based on four surveys of more than 3,000 U.S. consumers.

In the race for dominance in the emerging functional soda category, gut health focused brands have had to walk a fine line between being a wellness drink – with all the baggage that designation brings for mainstream consumers – and being a fun and lively soda pop.

Enhanced water producer Lemon Perfect announced today it has named former Coca-Cola Company executive Jim Brennan as its President and Chief Revenue Officer; Colorado-based kombucha and tonic brand Rowdy Mermaid has made several new additions to its executive and sales teams, including the appointment of Matt Opperman as COO and CFO; Kevin Rutherford Reaches Finish Line at Nuun

PepsiCo topped analyst expectations in its Q2 2022 earnings report today, as 5.2% quarterly net revenue growth ($20.23 billion) moved the company to raise its full year organic revenue outlook two points to 10%. Earnings per share in Q2 were $1.03 with a -39% change and foreign exchange impact of -2%. Foreign exchange impact on net revenue was -3%. Organic revenue growth was up 13% in Q2 with core EPS of $1.86, up 10%.

Since it first opened its doors in 1926, Jel Sert has never lost its focus on producing powdered drink mixes. Now, as the powdered beverage category experiences an upheaval through an influx of innovative functional brands, the Chicago-based company is turning to new brands and channels to fuel growth.

After racking up high-profile sponsorships with professional basketball and soccer teams and leagues, beverage maker BioSteel Sports Nutrition is hitting the ice -- literally. The company announced today it has entered a multi-year partnership naming BioSteel the Official Sports Hydration Drink and Official Hydration Partner of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the NHL Players’ Association.

Strong pricing helped keep non-alcoholic beverage sales largely consistent in the two-week period ending June 18, according to an analysis of NielsenIQ data by Goldman Sachs Equity Research. Retail dollar sales in the two-week period grew 9.4% year-over-year, compared to 9.3% growth in the four-weeks and 11.3% for 52-weeks.