Family-owned food manufacturer King’s Hawaiian has acquired Hawaii-based beverage brand Shaka Tea, the company announced today. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The deal comes less than two years after the baked goods and restaurant company invested in Shaka as part of a $2.3 million funding round.

After announcing the close of a $30 million Series B funding round yesterday, Olipop co-founders Ben Goodwin and David Lester told BevNET they have set the goal of both doubling the brand’s retail footprint and achieving a $100 million run rate by the end of this year.

Functional soda producer Olipop has closed a $30 million Series B funding round led by Monogram Capital and supported by a roster of celebrity investors, the company announced today. Among the notable names involved in the round are Priyanka Chopra, musician Camila Cabello and the Jonas Brothers – Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas and Kevin Jonas.

Pioneering chia beverage maker Mamma Chia is looking to emphasize diversity and empowerment with a comprehensive rebrand, set to begin rolling out to stores this month. Helmed by creative firm Gestalt Brand Labs, the new look stretches across Mamma Chia’s entire product portfolio.

California-based brand Better Booch has raised $2.5 million in a series seed round to support the expansion of its team, the company announced today, including the hiring of GT’s Living Foods vet Scott Presnall as its EVP of sales and a new VP of sales, John Weaver.

As January comes to an end, brands are offering consumers a slate of new products to power them through the tail end of the winter season. With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, shoppers will have the option to embrace the spirit of the holiday with a returning seasonal kombucha from GT’s, or turn to darkness with Liquid Death’s new flavored line.

Psychedelic Water isn’t just expanding minds, it’s expanding on store shelves as the relaxation drink brand launches in Erewhon and Foxtrot retail accounts in Los Angeles and Chicago; also, non-alcoholic spirit producer Spiritless has signed a national partnership with beverage alcohol and CBD distributor Republic National Distributing Company.

Monster Energy Company is asking a California federal court to disqualify attorneys at Quarles & Brady LLP from representing Bang maker Vital Pharmaceuticals (VPX) in the brands’ ongoing legal battle due to the firm having previously served as legal counsel to Monster.

Health and wellness ecommerce brand Athletic Greens announced today that it has raised $115 million in a funding round led by venture capital firm Alpha Wave Global, which also has investments in companies like Alibaba, Uber and Atai Life Sciences.

Grammy Award-winning artist Macklemore has long been a vocal advocate for those fighting substance addiction and has been open in discussing his own struggles in that realm. Now, the “Thrift Store” rapper is backing a beverage brand that has made supporting individuals in recovery its central mission as an investor and the new creative director at ready-to-drink yerba mate maker CLEAN Cause.

Connecticut-based spirits portfolio company The CoreBev Group has acquired RTD cocktail brand The Cocktail Chemist in its first M&A deal, the company announced last week. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Consumer demand may be solid, but supply chain disruptions continue to challenge the convenience channel, according to the Q4 ‘Beverage Bytes’ survey of retailers by Goldman Sachs Equity Research. The survey was constructed from feedback from retailers representing nearly 40,000 U.S. retail locations (or about 27% of the convenience channel).

Elegance Brands announced this week it will change its name to SWAY Energy Corporation, reflecting a shift in focus on its two leading brands, SWAY Energy and ready-to-drink vodka cocktail VOCO. Launched in spring 2021, SWAY and VOCO have quickly emerged as the fastest growing lines for the California-based beverage portfolio company.

As sugar reduction continues to be a top priority for food and beverage manufacturers, seven low- and zero-sugar brands are banding together to form the Alliance to Control Excessive Sugar (ACES), a new business group dedicated to promoting better-for-you products.