As the beverage industry faces a painful crunch on aluminum can supply, another manufacturer announced last week that it is working to expand production. Crown Holdings said Friday that it has selected Mesquite, Nevada as the location of a new aluminum can manufacturing facility.
As the cocktail mixer category sees renewed growth with the rise of at-home alcohol consumption, U.K.-based premium brand Fever-Tree is feeling the buzz. The company reported U.S. revenue growth of 42% on a constant currency basis in the first half of 2021, with on-premise sales rebounding rapidly following last year’s channel shutdown.
Brands like Zolt, MANTRA Labs and Plants by People launched during the height of the pandemic last year as ecommerce plays and are now establishing themselves in a period where consumers are seeking out solutions to stress, immunity and sleep issues. Meanwhile slightly more established players like the aforementioned Beam and Blume have seen sales spike online and embraced new innovation.
Actress Blake Lively is the latest film star to throw her hat into the beverage industry as the founder of Betty Buzz, a new brand of non-alcoholic sparkling mixers launching today. Available in five flavors -- Tonic Water, Sparkling Grapefruit, Meyer Lemon Club Soda, Sparkling Lemon Lime and Ginger Beer -- Betty Buzz mixers are non-GMO and are made with no artificial sweeteners or colors.
The New Yorker looks at how the rise of non-alcoholic alternative beverages is impacting alcoholics in recovery; Super Coffee is profiled by the Austin American-Statesman after relocating the company to Texas; Reuters probes how climate change is prompting American farmers to plant coffee trees.
The growth of better-for-you products has been one of the top stories of the food and beverage industry for years now, but according to the latest Healthy Living Consumer Products review by Whipstitch Capital and SPINS, that growth is now “beyond long-term,” rating as one of the top industry trends for 2021.
Jones Soda, the Seattle-based craft soda brand, announced today that it is bringing back for a limited time its (in)famous Turkey & Gravy Soda as a special release timed to the company’s 25th anniversary this year. The relaunch is the third special release flavor this year, following the limited launch of Birthday Cake Soda and Pineapple Cream. Turkey & Gravy is zero calories, sweetened with sucralose and is available in 12 oz. bottles.
Nootropic-infused sparkling water brand HOP WTR announced this week it has achieved 500% growth in its first full year on the market, with its retail footprint now reaching 17 U.S. states. Launched as an online exclusive last year, California-based HOP WTR is now available in all BevMo! locations in California, Washington and Arizona.
San Francisco-based functional beverage maker Wildwonder announced this week that it has closed a $2.1 million seed round which will fund the brand’s expansion on the West Coast and beyond.
Electrolyte beverage brand BrightFox announced this week it has received new investment from Hartbeat Ventures, the venture capital firm founded by actor and comedian Kevin Hart. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Investment firm Full Sail IP Partners announced today it has acquired the Odwalla brand from The Coca-Cola Company. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. This is the first acquisition for Connecticut-based Full Sail, which aims to be “an acquirer of leading brands” with a “sector agnostic” approach to building its portfolio, according to CEO Alan Kravetz.
When Zoe Sakoutis and Erica Huss launched their latest venture, Earth & Star, last year with a line of mushroom lattes, the intent was always to build the brand into a “mushroom platform.” Over a year later, the vision is taking shape.
Having spent the past year building its Canadian business and navigating a series of supply chain disruptions, Toronto-based sparkling botanical beverage brand Kite is making its U.S. debut this month in California and the Midwest.
Don’t Quit!, a better-for-you protein drink brand developed by fitness lifestyle company Body By Jake and L.A. Libations and distributed by Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP), is gearing up for its next stage of growth after strong early sales in Southern California have provided “proof of concept” for its line of clean label beverages, the company announced today.
