California-based beverage startup ZenWTR announced today that it has appointed Bryan Crowley as CEO. Crowley joins the sustainably-packaged alkaline water brand, founded by veteran entrepreneur Lance Collins, five months after leaving the chief executive role at Soylent.

In this Distribution Roundup, Lemon Perfect picks up two new DSD partners in Southern California in the form of John Lenore & Co. and Classic Beverage. Meanwhile, natural energy drink brand Sunshine is gaining a foothold in Florida through expansion in Publix and 7-Eleven. Plus, DRY makes moves in Texas, Aura Bora lands at Whole Foods and pea milk brand Sproud makes its North American retail debut.

On Tuesday, Oatly closed one of the largest food and beverage financing deals of the year when it announced a $200 million funding round led by Blackstone Growth. Speaking with BevNET, Oatly CEO Toni Petersson said the financing represents a diversification of the company’s ownership structure, bringing in an American firm that will work directly with its European and Asian arms.

As consumers continue to seek better-for-you options in the hydration and sports drink space, Arizona-based Recover 180° is aiming to amplify its nationwide presence as it expands into new regional markets across the country. Founded in 2018 by real estate developer Mike Meldman, Recover 180° makes a line of functional hydration drinks intended to meet multiple need states including post-workout, travel, and hangovers.

An internal battle over whether to publicly support the Black Lives Matter movement at Red Bull has led to the exit of two of the energy drink maker’s top North American executives, according to media reports this week. In an email to BevNET, Red Bull confirmed that Red Bull North America (RBNA) CEO Stefan Kozak and president and CMO Amy Taylor were “no longer with the company.”

Detroit-based beverage company Ellis Island Tea announced this week that it has received an investment from comedian Kevin Hart, a partnership that will allow the brand to increase production ahead of expansion plans this year. Details of the deal were not disclosed.

Having spent the past seven years staking its territory online, New Mexico-based Caveman Coffee is on the hunt for new consumers through a retail expansion and new innovations rolling out this year. Founded in 2013 by CEO Lacie Mackey, a former fitness trainer, and actors and MMA fighters Tait Fletcher and Keith Jardine, Caveman produces a variety of coffee and tea products, including MCT oil-infused lattes.

Having spent the last decade investing in food and beverage brands through venture capital firms, Tom First is once again building a product and brand from the ground up with Culture Pop, a new probiotic soda that launched online and in select retailers this summer.

Colorado-based CBD drink maker Defy LLC filed a lawsuit last month against Tennessee-based hydration beverage brand Defiance Fuel, claiming the latter company infringed on its trademarks; A new lawsuit against 75 members of Dairy Farmers of America’s (DFA) leadership team is accusing the co-op of extortion and cartel-like tactics; Family of late Hansen’s Beverage Co. founder Hubert Hansen were awarded $17 million in a ruling against The Coca-Cola Company and Monster.

Brew Dr. Kombucha is expanding its interest in functional ingredients with Tranquil, -- a new line containing 25 mg of CBD per 14 oz. bottle that is launching this week at stores in Oregon and Washington. The products feature flavors modeled after the Oregon-based kombucha maker’s existing Ginger Lemon, Superberry and Clear Mind SKUs.

Health-Ade Kombucha announced today the launch of Health-Ade Booch Pop, a line of kombucha-based prebiotic drinks that marks the brand’s first product extension into shelf-stable sets. Health-Ade co-founder and CEO Daina Trout said the line is the first new innovation outside of kombucha and is centered around the concept of “Feel Good Bubbly Beverages.”