This week during BevNET & NOSH Virtually Live, several food and beverage brands had the opportunity to showcase their companies in a virtual Brand Showcase room, where they could interact with attendees and exchange contact information. But Jomaree Pinkard, co-founder and CEO of Hella Cocktail Co., saw an opportunity to use the online platform to get a vital message out to the industry.

Yerbaé Partners with Pepsi-Cola Bottling of New York; Natalie’s Expands Holistic Line with Publix; Mad Tasty Launches Direct-to-Business Program Online; Waterloo Adds Publix and Greenwise Market; So Good So You Launches 4-Pack Shots in Publix; Iconic Kids Adds New Retailers; Béla Adds Albertsons, The Better Health Stores; Shroomi Adds Whole Foods SoCal; TEN Alkaline Spring Water Adds Cans to UNFI, KeHE

Expanding its platform beyond the RTD space, LifeAID Beverage Co. announced today the launch of LifeAID Go!, a line of single-serve powder drink mixes which will debut online this week. Go! features powdered versions of the brand’s ImmunityAid and FitAid SKUs, which co-founders Orion Melehan and Aaron Hinde said are among the brand’s top selling beverage products.

Northern California regional brands Go Girl Energy and Silk Road Soda Co. announced this week they have merged to form Go Roads, LLC The company will seek to expand both product lines outside of the Golden State with rebranded and reformulated offerings.

Massachusetts-based Ocean Spray Cranberries is aiming to meet the growing demand for relaxation beverages with CarryOn, a new line of hemp-infused sparkling waters which launched this month in a pilot run. The new line features two varieties: Descend, a blueberry flavor containing L-Theanine and 20 mg of CBD, and Elevate, a grapefruit flavor containing choline and 10 mg of CBD.

Kickback Expands SoCal with Los Angeles Distributing; Doctor D’s Launches Canned Line in Over 1,200 Stores; Goodwolf Water Kefir Makes Distribution Gains; KeHE to Carry Alkaline88 Aluminum Products; Lumen Adds Whole Foods; Elemental Beverage Co. Adds Whole Foods

Birch water maker TREO announced this month it has raised $5 million in a financing round which will support a distribution expansion focused in the Northeast. According to founder and CEO Robert Golden, the company quietly closed the financing round -- which consisted entirely of individuals including friends and business partners involved in real estate -- late last year.

Kitu Life Super Coffee has signed a master distribution agreement with Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB) that will place the brand on DSD trucks nationwide, the company announced today. AB’s investment arm ZX Ventures will also take a minority stake in the brand, pending the closure of an open funding round.

Though the entrepreneurs and judges may have been miles apart, the Showdown must go on. Twelve beverage startups competed today in the New Beverage Showdown 19 Semifinals, an online pitch slam held ahead of BevNET and NOSH Virtually Live which will take place June 23 and 24. Six finalists were chosen to move on to the next round.

Kitu Life Super Coffee announced today its first steps into the rising plant-based beverage space with a coffee and a creamer, both made with pea protein, launching nationwide this month. The new flavors include Coconut Mocha Super Coffee, which contains 200 mg of caffeine, 10 grams of protein and 90 calories per 11 oz. can, and French Vanilla Super Creamer.

New Age Beverages Corp. will seek to change its name, dropping the “Beverages” to become “NewAge, Inc.” according to a notice of annual meeting of shareholders filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Monday. The proposed name change comes as the publicly traded company seeks to divest several beverage brands from its portfolio and diversify its product offerings.

Organic protein beverage maker Orgain announced yesterday the first recipients of its new Grants for Greater Good program, which provides funds to startup brands with health and wellness oriented missions. The three winning startups include kolanut fruit-based energy drink Bissy, non-dairy ice cream maker Hakuna Brands and IncludeHealth, a maker of fitness equipment for the disabled and elderly.