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.
PepsiCo’s North American beverage business felt the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic in Q2, the company announced today in its quarterly earnings report, as organic revenue fell 7% due to declines in the convenience, gas and food service channels, offsetting positive growth in grocery, mass and dollar stores.
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.
Colorado-based private equity firm Capitol Peak Partners and New York-based firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) are set to acquire “substantially all” assets of Borden Dairy Co. following a successful $340 million bid for the bankrupt dairy producer, the company announced Friday.
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.”
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.
