Jeffrey Klineman

Jeffrey Klineman

Editor-in-Chief

As Editor-in-Chief of BevNET, Jeff Klineman oversees the organization's reporting across all of its web sites, as well as BevNET Magazine. Jeff also plans, curates, and hosts the BevNET Live and NOSH Live conferences. Jeff previously worked as a newspaper reporter for the Lawrence Eagle-Tribune, the Boston TAB and the Metrowest Daily News, and has freelanced for publications like Slate, Boston Magazine, Self, George, Commonwealth, and the Chronicle of Philanthropy. He is a graduate of Yale University and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. A frequently-cited expert on the beverage industry, Jeff has also twice been named in Forbes as one of the 25 Most Influential when it comes to Consumer and Retail Companies.

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Posts by Jeffrey Klineman

A Pair of Aseptic Juice Companies Rise on the Coasts A Pair of Aseptic Juice Companies Rise on the Coasts

A Pair of Aseptic Juice Companies Rise on the Coasts

by Jeffrey Klineman,

From Southern California, Juiceology is two years into a marketing push that saw a cattle family from Brazil try its hand at a branded product in the U.S. Founded by Brazilian national Felipe Davila, the products include flash-pasteurized, aseptically-filled refrigerated juices that are blended with whole grain extracts for a higher fiber content to promote satiety. Another juice company, New Jersey-based Mojo Organics, recently launched behind a line of juices licensed from Chiquita Brands.

Zevia Set To Unleash New Sweetener Mix Zevia Set To Unleash New Sweetener Mix

Zevia Set To Unleash New Sweetener Mix

by Jeffrey Klineman,

Company CEO Paddy Spence revealed to BevNET yesterday that the brand was in the process of implementing a new sweetener mix – “Sweet Smart” – which deploys a purer form of Rebaudioside A (more commonly known as Stevia) mixed with Erythritol and Monkfruit extract.

Eisner Returns, While Tata and Mirza Are Out Of Activate Eisner Returns, While Tata and Mirza Are Out Of Activate

Eisner Returns, While Tata and Mirza Are Out Of Activate

by Jeffrey Klineman,

Eisner, who co-created the brand with Burke Eiteljorg as the Rising Beverage Co., Inc. in 2005, announced Friday that he was buying the company back from its current investors and that he would be taking over the position of President. Craig Berger was taking on a dual COO/CFO role while current president Reza Mirza was departing.

Gauging the Stage for Innovation Acceptance Gauging the Stage for Innovation Acceptance

Gauging the Stage for Innovation Acceptance

by Jeffrey Klineman,

What does it say about the beverage business that the small companies on display at Natural Products Expo East, the little sibling of the massive West Coast show, could generate more energy than those who were attending the annual showpiece fiesta of a giant organization?

Gourmet Sodas’ Second Wave Gourmet Sodas’ Second Wave

Gourmet Sodas’ Second Wave

by Jeffrey Klineman,

The stigma is receding. The notion of bubbles isn’t so bad. From the gourmet to the Stevia generation, fewer products are afraid to fizz. Even as sprawling soda giants like Coke and Pepsi have seen overall volume declines, existing gourmet products like Fentiman’s, Reed’s, GuS, Fever Tree, Maine Root and Q Tonic have all ridden the expansion of the natural and specialty channel to increasing sales.

Coke Finishes Buyout of Zico; Uzzell Becomes President, Rampolla to Advise Coke Finishes Buyout of Zico; Uzzell Becomes President, Rampolla to Advise

Coke Finishes Buyout of Zico; Uzzell Becomes President, Rampolla to Advise

by Jeffrey Klineman,

Coke has finalized its purchase of Zico coconut water, purchasing the remaining outstanding shares. Zico was purchased through Coke's Venturing and Emerging Brands Group (VEB). Founder and current CEO Mark Rampolla will be moving into a role of non-executive advisor during the transition; G. Scott Uzzell will become President, rejoining Coke a year after he left VEB to become Zico's Chief Commercial Officer and EVP of Sales.

Honest’s Chuck Muth to Head VEB Sales Force Honest’s Chuck Muth to Head VEB Sales Force

Honest’s Chuck Muth to Head VEB Sales Force

by Jeffrey Klineman,

VEB President Deryck van Rensburg has tapped Chuck Muth, Honest Tea’s VP of sales, with the responsibility for leading an internal group focused on selling VEB-affiliated brands to bottlers and Coke’s own distribution network. He will move into the role of SVP, Sales at VEB on Jan. 1.

McClafferty, Nistico, Brody Hoping to Make a Splash Post-Marley McClafferty, Nistico, Brody Hoping to Make a Splash Post-Marley

McClafferty, Nistico, Brody Hoping to Make a Splash Post-Marley

by Jeffrey Klineman,

The executive team behind the launch of Marley’s Mellow Mood has teamed up with the brand’s former head of marketing to launch a company that will develop and sell a portfolio of non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverage brands.

The Battle For Breakfast The Battle For Breakfast

The Battle For Breakfast

by Jeffrey Klineman,

It shouldn’t be surprising to see traditional breakfast food producers chasing the liquid breakfast market, however; that’s because it’s becoming a can’t-beat-them-so-you-join-them-proposition.

Solixir Sold to Eternal Beverages, Inc. Solixir Sold to Eternal Beverages, Inc.

Solixir Sold to Eternal Beverages, Inc.

by Jeffrey Klineman,

After a five year run on the shelves, entrepreneur Scott Lerner and his investors have sold Solixir, a line of naturally functional sparkling drinks powered by botanical elixirs, to the owners of Eternal Beverages, Inc., the maker of a nationally-distributed brand in the fast-growing alkaline water category.

Eight “Taste of Tomorrow” Brands Now in Colorado King Soopers Eight “Taste of Tomorrow” Brands Now in Colorado King Soopers

Eight “Taste of Tomorrow” Brands Now in Colorado King Soopers

by Jeffrey Klineman,

Kroger's highly anticipated entrepreneurial beverage set, Taste of Tomorrow, has become a program of the present. The supermarket giant's natural foods team activated the promotional and merchandising strategy, designed to help incubate innovative beverage brands in the supermarket giant’s retail system, earlier this month in King Soopers in Colorado.

Video: Sparkling ICE Eyes Convenient Route to Market, Acquisitions Video: Sparkling ICE Eyes Convenient Route to Market, Acquisitions

Video: Sparkling ICE Eyes Convenient Route to Market, Acquisitions

by Jeffrey Klineman,

The brand’s parent company, Talking Rain, has cobbled together a national network for reaching convenience stores, CEO Kevin Klock told BevNET Editor Jeffrey Klineman during a wide ranging interview on the floor of the NACS (National Association of Convenience Stores) Show.