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

Now On Polar Trucks, Something Natural is Ready to Roll

“It’s super-exciting right now,” said founder Randy Shefshick. “Clearly, Sparkling Ice is the hottest product on the planet, and they’ve proven there’s a market for flavored sparkling water. We think we’re the natural alternative to that – almost like the Honest Tea of the sparkling water category.”

FRS CEO Dave Henderson on CPG, RTM, GNC, ETC.

According to new CEO Dave Henderson, the quercetin-based supplement company will take a broader portfolio approach and look to supplement-friendly retailers like GNC stores as its core channels

Too Hot for Soda

In the wake of the great goat devastation wrought by a Mountain Dew advertisement directed by rapper Tyler, the Creator, for the citrus soda, the media was rife with stories about ways that brands that seek an “urban edge” often fall off that edge into the chasm of unintended consequences.

Harmless Harvest Sighted in Costco, Testing Other Channels

Co-founders Justin Guilbert and Douglas Riboud -- currently abroad to look at tea operations for their new product line -- confirmed to BevNET that they have begun checking a few new channels for their coconut water, which has grown a huge presence in Whole Foods over the past two years.

Miss Muffet Broadens Her Palate

She was eating curds and whey back in the day, but Little Miss Muffet might look past milk the next time she’s searching for her protein boost. Advances in protein technology, rising raw materials costs, and lifestyle changes have combined with an overall upsurge in demand to create a broader set of proteins used in beverage than those derived solely from whey, the popular milk-based protein.

Neuro Tweaks Line, Hits Target

Neuro has found distribution in Target, and also killed Sun in favor of Daily. Although, since it's hard to have Daily without the Sun, it's kept the Vitamin D in Daily.

AriZona Goes Big With New Soda Shaq Cream Soda Line

Shaquille O’Neal himself unveiled the new four-flavor Soda Shaq Cream Soda line via his Twitter account today (he has more than 7 million followers, so the word definitely got out); the products carry a suggested $.99 price and come emblazoned with one of eight photos of the big man’s unique facial expressions.

Slow Build to Influence

The past two years have brought on tremendous change in the beverage industry, and products and systems of going to market that may once have been considered on the fringe will be have great influence over the future of the entire business.

Cold Brew Rising

In the rarified world of high-end coffee, there’s a broad discussion of whether the post-Starbucks rise of independent coffee shops and specialty roasts comprises a third wave or fourth wave of coffee culture in the U.S. Regardless of the wave number, however, there’s something gathering out there on the horizon; it’s cold brewed iced coffee, and it’s headed for a store near you, and likely sooner than you think.

BevNET Issues Call for Entries for the First Natural Beverage Guide

BevNET's 2013 Natural Beverage Guide is the beverage industry's largest guide to beverages targeting the natural channel, including juices, teas, bottled waters, CSDs, concentrates, powders, and other natural beverage enhancers. This key resource will be aimed at beverage retailers and distributors who are looking to include additional natural products.

New First Beverage Fund Adds VEB as Investor

Growing beverage companies have a new option for raising investment cash, and the Coca-Cola Co. has a new way to get involved in determining their future, taking a limited partnership stake in a new fund focused on non-alcoholic beverage brands. First Beverage Ventures has launched the new fund in collaboration with Coke’s Venturing & Emerging Brands (VEB) group -- along with several other investors -- to invest in small and emerging beverage brands.