Lukas Southard is a Reporter covering the food and beverage industries across BevNET and NOSH.
The pandemic changed how consumers used e-commerce to get products delivered to their doors but the exponential growth of digital shopping platforms has subsided leaving CPG food and beverage companies to reevaluate how they strategize growth and reach consumers online.
The Newport Beach, California-based beverage company spent the pandemic developing its answer to the zero-sugar energy drink category with the release of Positive Energy in three flavors – Tropical Bliss, Watermelon Mania and Poppin’ Orange. The products launched at the beginning of the year with 160g of caffeine from green tea extract and 0 calories in each can, and is positioning itself to target not just traditional energy drink consumers but the whole family.
Volume growth improvement over the Fourth of July holiday helped fuel non-alcoholic beverage sales over the two-week period ending July 18, according to an analysis of NielsenIQ data by Goldman Sachs Equity Research.
The Atlanta-based beverage company reported that net operating revenues were up 14%, $21.8 billion, in the first half of the year compared to the same period last year. The drink maker beat analyst expectations on adjusted earnings per share which were up $0.03 to $0.70 and revenue from $10.56 billion to $11.3 billion.
In June, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent a warning letter to H2 Beverages over misleading health claims and misbranded labels of the hydrogen-infused beverages.
Faced with unprecedented and extended supply chain disruptions, CPG brands are fighting back any way they can. In a June survey by ingredient-sourcing and management platform TraceGains, over 300 food, beverage, and dietary supplement companies reported having expanded their respective co-manufacturer networks and made recipe changes in order to remain agile and resilient during market disruptions.
After completing LA Libations SIP (SoCal Incubator Program) mentorship accelerator, coconut water brand 100 Coconuts has gone from having relatively no West Coast presence to preparing to hit 20,000 stores nationwide by the end of September with distribution deals in major retailers.
Nutritional sports supplement maker Ladder hopes that entering its first brick-and-mortar retail channel with 690 Vitamin Shoppe stores will broaden its appeal from its base of professional athletes and unlock “active” consumers.
The original founding team behind Muscle Milk is using a similar playbook of incremental distribution in gyms and specialty fitness retailers to grow a new hemp-infused, energy drink called Gym Weed.
Major League Baseball's decision to allow teams to partner with NSF-certified CBD brands opens the door for food and beverage companies to access a bigger market for consumers interested in hemp-based products.
Nearly one year removed from the company’s IPO filing, zero-sugar soft drink maker Zevia has announced a changing of the guard. Paddy Spence will cede his longtime role as CEO to President Amy Taylor on August 1, but remain Chair of the Board after he steps down.
Educational sessions and discussions covered topics ranging from NFTs to THC during the second day of BevNET Live Summer 2022. Highlighted by a wild conversation with Bang Energy founder Jack Owoc, Thursday’s agenda also featured a beverage data dive from SPINS, Liquid Death’s work in web3 and insights into TikTok’s role in creating the next generation of CPG stars.
SYSTM Foods, the strategic partnership of private equity firm SYSTM Brands and venture capital fund PowerPlant Partners, staked its first claims on the impact-focused food and beverage category on Wednesday by announcing it has acquired Chameleon Coffee from Nestlé USA, along with independent functional beverage brand REBBL.
A new report by the Specialty Food Association shows that growth in the specialty food market has changed as the pandemic’s evolution over the last two years has brought dramatic price increases and a shift in consumer shopping and eating priorities. The category grew by 7.4% in 2021 as compared to 5.8% in 2020, reaching $175 billion in sales.
