Martín writes news articles and feature stories covering the non-alcoholic beverage industry for BevNET. A graduate of Boston University, Martín's previous work has appeared in USA Today, The Boston Globe and The Boston Herald.
Massachusetts-based Atomic Coffee Roasters and Cold Craft Juicery have partnered to open a new facility that will serve as the central production and distribution hub for both independent companies.
California-based Clearly Kombucha has been acquired by Molson Coors for an undisclosed fee, marking the multinational brewing company’s first purchase of a non-alcoholic beverage brand.
Austin, Texas-based beverage technology company HeatGenie, which manufactures a self-heating aluminum can, has closed a $6 million round of funding led by ARTIS Labs, with additional investment from Almanac Investments and private individuals.
In this edition of People Moves, Laarni Niro is named COO at alkaline water brand AQUAhydrate; David Ross takes the helm at Live Soda; Townshend Group adds another Stumptown Coffee veteran; ABA President Susan Neely moves on.
Carbonated soft drink (CSD) unit sales increased 3 percent in a year-over-year comparison for a four-week period ending on May 19, as reported in a generally positive Wells Fargo Securities beverage report on Nielsen sales data released earlier this week.
Roughly six months after departing premium water brand Voss of Norway as CEO, beverage industry veteran Jack Belsito has joined private equity firm First Beverage Ventures as a managing partner.
As it develops a network of regional co-packer partners for its proprietary RAIN extraction system, beverage technology company Bkon is first focusing on cold brew, a category in which the company believes RAIN can hone in on the subtle flavors and notes of specialty coffees to recreate the diversity and sophistication seen in third-wave hot coffee.
Once derided as the scourge of America’s youth, cannabis is now being touted as one of the country’s biggest potential cash crops. As of 2018, 18 states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana use and sales, with a further eight states allowing for recreational use.
The Seattle-based brand, which markets a purified alkaline water with a pH of 9.5 or higher, is hardly the newest or shiniest brand to claim a piece of the premium water market. Founded in 1998, Essentia enjoyed modest but consistent growth as premium water slowly expanded from a niche sub-set of the water category into one of the fastest growing segments in beverage.
Even before its acquisition by Nestlé last year, the Austin-based coffee company has been active in exploring ways to translate its brand identity into new formats and styles, both in ready-to-drink and dry packaged coffee.
Almond milk has enjoyed broad appeal for its versatility; it brings value as an ingredient for cooking, as a tool for baristas creating espresso drinks, and as an alternative for dairy intolerant consumers and for those who simply enjoy the taste.
In caffeine, an ingredient that consumers typically associate with sodas, a handful of sparkling water makers see a natural opportunity to extend their brands amidst a crowded field of competitors.
In this People Moves roundup, ex-AQUAhydrate CEO Hal Kravitz starts anew as chairman of the board at Certified Management Group; also, Kona Red expands its management team, Bill Meissner is named CEO at Dunn's River Brands and Voss CEO Jack Belsito confirms he has left the company, as of last summer.
Ample Foods has closed a $2 million round of seed funding led by San Francisco-based venture capital group Slow Ventures.
