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.
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.
Non-prescription sleep aid Dream Water has been acquired by Vancouver, Canada-based cannabis company Harvest One for approximately $26.7 million (C$34.5 million).
Nestlé S.A. has acquired the global rights to sell packaged retail products from coffee giant Starbucks Corporation for $7.15 billion plus additional royalties.
Irvine, Calif.-based True Drinks Holdings, Inc., the maker of the children’s flavored water beverage AquaBall has lost its president and CFO and reduced its staff to two full-time employees as it explores a potential sale of its remaining assets, according to documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
In this edition of People Moves, we report on major shakeups in the CEO positions at AQUAhydrate, Moonshine Sweet Tea and LIVE Soda. Also, Vive Organic hires a new director of marketing, Nestle Waters North America loses its chief sustainability officer, and Andrew Simpson joins Sunshine Beverages as VP of sales.
Jim Murphy will succeed Matthew Mitchell as Vice President, Strategy and Venturing, at The Coca-Cola Company’s Venturing and Emerging Brands (VEB) unit, the company announced in an email on Friday.
Buoyed by an expansion of its cold-chain distribution network Coldcraft, the Emeryville, Calif.-based coffee roaster and retailer is preparing several new RTD product launches over the coming weeks to further build its brand presence across multiple retail channels.
