Press Clips: Coca-Cola Tries Hot Ginger Ale, Loses Marketing Executive, Targeted by Ad
Whether or not The Coca-Cola Co., Inc., is feeling the heat from a growing onslaught of detractors and health nuts, changes are afoot.
Max Rothman
Posts by Max Rothman
Honest Tea’s Mission Report Highlights Progress, Road Ahead
Jenny Burns, Honest Tea’s mission director, said that she’s encouraged by the company’s continued dedication to organic ingredients. The mission report states that in 2012, the company purchased approximately 4.9 million pounds of organic ingredients. This represents a 13 percent increase from the previous year and compares favorably to 2007, she said, before The Coca-Cola Co., Inc., acquired Honest Tea.
Kombucha Entrepreneurs Form Trade Group
Kombucha Brewers International, a Kombucha trade group, announced its launch on Tuesday afternoon. According to a press release, the group will set industry-wide standards, create marketing campaigns, educate consumers, retailers and restaurants, conduct research and serve as a point of communication regarding the Kombucha industry.
Celsius Growth Led by Refined Distribution, Digital Marketing
It’s been a good year for Celsius, a brand that, once mired in an unmanageable distribution system, now benefits from simplicity.
NACS: Bai Braces for National Test
Bai is currently distributed in 14 states, mostly in the Northeast, but with distribution from the Dr Pepper Snapple Group, the company plans to enter the other 36 via 12,000 new retail outlets by the end of 2014. They call it “hyper-growth” and claim it’s a pace that hasn’t yet overwhelmed them.
NACS: Natural Brands Aim for Growth in C-Stores
ITO EN, VOSS, Balance Water and Ayala's Herbal Water, to name a few, hope to spearhead what they believe is the gradually changing inventory of C-stores, and they did so in the halls of the Georgia International Convention Center, tucked between rows of companies peddling e-cigarettes and microwaveable fried chicken.
Bai Launches New Distribution in Chicago
Bai Brands, the makers of Bai 5, today announced new distribution in Chicago, a significant component of the company's plans to be a national brand by the end of 2014. Bai's launch in the Windy City will be supported by distribution from the Dr Pepper Snapple Group, which also works with the company in metro New York. Bai has also secured placement in grocer chain Jewel-Osco, which has a significant presence in the Midwest.
Manhattan Marketers Create Tea Cocktails
Jennie Ripps and Maria Littlefield, the founders of Owl’s Brew, a tea made specifically for cocktails, didn't set out to reinvent the mixer category, but BevMo likes the idea, anyway.
Video: Jin+Ja Builds on Solid Foundation
While it’s still early for the line of ginger-based drinks, founder Ruben Canada believes that Jin+Ja has and will continue to benefit from a solid footing in formulation, packaging and branding. “I think a big part of [our success] is making sure that we nailed it as far as making sure that we had a good foundation for the brand,” Canada said in an interview at the 2013 Natural Products Expo East show.
Video: Checking In with Green Mustache at Expo East 2013
In this video filmed at Green Mustache’s booth at Expo East, founder VanTrang Manges spoke about the launch of her brand of organic fruit and vegetable juice kids' smoothies and initial reception for the products. Manges also discussed the challenges associated with her foray into the beverage industry, and navigating the complexities of manufacturing as well as sales and marketing.
Expo East: Chia’s Second Layer
The chia category has passed a few natural-channel introductory stages: the Dr. Oz approval, the first-to-market brands (Mamma Chia and Chia\Vie), the blog rounds. However, a second layer of chia beverage companies, notably Drink Chia and Chia Star, which recently displayed their beverages, stories and plans at the Natural Products Expo East show in Baltimore, are emerging and increasing distribution.
Cheribundi’s Challenge: Amplify Its Athletes
Cheribundi CEO Brian Ross said that about 90 teams from the NHL, NFL, MLB, NBA and NCAA regularly drink his company's tart cherry juice, but most consumers don't know that yet.
Inko’s Expands in Walmart
Inko’s LLC, makers of low- and no-calorie white teas, announced Thursday its expansion into 2,500 Walmart stores nationwide. The expansion represents an increase from the brand’s Northeast test market of 200 stores in the first quarter and 783 stores by July.
Marley Beverage Company Adjusts Branding, Sales Strategies
Three weeks after the resignation of its president and CEO, Kevin McClafferty, Marley Beverage Company (MBC) announced today that it has adjusted its growth strategy and will hire additional staff to support strategic regions.