Health-Ade

Actor Ben Stiller is joining the likes of beverage heavyweights Coca-Cola and PepsiCo in the modern soda stakes, launching his new low-sugar CSD line.

On the CPG Week podcast, Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporter Brad Avery discuss the acquisitions of Tia Lupita and Health-Ade Kombucha, new directions for the biggest beverage makers, and how Hero saved the day when Whole Foods ended its supply agreement with BetterBrand.

Generous Brands has taken another step towards its goal to be a “chassis for the growth of manufacturing” of fresh, healthy beverages with its acquisition of Health-Ade, the second-largest national kombucha brand.

Health-Ade’s investors are selling the company to Generous Brands, a portfolio company of private equity firm Butterfly Equity, for approximately $500 million.

Bloom Nutrition has officially entered the blossoming “modern soda” category, debuting its Bloom Pop shelf-stable prebiotic soda in Walmart stores nationwide today.

The warm weather is here and summer is on the horizon, and with it comes new refreshing sippers from brands like Milo’s, Jordan’s Skinny Mixes and The Ryl Company. This week’s new products also feature a slew of new non-alcoholic cocktail launches from startups like De Soi and Naked Life to legacy liquor players like Campari. Plus, we look at Vitaminwater’s big refresh.

Waterloo is partnering for the second year in a row with celebrity chef Guy Fieri on a new limited edition line of co-branded flavors: Lemon Italian Ice, Huckleberry Cobble and Spiced Mango Sorbet; The Coca-Cola Company’s “Share a Coke” cans and bottles are coming back.

Bloom Nutrition – and by extension, Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) – is entering the red-hot “modern soda” category with Bloom Pop, a shelf-stable prebiotic soda set to launch at Walmart on Labor Day.

Kiki Milk, maker of an organic plant-based milk line marketed to children and families, is extending its brick-and-mortar footprint with 440 Sprouts Farmers Market locations across the country; Korean Pear beverage brand Seoul Juice is now available nationwide in QuikTrip locations.

In this week’s new products roundup, Mitra9 ventures into the Kanna-infused beverage space, Alani Nu’s Hawaiian Shaved Ice gets refreshed both outside and inside the can and Chobani expands its tea lineup.

Four years ago, Health-Ade Kombucha took its first step into the emerging functional soda set with the launch of its prebiotic Health-Ade Booch Pop line. Now, after discontinuing that product last year, the company is hoping to revamp the concept with a new take on the category, dubbed SunSip by Health-Ade.

Audio media giant iHeartMedia has invested an undisclosed amount in kombucha company Health-Ade in a deal that will leverage the media company’s reach with consumers and bring the gut health beverage brand to new audiences.

Health-Ade has named former PepsiCo executive Chris Lansing as its permanent CEO as co-founders Daina Trout and Vanessa Dew prepare to step away from the kombucha company early next year.

Co-founder Vanessa Dew has been named interim CEO of Health-Ade Kombucha, following the departure of chief executive Jack Belsito earlier this summer, the company has confirmed. Co-founder and Chief Mission Officer Daina Trout told BevNET this week that Dew is stepping into the position after Belsito chose to move on from the brand after spending about a year as its CEO.