Ripple Foods Reports $49M Funding Raise in SEC Filing
Plant-based dairy alternative brand Ripple Foods has raised $49 million in a new funding round, according to an SEC filing this week.
Headlines
Coke Wins NARB Appeal for Powerade Electrolyte Claims Over Gatorade
The Coca-Cola Company will be able to challenge Gatorade’s electrolyte content on Powerade labels after the National Advertising Review Board (NARB) favored the company in a decision this week regarding Powerade’s claim to have “50% more electrolytes vs. the leading sports drink.”
Spirits Distribution: Mr Black Aims for National Buzz, Lo Siento Hits Pavilions
In this latest round of distribution news, we check in with Lo Siento, Never Say Die Bourbon and Diageo’s Mr Black Coffee Liqueur.
Lucky F*ck Lands $4M Investment, “Moving Quickly” With Distribution Growth
Energy drink maker Lucky F*ck, launched by Kate Farms founder Richard Laver, has landed a $4 million seed investment from Imaginary Ventures to expand its distribution into Southern California and Texas.
Beliv Bursts into Gut Health Soda Segment with Mighty Pop
Latin American CPG portfolio company Beliv is continuing its U.S. expansion, this time with a new in-house brand targeting the emerging functional soda category: Mighty Pop.
Data: Non-Alc Beverage Sales “Strong and Accelerated” as Volumes Improve
Non-alcoholic beverage sales remained “healthy and accelerated” in the two-week period ending November 18 reflecting heightened volume growth despite broadly stable pricing, according to an analysis of NielsenIQ data by Goldman Sachs Equity Research.
Pernod Ricard Appoints New North America CEO
Pernod Ricard announced new leadership today for its North America business. Conor McQuaid will take the helm as CEO of Pernod Ricard North America at the start of the new year.
Taste Radio: How Maya Kaimal Stayed On Track Even When A Misstep Almost Derailed Her Brand
Maya Kaimal, the founder and Chief Culinary and Creative Officer of Maya Kaimal Foods, a groundbreaking brand of Indian-inspired sauces, condiments and ready-to-eat dishes, spoke about how her company operates and innovates at the intersection of data, trends and retailer needs, aligning with an investor that could support her vision; and what she’s learned about hiring the right – and wrong – people.
Yerbaé Teams With Penn State NIL Collective To Build “Beachhead” For Eastern Expansion
Yerbaé has partnered with Penn State University’s NIL collective, Happy Valley United, in a unique marketing arrangement that includes the release of an exclusive Blue Razz flavor and new distribution partners in Pennsylvania.
Humanitea Makes Mission, Sustainability Its Focus in Growing Tea Set
After acquiring the small startup brand in 2020, the owners of RTD tea maker Humanitea are getting ready to pour gas in the tank, beginning with a slate of three new flavor innovations.
Data: De-Premiumization Across Categories, Spirits Resilient On-Premise
Spirits 12-month rolling volume trends are down 3.5% from October 2022 to September 2023, and down 5.1% for year-to-date ending in September, according to Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA)’s SipSource.
Taste Radio: A Spicy, If Unexpected, Deal. Plus, Sweet Treats And MUD.
It’s not often that a high-profile investment deal is announced just before a major holiday, but we got lucky this week. After discussing the news that Kim Kardashian’s private equity firm SKYY Partners has invested in upscale condiment brand TRUFF, the hosts munched on a new brand of cookies launched by popular Twitch streamer Pokimane and dove into a growing pool of caffeine-free energy drinks.
Small Steps: How Tilden is Going After The On-Premise Premium Mocktail
When Tilden, a 750 ml ready-to-serve mocktail debuted at the start of the year, the founders used flask-sized sample bottles to pitch their new product in sales meetings.
BellRing Brands: Premier Protein Fuels Strong FY 2023 Earnings
As it moves to discontinue its PowerBar brand business in North America, protein products portfolio company BellRing Brands announced full fiscal year 2023 net sales over $1.6 billion, up 21.5%, in an earnings report this week.