AtlantaFresh Artisan Creamery’s case against Whole Foods Market is moving forward after U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash denied Whole Foods' motion to throw out a $15 million breach of contract lawsuit. The case alleges the natural grocery chain prematurely and ‘abruptly’ broke a seven-year distribution contract with grass-fed dairy producer AtlantaFresh Artisan Creamery and caused the business to go under.
In this week’s roundup of new product launches, ZOA Energy expanded its energy drink line with the launch of 12 oz. cans, Nuun re-launched its functional hydration portfolio and Q Mixers debuted two non-carbonated mixers just in time for warmer weather. Plus, sparkling water brands Aura Bora and AHA both added new flavors.
Performance energy drink brand A SHOC announced today it has closed a $29 million Series B funding round backed by existing investors and a roster of celebrity athletes.
In this week's Distribution Roundup, craft mocktail brand Jeng partners with beer distributor Sarene to service the East Coast, while Alkaline88 targets fitness and nutrition retailers via Europa Sports, plus news from Wynk, RISE Brewing Co., Poppilu, Play Mode and Rowdy Energy.
Austin, Texas-based RTD cocktail brand Canteen Spirits has hired industry veteran Brian Smith as its new Chief Sales Officer, charged with leading the brand’s national expansion; Zach Rueda, chief brand officer of Massachusetts-based flash frozen coffee capsule producer Cometeer, has stepped away from the company.
Rather than trying to pull spirits drinkers into a new format, a cohort of emerging brands are looking to make the transition from cocktails to cannabis as smooth as possible.
Another independent canned cocktail maker boarded the “mother ship” last week when Constellation Brands announced Thursday the full acquisition of Austin Cocktails. It’s a move that’s in step with the other global beverage companies picking up fast-growing RTD producers - but observers in the industry caution that the deal may not be the harbinger of a flood of RTD acquisitions.
Brad Kintzer, Chief Chocolate Maker at TCHO, discussed the company’s emphasis on sustainable and ethical sourcing as a key metric of quality, how it defines “better” when evaluating progress, how he’s been inspired by winemaking and why, despite TCHO’s cachet, the brand recently introduced massive changes in its formulation and branding.
Female PoC-owned sparkling, adaptogen-enhanced water brand Droplet activated a crowdfunding campaign this month on NuAMP, a new platform dedicated to connecting PoC founders with various forms of capital. Created in collaboration with community fundraising platform NuMarket and AMP, a tech company connecting PoC founders with funding resources, the NuAMP program debuted with seven active crowdfunding campaigns to support diverse founders across the country
Talking Rain Beverage Company, the parent company of Sparkling Ice, announced today it has appointed Ken Sylvia as its new permanent CEO, effective immediately. He had been serving as interim CEO since Chris Hall’s abrupt departure on April 1. Sylvia joined the Seattle-based company in 2010 and has held a variety of roles, most recently serving as COO overseeing sales and supply chain.
Waterbird Spirits believes two container sizes will take the brand to the next stratosphere of growth: 24 oz. single-serve cans and half-barrel kegs, according to founder Wilson Craig.
Hydrogen-infused water maker Susosu has closed a seed round backed by food and beverage accelerator Union Kitchen, marking the Virginia-based brand’s first ever outside investment. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Last week, e-commerce beverage-alcohol platform Provi filed a complaint against Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits and Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC), alleging that the companies have unlawfully stifled the growth of its platform. The complaint filed March 29 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, alleges that the defendants have acted together and individually to “boycott, disparage and tortiously interfere with Provi’s business.”
New beverage startup Kowa has teamed with ingredient maker Nura to feature its branded organic 5-HTP supplement in its line of mood-boosting functional drinks; U.K.-based ingredients manufacturer Tate & Lyle announced last week that it has signed an agreement to acquire Chinese fiber producer Quantum Hi-Tech Biological Co., Ltd for $237 million; and more news from Kerry and Sweegen.
