Gopuff to Cut Hundreds of Workers
Delivery service Gopuff has fired hundreds of employees as it aims to cut costs, the company confirmed on Thursday. Former employees claimed the number was more than 1,000.
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Koia Names The Weeknd, Kyler Murray Amid Slate of New Investors; Chris Paul In Discussions on “Expanding His Role”
Refrigerated plant-based beverage brand Koia’s cap table continues to grow with today’s announcement that Grammy-winner The Weeknd, comedian Kevin Hart and a wide ranging group of athletes and entertainment figures have made an investment. The new funding will go towards supporting product innovation and retail expansion.
Distribution Roundup: GNGR, B Great Shots Score Gains; Gopuff Delivers Chamberlain Coffee
In this Distribution Roundup, shot makers GNGR Labs and B Great announce new retail gains, Shaka Tea enters Whole Foods Market stores nationwide and Alkaline Water Co. reports growth in the military channel. Plus, Gopuff delivers Chamberlain Coffee drinks to your door.
Beverage Veterans Mark Mahoney and Lee Brody Enter Cannabis With The Drinkable Company
Describing itself as a group of “beverage experts entering the cannabis space as compared to cannabis experts entering the beverage space,” The Drinkable Company is aimed at leveraging its collective experience in beverages to break through the burgeoning $426 million dollar THC drinks market.
Provi Files Lawsuit Against Southern Glazer’s and RNDC, Alleges Violations of Sherman Antitrust Act
E-commerce beverage-alcohol platform Provi has filed a complaint against Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits and Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) – the country’s two largest wine and spirits distributors – alleging that the companies have unlawfully stifled the growth of its platform.
11 New Whiskeys To Welcome Spring
In this whiskey gallery, we highlight a smattering of notable new releases for this spring, including a celebratory expression to mark the centenary of James Joyce’s Ulysses, the launch of GrandTen Distilling’s “South Boston Godfather” and a 7-year-old Irish single malt aged in rare Japanese Mizunara casks by Glendalough.
Taste Radio: You Must Check This Box To Have A Fighting Chance. These Founders Explain Why.
This week, we explored the ideation, business plans and growth strategies of three innovative and on-trend brands in conversations with Susan Buckwalter, the co-founder and CEO of ginger-powered wellness brand Recoup; Dr. Juan Salinas, the founder and CEO of P-nuff Crunch, a brand of nutritious baked peanut puffs; and Michelle Razavi and Nikki Elliott, the co-founders of functional, decadent snack brand ELAVI.
Russell Wilson, AJ Vaynerchuk Team Up On Hydration Beverage Local Weather
NFL quarterback Russell Wilson and digital media guru AJ Vaynerchuk have teamed to enter the RTD beverage market with the launch of Local Weather, a NFT-powered, nootropic-boosted hydration drink brand aimed at Gen Z consumers.
Talking Rain CEO Chris Hall Stepping Down
Talking Rain Inc., the parent company of flavored sparkling water brand Sparkling Ice, announced on Friday the departure of CEO Chris Hall, effective April 1.
Nurture Brands, Myracle Kitchen Close $3.3M Funding Round
Nurture Brands, the London-based food and beverage portfolio company behind the plant-based Myracle Kitchen brand, announced this week that it has closed a £2.5 million (around $3.3 million) funding round that will support its North American expansion.
This Week’s New Products: Pepsi Maple Syrup Cola, Cannabis and GoodBelly KIDS!
Even in the weeks after Expo West, new beverage products and innovations have continued to roll out to stores in anticipation of the return of warmer weather. This week’s roundup of new products includes the launch of limited-edition Pepsi Maple Syrup Cola, an abundance of additions to the fast-growing CBD sparkling water category, and a new line from GoodBelly specifically formulated for KIDS!
Taste Radio: How Trends & Tradition Shape ‘Roses & ‘Rosti. Plus, A Peek At Web3 and QVC.
Our latest episode features interviews with two innovators in their respective industries: Stephen Caldwell, the co-founder of Swiss Rosti, a unique brand of stuffed potato and cheese bites; and Brent Elliot, the master distiller of acclaimed bourbon brand Four Roses. The Taste Radio team also discussed notable brands from the 2022 Seafood Expo, Web3 primers and a sophisticated smoker.
Wandering Bear Raises $5M to Support Ecommerce, Office Growth
New York-based coffee brand Wandering Bear announced this week that it has raised a $5 million funding round backed by existing investors. The new capital arrives as the company seeks to scale its online ecommerce business, which has become its main focus following a post-pandemic pivot.
People Moves: Mocktails Hires Brian Barrett as SVP Hospitality
After more than three years doing business exclusively in the U.K., non-alcoholic cocktail brand Mocktails has hired former GoTab SVP as its SVP of Hospitality to support its return to the U.S. market; Also, Laird Superfood hires a new SVP of sales and Super Coffee brings on a new president.