Headlines

Even as new products and brands continue to pop-up across regulated states, it’s the growing presence of women in the cannabis beverage category that has some seeing a bigger future.

America is going back to the movies, and so are brands. This week, two bottled water companies are making cinematic debuts with new marketing campaigns, each using the movies to drive home brand stories about sustainability. Liquid Death stars in Dead Till Death and FIJI Water gets a new score from Hans Zimmer.

California-based Better Booch is seeking to drive that momentum behind a push into conventional retailers, including Walmart. Elsewhere, GNGR Labs partners with Dora's Naturals to expand within New York City and beyond.

BlueTriton Brands has appointed former Johnson & Johnson executive Jorge Mesquita as CEO, tasked with overseeing its portfolio of nationally distributed bottled water brands acquired from Nestle. Mesquita previously served as EVP and worldwide chairman of Johnson & Johnson’s consumer division, overseeing marketing and strategy revamps for the Johnson’s Baby, Neutrogena and Listerine brands.

Yogurt and beverage producer Chobani announced today that it has filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a potential Initial Public Offering (IPO). The company did not detail a proposed valuation, a potential stock price or a timeline for an IPO. The valuation could be in excess of $10 billion, according to a Reuters report.

Sports performance drink maker X2 has announced the close of a $15 million round of Series D financing led by L Catterton and highlighted by participation from NFL running back Saquon Barkley.

In the war on sugar, soda has been public enemy number one for years. Now, New York-based startup United Sodas of America is looking to clean up the category’s image with a brand-driven, better-for-you line of low calorie soft drinks. After posting 10x growth online in its first year, the brand is currently expanding into retail with an ambitious 12 SKU lineup.

Kids lemonade maker Poppilu’s distribution is popping off as the brand grows its footprint to roughly 2,500 stores nationwide; Launched into Rocky Mountain Whole Foods stores in March, Rowdy Mermaid announced that it has expanded its mushroom-based Adaptonic line into four additional Whole Foods divisions.

Danone Manifesto Ventures (DMV) announced this week that it has acquired a majority ownership stake in coconut products maker Harmless Harvest. Speaking to BevNET, DMV CEO Laurent Marcel and Harmless Harvest CEO Ben Mand said the deal is primed to help the premium beverage and plant-based food maker to expand its presence in the global market.