Bang CEO Jack Owoc answered questions yesterday after the Florida-based functional beverage maker announced that it had reached an agreement with PepsiCo to terminate its exclusive distribution agreement, originally scheduled to end in October 2023.
Brands are trying to find new ways to accurately communicate their environmental commitments, and for many, that has required the development of a new set of certifications that extend beyond the older, established classifications.
This week’s collection of new beverages includes the debut of Jones Soda Co’s new cannabis-infused soda brand, Mary Jones, a new formula launch from alcohol recovery brand NextDay and fruity summer flavors from HOP WTR and Aura Bora. Plus, Monster Energy unveils its first-ever cold brew products.
PlantBaby, a Hawaii-based plant-based kids nutrition brand, announced this week it has closed a $4 million seed round led by Big Idea Ventures and The Fund LA.
Major League Baseball's decision to allow teams to partner with NSF-certified CBD brands opens the door for food and beverage companies to access a bigger market for consumers interested in hemp-based products.
Brian Rosen doesn’t want to invest in your vodka flavored with sriracha or lemon peel and cumin. The lifelong beverage entrepreneur and advisor is channeling his experience into growing spirit brands that instead have wide appeal, and he’s adding strategic capital through InvestBev, an investment firm focused on adult-beverage brands, raw distillate, beverage technology and cannabis.
After a year-and-a-half of high tension and muted sales, Bang Energy says it has officially ended its distribution partnership with PepsiCo. The Florida-based brand, a subsidiary of VPX Pharmaceuticals, announced in a brief press release today that “all disputes with PepsiCo have been fully settled and resolved” effective immediately and that the brand will return to DSD distribution through a number of new partnerships.
As inflation continues to put a higher burden on consumers’ wallets, the National Association of Conveniences Stores (NACS) predicted that private label CPG products could continue to play a larger role in total in-store sales, according to the industry group’s 2021 State of the Industry report, released this month.
Answering consumer demand for more caffeine-free products, mushroom supplement maker Four Sigmatic is widening its functional brand platform with the release of Super Powders, a three-SKU line of enhanced powdered mixes.
California-based Rhythm has a new partner, recently signing with Tufo’s Wholesale Foods in New York City, marking the first time the Bronx-based distributor has carried a hemp-infused beverage.
After two years of plugging away at the hangover prevention beverage category, California-based startup The Plug is repositioning itself as a functional liver health brand as it prepares to expand in retail this year via a partnership with beverage incubator L.A. Libations.
In his own words, Grisa Soba has “always been a contrarian and tried to do things differently.” That approach has taken Flaviar, the spirits enthusiast membership club Soba launched in 2012 from a simple tasting box format to one of the largest clubs of its kind serving the U.S. and EU.
Yanni Hufnagel, the founder and CEO of Lemon Perfect, spoke about his ambitious vision for the fast-growing enhanced water brand, the parallels between coaching college basketball and running a beverage company, why nailing “the big decisions” has been critical to the brand’s development, how his perspective on gross margin has evolved and why Lemon Perfect has invested heavily in field sales.
Kitu Life Super Coffee pilot-launched its first non-coffee innovation in Texas last weekend: a three-SKU, zero-sugar energy drink line enhanced with collagen and probiotics called Super ENRGY.
