Nestlé Acquires Hydration Platform Brand Nuun
Nestlé Health Science has acquired hydration tablet brand Nuun for an undisclosed fee, the company announced today. The deal is expected to close in Q3 2021.
Headlines
Aloha Looks to “Provide Options” with rPET Bottle, Iced Coffee Launch
Plant-based protein brand Aloha is getting ready to become a more serious beverage player. The Colorado-based, plant-based CPG brand, which makes bars, powders and protein drinks, announced this week a line extension of its ready-to-drink beverages, adding new rPET plastic-packaged variations of its core flavors.
Mayawell Closes $2 Million Seed Funding Round
Prebiotic soda brand Mayawell has raised $2 million through seed funding led by Mexico-based distillery, Casa Armando Guillermo Prieto, to expand distribution throughout Texas, California and Florida as well as introduce a new flavor and packaging with a lower carbon footprint.
Nestle Waters North America Sued For “Real Fruit” Claims
This week, Spencer Sheehan, an attorney who has led several legal campaigns alleging deceptive advertising by food manufacturers, has recently filed a pair of class-action lawsuits on behalf of consumers who he claims are being misled by water brands.
Chobani, Fair Trade Announce New Dairy Certification
Fair Trade USA and Chobani announced yesterday the formal launch of a certification program for dairy farms and cooperatives “that provides financial premiums to dairy farmers and workers, which will help protect and empower them while raising sustainability standards,” according to a press release.
Rowdy Energy Raises $13M
Rowdy Energy announced today that it has raised $13 million in a fundraising round intended to shore up the brand’s marketing initiatives and finance new innovation. Launched last year, Rowdy Energy is a better-for-you energy brand founded by CEO and Suja founder Jeff Church and NASCAR star Kyle Busch.
Roar Organic Announces Brand Refresh, Charts New Retail Strategy
One year after brand investment firm Factory acquired an equity stake in Roar Organic, the company, under new leadership, is using a redesigned and reformulated RTD line to deepen its presence at natural retailers while it takes on ecommerce with its similarly refreshed powder mixes.
PepsiCo Debuts Functional Sparkling Water Brand Soulboost
Soulboost is a sparkling water brand made with real juice and functional ingredients. The drink is available in two varieties: first is Lift, which contains 200 mg of panax ginseng, the other, Ease, is made with 200 mg of L-theanine to support relaxation.
Office Hours — Incubators and the Plague Year: Lessons from Startup Classes During Turmoil
This month’s Office Hours assembled leaders from three leading incubation programs to get strategic advice for brands on overcoming the kinds of obstacles they face as they grow, and ways that they can pivot safely when they’re met with unexpected challenges.
Maple Hill Creamery Launches Zero Sugar Organic Milk
Looking to bring consumers back into the arms of dairy, New York-based Maple Hill Creamery debuted Zero Sugar Organic Ultra-Filtered Milk, the first product in a new platform of sugar free dairy made without sweeteners or additives.
Tilray-Aphria Merger Now Complete, Creating World’s Largest Cannabis Company
The combined company — with a market capitalization valued at $8.2 billion at the end of trading on April 30, 2021 — will operate under the Tilray name moving forward and continue trading on the Nasdaq under TLRY and will begin trading on Toronto Stock Exchange under the same ticker symbol beginning May 5.
Owen’s Craft Mixers Lands $7.5M Investment
Owen’s Craft Mixers has closed a $7.5 million funding round that includes singers Ryan Hurd and Lee Brice, ex-NHL star Mario Lemieux and strategic investment from the Mass Family Office.
Taste Radio: They’re Obsessed With Helping Consumers ‘Bite’ Better. And This Is Their Plan.
This week, we’re joined by Chris Fanucchi and Samantha Citro Alexander, the co-founders of Bitewell, a new startup platform that aims to make healthy purchasing decisions easier via curated options for grocery and restaurant delivery. Fanucchi and Citro Alexander spoke about Bitewell’s multi-pronged business model, why competition isn’t easily defined and how the company works with emerging food and beverage brands.
Flavors, Flexibility Providing Fuel for On-Fire RTD Cocktails
With projections predicting continued segment growth for RTDs, anyone looking to enter the space will face a competitive landscape. But by studying brands who have either launched during the pandemic or have weathered the storm without faltering, there are plenty of opportunities for new premixed canned cocktails to thrive.