Headlines

Taste Radio: Barnana’s Secret Weapon? It’s Often Wasted.

Caue Suplicy, the founder and chairman of Barnana, which markets premium snacks made from upcycled bananas, spoke about how the company analyzed consumer demand to better understand how to market and promote the brand, its strategy for sourcing and utilizing sales data, why hiring from within has benefited the brand and how he has navigated the industry as an immigrant founder.

Coke: Q1 Results Reflect ‘Asynchronous’ Pandemic Recovery

Having struggled throughout 2020 with strong headwinds from the pandemic, The Coca-Cola Company saw net revenues increase 5% in the first quarter of 2021, with top line growth beating analysts’ expectations as volume sales are beginning to recover from last year’s lockdowns.

The “Refresh” in Refreshment: Diabolo Unveils New Packaging

With the term “soda” becoming a liability for beverage companies amid changing consumer habits, California-based Diabolo has unveiled updated branding, repositioning itself as a ‘Sparkling French Lemonade’ focused on taste and refreshment.

Diageo Expands RTD Portfolio with Acquisition of Loyal 9 Cocktails

Alcohol conglomerate Diageo is extending its reach into the ready-to-drink cocktails category with the acquisition of Loyal 9 Cocktails, makers of a line of vodka-based canned beverages, from Sons of Liberty Spirits Company. The acquisition will be funded through Diageo’s existing cash resources. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

PepsiCo: Beverages, Frito Lay Fuel Q1 Revenue Gains

PepsiCo reported net revenue growth of 6.8% in Q1 of this year, a figure that “reflects the benefits of (its) highly strategic acquisition activity” and “continued investment in our brands, manufacturing capacity, supply chain and go-to-market systems,” the company reported this morning.

Category Close-Up: Product Showcase – Bottled Water

On this edition of Product Showcase, you’ll hear about the latest product innovations and brand updates from hellowater, GIVN, Richard's Rainwater, FLOW Alkaline Spring Water, Akeso, The Alkaline Water Company, Open Water, TEN Alkaline Water, and ÈSSE.

BODYARMOR: Innovation Fueling Ambitions to Hit $5B Sales Target

Having passed the $1 billion mark, BODYARMOR is aiming to leverage its combination of distribution muscle, marketing prowess and on-trend products to push the brand towards more ambitious targets, including doubling the business over the next three years.

Goldman Sachs: Convenience Retailers Optimistic as Pandemic Outlook Brightens

According to the firm’s latest “Beverage Bytes” survey of retailers representing nearly 30,000 stores nationwide (roughly 20% of the channel), overall beverage sales increased 10% year-over-year in Q1 of 2021, compared to 7% growth in Q4 2020, driven by increased foot traffic from consumers who are steadily returning to old shopping habits.

Retailer Roundup: Bubble Preps New Platform Launch; Court Orders Walmart to Pay $115M

Health food ecommerce retailer BUBBLE Goods announced this week that it has named Savraj Singh, former CTO of Daily Harvest, as chief technology officer, responsible for leading the company’s engineering team and digital platforms; Walmart was ordered to pay $115 million to Texas-based food tech startup Zest Labs after a jury in Arkansas ruled that the retailer was guilty of stealing its shelf-freshness technology.

Category Close-Up: Expert Analysis – Bottled Water

In this episode of Category Close-Up, the panel examined the present and future of the $19 billion-plus bottled water segment, from the business and investment climate to consumer perception around the category to advances in technology that could unlock future purchasing occasions.

DRY Aims to Build ‘Zero-Proof’ Story with Bitters & Soda Launch

For the last 16 years and counting, the Washington-based company has been offering a wide range of fruit and botanical flavored, premium, carbonated soft drinks. But relative to its bigger goals, the brand’s latest innovation — a three-SKU line of bitters & soda in 8.45 oz. glass bottles — represents more than just another choice for consumers on the shelf.

Taste Radio: There Are Millions To Be Made In Niche. Oded Brenner Explains How.

Today’s episode features an interview with Oded Brenner, the founder of both Max Brenner, an international chain of upscale chocolate-centric cafes, and Blue Stripes, a unique brand of food and beverages made from upcycled cacao fruit. Brenner spoke about his unconventional approach to entrepreneurship, why he believes that “there will always be a place for the niche,” why he embraces ideas that would commonly be perceived as mistakes and his definition for the ultimate form of success.

BevNET & NOSH June Events: Virtually Live, Pitch Competitions, Boot Camp

Get ready for June. BevNET and NOSH are cooking up a virtual feast of brand-building content and suspense, including BevNET & NOSH Virtually Live, our signature New Beverage Showdown and NOSH Pitch Slam, and a Boot Camp for new brands that encompasses both Food and Beverage startups.