Coffee So Good Blooms From Midwest Roots, Real Ingredient Focus
Launched in 2016, the coffees are formulated with whole, clean label ingredients and come in five varieties, including Lavender Nutte and Cashew Mocha.
Headlines
Chicago Adopts Soda Tax
The one-penny-per-ounce tax on sweetened beverages, which officially goes into effect today, makes Chicago the most populous American city to adopt legislation aimed at steering consumers away from sugary drinks in the name of public health.
Distribution Roundup: Tio Gazpacho Triples Retail Presence
Tio Gazpacho announces it has tripled its distribution footprint over the course of the past two months; Avitae enters CVS Health nationwide; Sweettauk Lemonade adds Gold Coast Distributors and expands with UNFI to add three additional warehouses.
Drake Invests in MatchaBar, Whole Foods Picks Up RTD Line Nationwide
Matcha beverage maker and retailer MatchaBar is nearing completion of a new Series A funding round that includes rap icon Drake as an investor. The $2.5 million round is expected to close within the next few weeks and comes on the heels of a new national distribution deal with Whole Foods.
PE Firm Acquires Calypso Lemonade Maker
Investment firm Mason Wells has acquired Calypso lemonade parent King Juice Company, Inc. for an undisclosed sum, the Milwaukee-based co-packer announced Tuesday.
Aqua ViTea Launches New Kombucha Fountain With Ripe Juice, Plus Vodka
In July, the Vermont-based kombucha brewery debuted Aqua Vodka, an organic vodka made from a distillate created in the kombucha production process, as well as a new self-service draft program that allows users to flavor kombucha with an assortment of cold-pressed juices from Ripe Craft Juice.
People Moves: Brian Krumrei Exits TSG
Krumrei departs the consumer products investment firm, while Moonshine Sweet Tea and Boxed Water each welcome new chief marketing officers.
Zola Launches ‘Hydrating Energy’ Line
As the first shipments of Zola’s new “2.0” packaging roll out to stores, the coconut water and acai beverage maker has launched a new energy drink line as part of a move toward a more comprehensive brand hierarchy.
Video: Humm Kombucha CEO Talks Conventional Path to Mainstream Success
In a presentation at BevNET Live Summer 2017, Humm Kombucha CEO Jaime Danek explained that the brand's approachable taste profile, mainstream flavors, and label design were -- and remain -- keys to its success in conventional retailers.
Taste Radio Ep. 68: Talking Innovative Ventures and Investments with Owl’s Brew’s Jennie Ripps and Pete Speranza of 301INC
Episode 68 of the Taste Radio podcast features interviews with Jennie Ripps, the CEO and co-founder of tea-based cocktail mixer and beer brand Owl’s Brew, Pete Speranza, who is a New Business Development Principal with General Mills’ business development and venture capital arm 301INC, and the latest edition of Elevator Talk with Jason Petrou, the founder of Clean Energy Organics.
Amazon Invests In Growth; Whole Foods Posts Losses
The e-commerce retailer increased net sales by 25 percent to $38 billion for the quarter, but earned less per share then Wall Street was expecting. Amazon SVP and CFO Brian Olsavsky said Q2 year-over-year earning differences were ”driven by investments” in the company’s own technologies like Echo, a ramp-up of its original video business and increased spending on hiring and marketing.
Press Clips: Beverage Execs Ask for Aluminum Tariff Exception
Can and beverage industry leaders ask President Trump to exempt certain types of aluminum from potential tariffs; White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci may be a Juice Press investor; Whole Foods sets a date for shareholders to vote on Amazon deal; Former Tesla engineer creates hangover cure.
VMG Closes New $550M Fund to Invest In Entrepreneurial Brands
This week private equity investment group VMG Partners announced the close of its fourth fund at $550 million, with another $150 million available in a flex-up vehicle. The capital, said VMG Managing Director Wayne Wu, will be invested in emerging, lower middle market companies producing consumable branded goods.
Protein2o Adds Gatorade Vets, $4 Million in New Funding
Protein-infused water brand Protein2O has added two beverage industry veterans to its leadership team and raised $4 million in new funding as it seeks to establish a leadership position in the segment of low-calorie protein beverages.