B Sweet Doubles Down on Nitro with New Teas
B Sweet, which added a canned Nitro Cold Brew Matcha Green Tea to its portfolio in recent months, will debut a Nitro Hibiscus Tea at Natural Products Expo West 2017 next week.
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Happy Tree Completes Fundraising Round, Debuts Updated Label
In an interview with BevNET, Happy Tree CFO/COO Will Finkelstein called the new investment a recognition of the company’s potential and “a good validation of our brand and the maple water category” after a year in which the brand expanded to over 400 new retail locations and debuted several new SKUs.
BevNET Podcast Ep. 47: Klocked In — Why Sparking Ice Is Looking for a Stablemate
As part of a wide-ranging interview recorded for this edition of the BevNET Podcast, Talking Rain president and CEO Kevin Klock discussed why the company is now looking at opportunities to acquire brands and how it’s evaluating potential deals in the U.S. and abroad.
Expo West 2017 Preview: Powell & Mahoney Launches Canned Sparkling Mixers
Powell & Mahoney is thinking small. The premium cocktail mixer brand will roll out a new line of 12 oz. canned sparkling mixers drinks at next week’s Natural Products Expo West 2017.
Monster Reports Solid Q4 Sales, Talks “Strategic” Mutant Rollout
Monster Energy surprised analysts Wednesday with its unexpectedly solid Q4 financial results report, which showed the company’s net sales up 16.8 percent from the previous year to $753.8 million
In the Courtroom: Tradewinds Targeted for Natural Claims; Alleged Racial Bias at Coke Bottler
Tradewinds Beverage Co., Sweet Leaf Tea Co. and Nestle Waters North America are facing a lawsuit for allegedly misrepresenting “natural” and “all-natural” claims made on the labels for Tradewinds Iced Teas.
Distill Ventures Delivers Innovation to Diageo
As the CEO of Distill Ventures, the venture capital arm of British spirits conglomerate Diageo, Shilen Patel is always on the lookout for emerging and innovative brands that are ripe for investment.
High Brew Drops Stevia
Based on internal research that found approximately one-third of coffee consumers have an aversion to stevia, High Brew has removed the zero-calorie sweetener from three of its products.
Vega Enters RTD Market with Protein+ Shake
Marketing the new product as a meal replacement, the shelf-stable, non-GMO shakes contain 20g of protein sourced from pea, hemp, and pumpkin seed, vitamins and minerals, 3-4g of fiber, 1g of Omega-3 ALA, and a veggie mix made from leafy greens, green algae, and vegetables.
Gerry David Stepping Down As CEO At Celsius
Over the course of David’s tenure as CEO, Celsius made impressive gains in the fitness beverage category, posting record revenues for five consecutive years and an 18-fold increase in its stock price.
CAGNY 2017: Coke & Pepsi Outline Growth Goals
The Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo embraced expansive and ambitious changes to their product portfolios during presentations to market analysts at the 47th annual Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY) conference.
Starbucks to Shutter Remaining Evolution Fresh Retail Stores
The decision to shutter the stores, which sold freshly prepared juices, snacks and sandwiches on-premise, will allow Starbucks “to sharpen its strategic focus” on Evolution Fresh’s RTD line of cold-pressed, high pressure processed juices, according to a company spokesperson.
Ready to Evolve: Muscle Milk Maker Launches New Plant-Based Protein Platform
CytoSport is expanding its offerings this month with Evolve, a new line of powders, bars and ready-to-drink, shelf-stable shakes made with pea protein.
BevNET Podcast Ep. 46: Why “You’re Your Own Best Salesman”; Protein’s Potential
In this podcast, Michael Schwartz, the co-founder and managing partner of Organic Food Incubator, a shared production facility and resource center for early-stage food and beverage companies, delved into the current landscape for start-up brands in metro New York, discussed top-of-mind ingredient and formulations embraced by entrepreneurs in the region and shared his take on effective sales, retail and distribution strategies for new brand owners.