Headlines

Distribution Roundup: Big Geyser Signs blk., Reed’s Heads to Airports

Used to be that if your water was black, you had to call a mechanic. These days, black water could soon be trendy. At least, that’s the hope of Big Geyser, a renowned non-alcoholic beverage distributor in New York, which on Tuesday announced that it will distribute blk. Beverages, an Oakland, N.J.-based company that markets a fulvic acid-enhanced mineral water colored black.

Multi-Layered Strategy Catalyzes Celsius

In the past few years, Celsius CEO Gerry David and lead investor Carl DeSantis have sharpened the company’s strategy by focusing on sales of its single-serve cans, six specific U.S. markets, international sales and digital marketing. Results from the company’s fourth-quarter earnings report indicate that the multi-layered strategy continues to catalyze a brand not far removed from a nosedive.

KonaRed Enters $12 Million Purchase Agreement With Chicago-Based Investor

The investment follows a busy few months for KonaRed, including the announcement on Tuesday of its partnership with VDF FutureCeuticals, Inc. The partnership settles a long-standing patent infringement lawsuit between Sandwich Isles Trading Company, the maker of KonaRed’s coffee fruit beverages, and VDF, which alleged that KonaRed had violated coffee fruit production methods and technologies marketed by VDF.

Coke Acquires 10 Percent Stake in Green Mountain Coffee; Will Launch Pod-Based Product Line in 2015

The Coca-Cola Co. has agreed to acquire a 10 percent minority stake in Green Mountain Roasters, maker of the popular Keurig Single Cup brewing system, for $1.25 billion, according to a joint statement. As part of the deal, Coke and Green Mountain have signed a 10-year exclusive arrangement in which the cola giant will launch a Coke-branded line of pod-based, single-serve beverages for use in the Green Mountain's forthcoming Keurig Cold at-home beverage system.

BevNET FBU’s Supplier Finder – An Essential Resource for All Food & Beverage Companies

Featuring dozens of industry-leading service vendors and suppliers, ranging from ingredient companies and co-packers to legal and marketing consultants, BevNET FBU’s Supplier Finder is an exceptional resource for new and existing companies. Presented in a easy to navigate format, the Supplier Finder contains listings and contact information of vendors from all parts of the country, enabling users to quickly and efficiently find the best suppliers for their needs.

Press Clips: Coke’s Super Bowl Ad Elicits Bigotry

Around Super Bowl season, perhaps the only thing that can match America's gorging of slop is the disgorging of American opinions. These opinions, of course, most commonly have nothing to do with football and everything to do with the ads, which are either shockingly bad or create responses that are shockingly bad. Sometimes both. It's fun.

blk. Signs Distribution Agreement With Big Geyser

In a joint release, the companies announced Tuesday a partnership that will take all blk. products into the five boroughs of New York City, as well as Westchester, Long Island, Nassau and Suffolk counties in New York.

Alt-Dairy: Obstacles to Change

While it’s true that entrepreneurial beverage companies have taken encouraging steps in the dairy aisle, it continues to be a challenging place for emerging brands to find a shelf placement. There just might be more challenges than opportunities.

Got Other Milk?

Beverage companies continue to form novel takes on dairy products and consumers translate their interest into acquisition. By adapting to the demand for nutrition, versatility of occasion and portability, alternative dairy brands have made headway in a former no-fly zone.

Distribution Roundup: Rooibee Red Tea Expands Presence Across U.S., Reed’s Partners With FreshDirect

Rooibee Red Tea, which markets a line of USDA-organic, ready-to-drink red tea made from the South African rooibos bush, announced Thursday that it has expanded its presence on both coasts and the South. The tea will be available in Whole Foods stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Washington D.C. at the start of 2014, Publix stores in Florida, Georgia and Alabama, and Bristol Farms and Nugget Markets in California.

Starbucks Shuffles Executive Team; CEO Schultz to Focus on Digital, Mobile

Starbucks yesterday announced significant changes to its executive leadership team, including an expanded role for CEO Howard Schultz in the company’s "next generation retailing and payments initiatives,” according to a statement. Starbucks CFO Troy Alstead has been promoted to chief operating officer, a newly created role in which he will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company.

Kombucha Crossover

Health-Ade announced Wednesday that it has added Christine Perich, the CFO and COO at New Belgium Brewing Company, Inc., to its board of directors. Perich began working at the Fort Collins, Colo.-based brewery in 2000 and will continue to do so. Slekys Trout credited Perich’s vast experience and ability to troubleshoot the abundance of difficulties faced by an ambitious kombucha company.

SodaStream Partners With Welch’s Amid Recent Setbacks

The trendy at-home soda kit company announced Wednesday morning that it will work with Welch’s to launch a line of sparkling drink concentrates that will be developed exclusively for SodaStream’s home beverage carbonation system. The products are expected to be available in the U.S. during the second half of 2014.