Reviews: New Branding, Flavors for Mockly & Huxley Energy
Mockly and Huxley? Sounds like they could be related, and in a way, they are: both the drinks in this week's reviews roundup are sporting freshly revamped branding.
Headlines
Taste Radio: Why We Need Pepsi Prebiotic… And Protein Marshmallows
Prebiotic cola, plant-based (and AI-inspired?) pulled chicken and protein-packed marshmallows. The hosts crack open Pepsi’s new prebiotic cola and discuss whether a stevia-sweetened “functional” soda can win over classic cola fans. They also dig into Just Meat’s big win at Walmart and what it says about the future of meat analogs, and why protein marshmallows might actually work in your next s’more.
Marketing: Caliwater Teams with Sacramento Kings; Stiller’s Is ‘Making Soda Sexy’
Cactus water brand Caliwater has inked a partnership with the Sacramento Kings and Golden 1 Center for the 2025-2026 NBA season.
Spirit Brands Preach Pivot from CPG Marketing Playbook
If you’re a spirits company taking its marketing cues from CPG, you may be doing it wrong.
Chlorophyll Water Seeking ‘Low Seven-Figure’ Round to Scale Into Aluminum, Walmart
Functional beverage Chlorophyll Water is raising its first institutional round as it unveils an aluminum can format and prepares to enter Walmart.
More Than Skin Deep: Inside the Mainstreaming of Ingestible Beauty
As the lines continue to blur between beauty and wellness, ingestible beauty, or “beauty-from-within,” products – particularly in powdered and ready-to-drink beverage formats – are gaining significant traction with consumers, proving that skincare is more than skin deep.
Monogram Capital Closes New $350M Fund
Monogram Capital Partners closed an oversubscribed $350 million Fund III last week, which will expand its investment team and operating partner program.
Can Creatine Be The Next Big Thing In Functional Beverage?
Creatine is quickly becoming the next big functional beverage ingredient thanks to innovation in micro-encapsulation technology.
Quince Now Selling Food & Wine, Expanding Affordable Luxury
Online retailer Quince is now selling food and wine, as it begins building a curated set of premium, giftable products from specialty producers, global brands and more.
CGA: Feelings Fuel On-Premise Choices Except For RTDs
A new report from market research firm CGA shows that consumers are motivated to try ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails by deals over a mood or occasion when drinking on-premise.
New Products: Holiday Creamers from Too Good and Coffee mate Get Magical
In this week’s new products gallery we cover a Harry Potter collaboration with Coffee mate, new launches from Too Good & Co. and Pop & Bottle, as well as other non-coffee innovations.
A Drink With… Katie Cooper, Co-Founder of Cooper Spirits
It would be hard to find someone working in the spirits industry that hasn’t heard of St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur, the liqueur used so wildly it earned the moniker ‘bartender’s ketchup.’
Taste Radio: Two Brands, One Win. What Makes Collaborations Work?
Brand collaborations are becoming one of the most effective growth levers in CPG. In this episode, the team breaks down why co-branded products are becoming a core strategy for food and beverage brands, what separates meaningful partnerships from gimmicks, and how leaders like Grillo’s, Fly By Jing, Graza, and Liquid Death are using them to drive awareness, trial, and category expansion.
Proxies Acquires Avec’s Assets for Upcoming Mocktail Launch
Adult non-alc beverage brand Proxies has acquired the assets of defunct mocktail maker Avec, with plans to use its recipes for a new canned drinks line slated to launch early next year.