Reviews: Halfday Does Half & Half; Starbucks Returns to Energy; La Colombe S’mores
We try La Colombe's indulgent draft latte, prebiotic iced tea Halfday's take on an Arnold Palmer, and Starbucks' return to energy drinks (again).
News
Distribution Roundup: Elmhurst Innovates Into Whole Foods; Culture Pop to Target
Plant-based milk brand Elmhurst 1925 is launching its three latest innovations into Whole Foods Market stores across the country; It’s been a big week for probiotic soda brand Culture Pop: along with a $15 million investment, it’s going nationwide with Target.
“We Had To Create Our Own Way”: A Drink With…Brittany Yeng, Co-Founder of Skrewball
A chemist, turned attorney, turned unlikely spirits brand owner, Skrewball co-founder Brittany Yeng has walked an unconventional path towards her current role spearheading one of the fastest market rollouts in spirits history.
Taste Radio: 60 Startups. $7 Million. How Ignite20 Is Funding The Future Of CPG.
Ignite20 isn’t just cutting checks. The new $7 million venture capital fund and hybrid accelerator is lighting a fire under the next wave of CPG innovators. Gabriela Morales, Ignite20’s co-founder and managing director, talks about how the fund is rethinking early-stage investing.
Levia Seltzer Co-Founder to Lead New Infused Bev Firm
Levia Seltzer co-founder Troy Brosnan is joining Rhode Island-based cannabis and hemp processor Monarch Emulsions to launch Monarch Beverage, a vertically integrated turnkey service provider.
Sweet Deal: No Cap! Partners With Candy Maker Albanese
Upstart soda brand No Cap has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with family-owned candy maker Albanese Confectionary Group to bring that company’s popular gummy flavors to its lineup of zero-sugar modern sodas.
Ryl Tea Plans for 4X ‘Hyper-Growth’ Fueled By $15M Funding Round
The Ryl Company, maker of functional canned beverage brand Ryl Tea, has closed a $15 million funding round as it looks to accelerate into “hyper-growth” and increase its retail footprint 4x this year.
Culture Pop Lands $15M To ‘Close The Gap’ In Modern Soda
Culture Pop has raised over $15 million, boosting marketing and expanding distribution as competition in the modern soda category heats up.
Molson Coors CEO Gavin Hattersley to Retire
Molson Coors announced today that Hattersley informed the board of directors on Saturday (April 12) of his plans to retire as CEO and abdicate his board seat, effective December 31.
Despite Economic Uncertainty, Consumers Still Prioritizing On-Premise Visits, Per CGA
Half of consumers went out for a drink in March, and on-premise visitations aren’t expected to slow down despite economic uncertainty, according to NIQ’s on-premise marketing research arm CGA.
Daily Briefing (Insiders Only): OWYN’s Protein Maxes Out, Atkins Drops
Rising interest in protein drinks, coupled with new innovation, helped Quest and OWYN (Only What You Need) offset the faltering Atkins brand for parent company The Simply Good Foods Company (SGFC) during the second quarter.
New Products: ITO EN Gets with Ohtani and Poppi’s Alpine Extension
The weather is warming up and innovation is heating up. This week’s new products feature a bevy of coffee innovations from Bones, Pop & Bottle, Community Coffee and Trade, as well as citrus soda launches from Mountain Dew and Poppi, and an All-Star collaboration between ITO EN and L.A. Dodgers phenom Shohei Ohtani.
Taste Radio: The M&A Train Keeps Rolling. And, How ‘Jovi’s Hampton Water Got Hot.
Is 2025 the year of the acquisition? The hosts highlight two more headline-grabbing deals announced over the past week: Hershey’s $750M purchase of BFY snack maker LesserEvil and the sale of watermelon water brand Mela to King Juice. We also speak with Jesse Bongiovi, who alongside rockstar father Jon Bon Jovi co-founded Hampton Water Wine, a rosé brand that’s taken the industry by storm.
Marketing: Halfday’s PTO PSA; Celsius’ Vibe House
Looking for an incentive to use your accrued PTO? Well, Halfday has you covered. The canned iced tea maker is encouraging consumers to “take a half day on us” with its newest ad campaign, giving cash to 100 people to make the most of their unused PTO.