Combining organic, fair trade cold brew coffee, 200 mg of caffeine and milk, Forto’s shelf-stable shots are positioned to offer a potent energy boost for consumers on-the-go, according to CEO and founder Neel Premkumar.
Trimino co-founder and CEO Peter Dacey, speaking with BevNET at the 2016 edition of the NACS show hosted last week in Atlanta, lauded the brand’s performance over the past year, in which Trimino expanded its retail presence outside of the Northeast and saw volume increase by 400 percent.
Last week BevNET met with dozens of non-alcoholic beverage exhibitors at the National Association of Convenience Stores 2016 show, and most indicated that health and wellness trends continue to have a gradual, yet significant, impact on the way that beverages are sold and marketed in the channel.
Speaking at NACS, Sipp founder and CEO Beth Wilson told BevNET the C-store channel represents an ideal opportunity to address consumers’ demand for better-for-you beverages, specifically via the brand’s can package.
Following an expansion of its distribution partnership with Dr Pepper Snapple Group, High Brew Coffee has solidified its national DSD network and set its sights on doubling its presence in the convenience store channel, according to company founder and CEO David Smith. BevNET spoke with Smith at last week’s NACS 2016 show, where the cold brew coffee company unveiled a new protein-infused variety.
With established footholds at natural and conventional grocery retailers, healthy energy drink maker Hiball has set its sights on expanding distribution in convenience and drug stores. The company recently landed a major deal with CVS and is wading faster and further into the C-store channel.
Speaking with BevNET, Matt DeWitte, vice president of marketing, said the company’s sustainability message and strong social media presence was helping drive growth amid a crowded water set in convenience stores.
At Natural Products Expo East 2016, BevNET spoke with Cham co-founder Niko Nikolaou who discussed the company’s approach to aligning awareness for cold brew coffee with tea, how Cham is educating consumers about health benefits derived from cold brewing tea and why high pressure processing is of critical importance to the brand.
Super-premium dairy alternative brand NüMoo unveiled a revamped label and several innovative line extensions, including an Edamame Soy Milk, at Natural Products Expo East 2016. In an interview with BevNET, NüMoo co-founder Joe Savino said that the updates represent a continued focus on producing nutrient-laden and clean label formulations for plant-based milks.
Having aligned itself with a powerful strategic partner, Secret Squirrel, a Los Angeles-based producer of cold brew coffee, is aiming to make the leap from regional brand to national player in the fast-growing realm of cold brew beverages.
A showcase for emerging and fast-growing beverage trends, Expo East 2016 most prominently featured the continued evolution of cold brew coffee and the swelling ranks of brands participating in the space.
Runa's revamp was a project nearly 18 months in the making, but co-founder Tyler Gage believes that the company, a marketer of guayusa-based tea and energy drinks, finally got it right.
Bolstered by national distribution at Target, Powell and Mahoney pulled in nearly $3.13 million in sales for the 52-week period ending on May 15, up 75.6 percent year-over-year, according to IRI. Co-founder Mark Mahoney attributes swelling growth to rising consumer demand for premium and natural options within the mixer set, along with brand’s focus on high-quality ingredients and its recent innovation with carbonated varieties.
“We think there’s a lot of promise in how you combine these plant-based milks with coffee and then elevate the experience,” Steltenpohl told BevNET. “This is the first time I think it’s all come together in one package.”
