The ‘Energy Refreshers’ Wave Is Moving From QSRs to CPG
Refreshers, the fruit-forward, functional drinks often with moderate caffeination, is expanding from QSR chains into CPG beverage.
Headlines
Nestlé Acquires Meal Replacement Drink Brand YFood
The deal comes roughly two years after Nestlé acquired a 49% stake in yfood Labs GmbH, which launched in 2017 and sells nutritional supplements in 30 European countries across various formats including bars, powders and “complete meal” drinks.
Marketing: Danny Trejo Has a Baja Blast; Liquid I.V. Swings into Hollywood with Spider-Man
Actor Danny Trejo, best known for playing the titular character in the “Machete” franchise, is now starring in Mountain Dew Baja Blast’s latest national advertising campaign.
Right Coast’s Italian Ice Heats Up as It Adds New Markets, Expands in Trader Joe’s
Right Coast Spirits’ Italian Ice is heating up at Trader Joe's and riding high as in enters its third summer.
How Spade’s ‘Approachable,’ Anti-Functional Modern Soda Landed Walmart
Landing at Walmart, one of the largest retailers to establish “modern soda” as a defined shelf set, has helped validate the brand's thesis that functional claims aren't essential to the category.
Taste Radio: TRUFF’s Founders: ‘The Status Quo Is In All Of Our Hands’
TRUFF built its reputation by breaking the rules. As the company expands beyond its viral hot sauce with a major rebrand, new product lines, and a retail-focused growth strategy. In this episode, co-founders Nick Guillen and Nick Ajluni talk about how they are scaling the business without losing the edge that made it a phenomenon.
Ryl Tea Brings In $20M As Retailers Bet on “Modern Tea Movement”
Ryl Tea has added a $20 million Series C investment to fuel retail and distribution growth in mass and club channels.
Columbia Distributing Makes Strategic Investment in Hayden Beverage in Idaho, Expanding PNW Business
Columbia Distributing and Hayden Beverage are officially teaming up in the Pacific Northwest.
Uncle Nearest Moves Closer To Possible New Ownership
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey is possibly closer to new ownership after its court-appointed receiver announced today he has signed a non-binding letter of intent (LOI) to sell nearly all of the brand’s assets to a Black-owned investment firm.
Kevin Hart Supplement Brand Adds Strategic Investment
Kevin Hart’s protein shake and supplement brand VitaHustle has received an undisclosed equity investment from private equity firm Axum Capital Partners.
Reyes Adds 38M Cases as RNDC Deal Now Complete in 11 Markets
Reyes Beverage Group’s mega deal for 11 RNDC markets closed at the end of business on Friday, adding 38 million cases to its more than 360-million-case business.
BodyArmor Launches FIT Sparkling Sports Drink Line
BodyArmor, the Coca-Cola Company’s premium sports drink brand, is exploring new formats for hydration with BodyArmor FIT, a new caffeinated sparkling sports drink line aiming to broaden the brand’s use occasions for consumers.
Review: This Jous Is Worth the Squeeze
JOUS enters the hydration category with a product that sits somewhere between a juice drink and a sports drink, combining 45% juice with added magnesium and sea salt for a more functional positioning.
Taste Radio: Why Más+ Failed — And Why Patrón Continues To Win
Lionel Messi is a global sports icon and had a deep-pocketed strategic partner at his side. So why did his sports drink brand Más+ fail? The hosts break it down and also discuss how protein snack brand Wilde is turning heads with a new take on a cheesy cracker. Plus, Patrón’s Roberto Núñez & David Rodriguez reveal how the leading tequila maker scaled globally without sacrificing its handcrafted roots.