Headlines

Reed’s: Strong Virgil’s Sales Drive Q1 Growth

The company generated $8.4 million in net sales during the first quarter, up 2% from 2018. Sales of the core Reed’s Ginger Beer line were up 15% while craft soda Virgil’s grew 46%. Gross profit increased 9% to $2.5 million and gross margin increased 185 basis points to 30%.

Elevator Talk: Bhoomi Aims to Redefine Sugar Cane Juice in the Western Market

Arpit Bhopalkar is the co-founder and CEO of Bhoomi, a mission-based brand that makes cold-pressed sugar cane beverages. The company hopes to change consumers’ perception of sugar cane and it’s health benefits, while supporting minority farmers in the U.S. and focusing on sustainability.

Taste Radio Ep. 162: How This Boozy Booch Got Ahead of a Hot Trend

Better-for-you booze? It may sound like an oxymoron, but a growing cohort of healthier alcoholic beverages have been finding a receptive audience in recent years. That’s certainly the case for Boochcraft, a three-year-old hard kombucha brand that’s made waves in its home market of Southern California.

Hälsa Drinkable Yogurts Aim for Plant-Based “Next Level”

With the proliferation of brands entering the oat-based category, establishing a point of difference can be difficult -- but oat-based drinkable yogurt maker Hälsa (formerly Simpli) is aiming to create space for itself by highlighting its nutritional content and ultra-clean production process.

New Age: Morinda Merger Fuels Triple Digit Q1 Growth

After spending much of last year restructuring and rebranding its beverage product portfolio -- alongside a December merger with CPG wellness company Morinda -- New Age Beverages Corporation reported triple-digit growth in the first quarter of this year, according to an earnings report released Friday.

Monster vs. VPX: Dutch Court Case Results in Partial Judgement

According to documents from Amsterdam District Court in The Netherlands shared by Monster last night, the energy drink maker’s Dublin-based European subsidiary, Monster Energy Limited, has received a partial judgement in its complaint against Bang B.V., which markets and sells VPX’s Bang energy drink in Holland.

Taste Radio Insider Ep. 33: Whether It’s Food or Apparel, Patagonia Starts With a Problem

In this episode, Patagonia Provisions managing director Birgit Cameron spoke about the origins and development of the brand, a food and beverage offshoot of outdoor apparel giant Patagonia. She also discussed the opportunities and challenges of being aligned with its parent company and why its uncommon innovation strategy is critical to its overarching mission.

KDP: Headwinds From Allied Brands Blunt Solid Q1

Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) reported a net sales increase of 2.5% for the first quarter of 2019, remaining on track to hit its long-term growth targets despite taking a hit in packaged beverages. All four segments of KDP’s business — Packaged beverages, Beverage Concentrates, Latin American Beverage and Coffee Systems — registered an increase in underlying net sales.

Cannabis Shot Startup K-Zen Lands $5M in Seed Funding

Underscoring the momentum behind the nascent cannabis beverage category, San Francisco-based startup K-Zen Beverages yesterday announced it has secured $5 million in seed funding from venture capital group DCM prior to its projected launch this summer.

Bare Bucha and Stout Tanks Announce New Kombucha Fermentation Tech

Seeking to help kombucha brands deliver a consistently non-alcoholic product, Bare Bucha and Stout Tanks have partnered to create new technology they say will not only cut fermentation time in half, but also keep alcohol levels below the 0.5% ABV legal threshold without pasteurization, dilution, or microfiltration.