Headlines

PepsiCo Launches “Connected Hydration Platform” for Foodservice

Billed as the next step in the company’s efforts to reduce its PET bottle footprint, PepsiCo today announced the launch of a new internet-connected water cooler system which will debut in June in select workplaces, universities, and hospitality partners.

Distribution Roundup: Soylent Goes Chainwide in Walmart

Meal replacement brand Soylent is now available in all 4,378 U.S. Walmart locations in five SKUs, including four-bottle multipacks; New Age Beverages partners with Hudson News Distributors; Bimble makes CBD play in Northeast region; ICONIC Protein goes nationwide with Whole Foods, adds 800 Target stores.

Taste Radio Insider Ep. 30: The Goal Is To Become a Billion-Dollar Brand

August Vega, the founder and CEO of super-premium nut milk brand MALK, is a “go big or go home” kind of entrepreneur. In an interview included in this episode, she discussed the origins of the brand and why she envisioned MALK becoming a billion-dollar company from the outset. She also explained how MALK has maintained that focus and made strides toward her goal.

Top Takeaways from SPINS’ Expo West Webinar Recap

Plant-based protein, dairy's efforts to regain relevance, and the continued ascent of CBD and hemp were a few of the major trends to emerge from Natural Products Expo West 2019, according to a show recap presented yesterday by market research group SPINS.

Cannabis Investor SOL Global Takes Stake in Jones Soda

SOL Global, an investment firm focused on the cannabis industry, purchased a 9.8% stake in Jones Soda last month, making it the company’s largest stockholder. SOL CEO Brady Cobb said the firm believes Seattle-based Jones is an undervalued company with strong growth potential.

Lance Collins, KDP Partner for Performance Energy Play Adrenaline Shoc

Lance Collins, the veteran beverage entrepreneur who founded NOS and CORE Hydration, is returning to the energy drink space with Adrenaline Shoc, a new “Fitness Enhanced Energy” brand that seeks to seize the momentum in a fast-growing segment of the energy space.

Sweet Leaf Founder Christopher Leaves CAVU

Clayton Christopher, the founder of Sweet Leaf Tea and Deep Eddy Vodka, told BevNET that he’d left an active role within the CAVU organization earlier this year, although he is continuing to work as a board member and advisor to the brands in his portfolio from CAVU’s first two investment pools.

Taste Radio Ep. 158: Why Ignorance Is Underrated According To This Successful Entrepreneur

A serial beverage entrepreneur, Joe Heron’s third act is perhaps his most ambitious. Having founded and successfully sold two brands -- functional drink Nutrisoda and Crispin, a line of premium hard ciders -- Heron is now at the helm of Copper & Kings, a brandy-centric distillery. In our interview, Heron explained why “the number one characteristic of an entrepreneur is stupidity,” and why the company “behaves like an incumbent, not a challenger.”

KDP Bottler Sues BodyArmor for Breach of Contract

The American Bottling Company, a subsidiary of Keurig Dr Pepper, has filed a lawsuit against BodyArmor and its founder and chairman Mike Repole, claiming wrongful termination of its contract after Coke took distribution rights and a minority stake in the brand last August.

Sol-ti Moves to Protect ‘SuperAde’ Trademark

Sol-ti founder and CEO Ryne O’Donnell said the company has sent between two and five cease and desist letters to other companies marketing SuperAdes within the past 18 months, and as many as 10 times within the past two years.

Bolthouse Farms Sold to Butterfly Equity for $510 Million

Los Angeles-based private equity firm Butterfly signed a definitive agreement today to acquire Bolthouse Farms from Campbell Soup Company for $510 million in cash -- roughly $1 billion less than what the soup conglomerate paid when it acquired the brand in 2012.