People Moves: New CEO at Balance Water; Pepsi Vet Joins McD’s
Balance Water names Brian Pear as the company’s new CEO, while McDonald's taps the CMO of Pepsi's Global Nutrition Group for its top marketing role.
Headlines
Press Clips: Pepsi Pulls “Tone-Deaf” Jenner Ad; JAB Acquires Panera In $7B Deal
In Press Clips: PepsiCo has pulled the plug on a major marketing campaign featuring celebrity Kendall Jenner following a hailstorm of criticism about one of its ads. JAB Holding Co. will add another major feather to its cap with the acquisition of fast-casual restaurant Panera Bread.
Expo West 2017: SPINS Recaps Major Trends and Products
Corporate transparency, restorative agriculture and the rise of nut butters as a snack were among several emerging trends from Natural Products Expo West 2017 that were highlighted in a webinar from market research firm SPINS on Thursday.
Wandering Bear Raises $2.4M, Expands Retail Business
The New York-based bag-in-box coffee brand completed a $2.4 million equity funding round this week, giving founders Matt Bachmann and Ben Gordon the capital to tackle expanded distribution and a growing product line.
Veri Soda Shuts Down
Amidst rumors of irreconcilable differences between its co-founders and its Dutch investors, Veri Soda Group shut down operations this past weekend after nearly five years of business.
Processing Leaders Launch New HPP Council
The group’s mission is to advocate for the advancement of HPP as a critical technology in the food and beverage world for processors, brands and consumers.
GIVN Debuts New Labels, Sparkling Water This Spring
GIVN co-founder John Houseal said the revamped packaging aims to distill the multiple call-outs on the previous version down to a simple core message, much of which is represented in the brand name itself.
Runa Hires Galindez as CEO, Gage Takes Role as Chairman
Runa, a maker of guayusa-based teas and energy drinks, has tapped veteran beverage executive Alex Galindez as its new CEO. Galindez, who was most recently the general manager of organic cold-pressed juice brand BluePrint, takes the reins from Runa co-founder Tyler Gage, who has a new role as chairman of the company.
In the Courtroom: Craft Root Beer Maker Battles Monster
Craft root beer maker Thunder Beast faces a trademark infringement suit from Monster Energy, while Unique Beverage Company is hit with class action litigation over allegations its coconut flavored sparkling water is deceiving to consumers
New Age Acquires Coco Libre, Marley Beverage Assets
The acquisition of Maverick Brands and its flagship brand Coco Libre for a combination of cash and shares of common stock in New Age “fills an important gap to complete the Company’s functional beverage portfolio,” according to a press release.
Monster Pushes Back Hydro Launch
Bonnie Herzog, Managing Director of Equity Research at Wells Fargo, wrote in the March 30 edition of the company’s “Beverage Buzz” newsletter that Monster has delayed the launch of Hydro “due to unforeseen production complications.”
Soylent Goes Cyberpunk with A.I. Spokesperson and Dark Web Marketplace
Soylent announced earlier this month a partnership with creative agency Wieden+Kennedy to develop a new tech-centric marketing strategy that appeals to Soylent’s fanbase. The campaign includes the launch of the brand’s new spokesperson “Trish,” an artificially intelligent animated robot “programmed” to educate consumers on the nutrition Soylent can provide.
BevNET Podcast Ep. 51: Ripe Opportunities to Win in Beverage
In this edition, Howard Telford, a senior beverages analyst with market research firm Euromonitor shared his thoughts on pertinent trends affecting new product development as viewed at Expo West and beyond. This podcast also includes a conversation with Michel Boissy, the CEO and co-founder of cold-pressed juice company FreshBev, the maker of the Ripe brand of juices and cocktail mixers.
People Moves: VEB Hires New VP of Marketing; New CEO at Nestlé Waters
Former Coke brand manager Kellam Mattie returns to the company as the new VP of Marketing and Innovation for VEB, while Nestlé elevates Fernando Mercé to CEO of Nestlé Waters North America.