In the face of growing competition from their rivals, Nestle and Coca-Cola have agreed to end their Nestea iced tea venture after 16 years, according to an article in Fortune.
In this edition of the BevNET Podcast, we’re joined by prominent food and beverage attorney Nick Giannuzzi. The founder and managing partner of the The Giannuzzi Group, he has for over a decade provided legal representation to hundreds of small to mid-sized CPG companies and been involved in the biggest M&A deals in the space.
While Farmhouse most recently closed another round of funding in summer 2016, the brand decided to look for more capital to grow the company and increase the pace at which it scales.
Natural beverage maker Califia Farms has for the first time entered the organic drink market with the launch of Homestyle Nutmilks. The drinks will debut this week at Natural Products Expo West 2017, where Califia will also introduce a restaging of its protein beverages, two additions to its Almondmilk line and a new multi-serve offering for its Pure Black cold brew coffee.
In an e-mail to BevNET, Jordan Gaspar, co-founder and managing partner at AccelFoods, said that the move represented an evolution of the fund to better serve the specific needs of each company and its founders.
The Good Food Institute, which focuses on the growth of plant-based and cultured “clean” protein and dairy products and businesses, submitted last week a citizen petition to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which calls for the agency to allow alternative beverages to continue using the term “milk."
We’ve compiled a handy and easy way for attendees to navigate the 350+ beverage-related exhibitors at the show. Our printable Expo West 2017 Show Planner lists companies both alphabetically and by booth number.
In a major step intended to further its commitment toward simple ingredients and transparency, Spindrift has removed all natural flavors and essences from its sparkling waters and will discontinue its soda line. Spindrift founder and CEO Bill Creelman called the moves “belief decisions” that address growing consumer concerns about added flavors and sugar.
Last week Tim Brown stepped down as the CEO of Nestlé Waters North America (NWNA), and today was named president and chief operating officer of Greek yogurt giant Chobani. He starts in his new position at the privately-owned company on March 20, reporting directly to Chobani founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya.
Last year when KarpReilly purchased Zola, the new owners began rigorous rebranding project that became known internally as “Zola 2.0." With a new team, new packaging, and new innovation, the coconut water and acai juice company is ready to reveal the first stage of its makeover at the 2017 Natural Products Expo West.
The strategic initiative is intended to support a planned expansion of its production plant. The San Francisco-based company is currently working with two early-stage, non-competing brands and is looking for more, said CEO and co-founder Alison Zarrow.
B Sweet, which added a canned Nitro Cold Brew Matcha Green Tea to its portfolio in recent months, will debut a Nitro Hibiscus Tea at Natural Products Expo West 2017 next week.
In an interview with BevNET, Happy Tree CFO/COO Will Finkelstein called the new investment a recognition of the company’s potential and “a good validation of our brand and the maple water category” after a year in which the brand expanded to over 400 new retail locations and debuted several new SKUs.
As part of a wide-ranging interview recorded for this edition of the BevNET Podcast, Talking Rain president and CEO Kevin Klock discussed why the company is now looking at opportunities to acquire brands and how it’s evaluating potential deals in the U.S. and abroad.
