While it’s true that entrepreneurial beverage companies have taken encouraging steps in the dairy aisle, it continues to be a challenging place for emerging brands to find a shelf placement. There just might be more challenges than opportunities.
Beverage companies continue to form novel takes on dairy products and consumers translate their interest into acquisition. By adapting to the demand for nutrition, versatility of occasion and portability, alternative dairy brands have made headway in a former no-fly zone.
Rooibee Red Tea, which markets a line of USDA-organic, ready-to-drink red tea made from the South African rooibos bush, announced Thursday that it has expanded its presence on both coasts and the South. The tea will be available in Whole Foods stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Washington D.C. at the start of 2014, Publix stores in Florida, Georgia and Alabama, and Bristol Farms and Nugget Markets in California.
Starbucks yesterday announced significant changes to its executive leadership team, including an expanded role for CEO Howard Schultz in the company’s "next generation retailing and payments initiatives,” according to a statement. Starbucks CFO Troy Alstead has been promoted to chief operating officer, a newly created role in which he will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company.
Health-Ade announced Wednesday that it has added Christine Perich, the CFO and COO at New Belgium Brewing Company, Inc., to its board of directors. Perich began working at the Fort Collins, Colo.-based brewery in 2000 and will continue to do so. Slekys Trout credited Perich’s vast experience and ability to troubleshoot the abundance of difficulties faced by an ambitious kombucha company.
The trendy at-home soda kit company announced Wednesday morning that it will work with Welch’s to launch a line of sparkling drink concentrates that will be developed exclusively for SodaStream’s home beverage carbonation system. The products are expected to be available in the U.S. during the second half of 2014.
Extending its platform of full-service recruiting for the beverage industry to the food world, Force Brands has announced its official launch of Food Force, a new division designed to specialize “in hiring strategies and organizational design for food companies,” according to a statement from the company.
Earlier this month, Life Juice founder Ety Salamone landed her biggest and -- for cold-pressed juice -- one of the most noteworthy retailers to date: Target. The brand is now distributed within the retailer’s 390+ PFresh concept stores, where Target sells refrigerated products and fresh produce. It’s a placement that, if successful, may have a significant impact on how Target and other mass retailers view the nascent category and its potential in that channel.
Category leaders Red Bull and Monster have continued to rack up strong sales figures, according to recent reports by analysts with investment banks Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC. The report from Wells Fargo, in particular, cited innovation, marketing increases and less negative press as boons for the category.
Introduced to the U.S. on Jan. 6, 1993, nutrition facts labels have long served as one of the best ways for consumers to monitor their health by what they eat and drink. However, as time passes and the industries progress, the FDA recognizes that an update could further ensure the safety of consumers — the administration’s top priority — and mollify politicians and think tanks.
For the past six years, Q Drinks’ founder Jordan Silbert has taken a slow and careful approach to line extensions, gradually evolving from a single-SKU tonic water to its current lineup, which includes a number of sodas and sparkling fruit drinks, all of which are packaged in glass bottles. Yet, when as massive a retailer as Target comes calling -- and is asking for cans -- Silbert knew that had to make a move and do it fast.
While methods vary, accruing startup capital is a critical step for entrepreneurial food and beverage companies. And whether early-stage financing comes from bank loans, angel investors, crowdfunding or venture capital, the way in which you present your business plan often makes the difference between getting the necessary backing and having to continue your search for funding.
With updated branding, a new plastic package for its carbonated line and an emphasis on wider distribution of its products, Hint is positioning itself for broad growth in 2014. In this video, Hint CEO Kara Goldin discusses the company's approach to marketing and retail strategy amid a sea of competing products, as well as Hint’s widening consumer base and distribution opportunities created by the new PET bottle.
The company aims to focus the plans so that they further support its food and beverage business in Mexico, one of the most appealing markets in Latin America because of its growing middle class and economic growth potential, according to a company release.
