Headlines

Coke, Pepsi, ABA Join Forces to Fight NYC Anti-Soft Drink Ads

Beverage industry’s top soda manufacturers are having a Howard Beale moment. Tired and frustrated by New York City’s longstanding ad campaign linking soft drinks to obesity, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are mad as hell, and they’re not going to take it anymore! Now, Coke and Pepsi are working with the ABA to roll out a new ad campaign in NYC that touts new lower-calorie beverages and smaller package sizes to show that industry is doing its part in the fight against obesity.

Campbell Launches V8 V-Fusion Sparkling Drinks

Melding consumer demand for healthier beverage options and a rising tide for sparkling juice drinks, Campbell Soup has introduced new carbonated varieties for its V8 V-Fusion line. V8 V-Fusion Sparkling drinks contain one 50 calorie serving of fruits and vegetables with no added sugar, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.

Joia Announces New Distribution Agreement with The Fresh Market

Joia, a line of all-natural, mixologist-inspired sodas, is now distributed at The Fresh Market. Joia, a Best of BevNET 2011 winner, produces a number of distinctive flavors such as Lime, Hibiscus and Clove. Since its debut in 2011, the line of sodas had been primarily sold in the Minneapolis area, where the drinks are produced, though Joia will now look to dramatically increase distribution with The Fresh Market, with its 115 locations in 21 states.

Former Pepsi Beverages CEO Eric Foss Lands New Role at ARAMARK

Eric Foss, the former CEO of Pepsi Beverages Company (PBC), has joined ARMARK as the company's CEO and President. Foss spent 30 years at PepsiCo culminating in his role as CEO of PBC in which he helped guide the consolidation of the company's two largest bottlers, Pepsi Bottling Group and Pepsi Americas, into PepsiCo. Foss joins ARAMARK, a privately held food-services and facilities-management conglomerate, effective immediately.

Bolthouse in Play, According to Bloomberg News

Wm. Bolthouse Farms, one of the country's largest independent beverage makers -- and a strong competitor to PepsiCo's Naked Juice company -- is up for sale, according to a recent report from Bloomberg News.

Update on Body Armor Lawsuit: Lance Collins Responds

It didn't take long to get a reply from Body Armor founder Lance Collins on some of the allegations in at trademark infringement suit filed against Body Armor by the folks at the athletic clothing company Under Armour, which we wrote about on Friday. Note that Collins, who is an attorney, has been extremely nimble in the realm of beverage trademarks and rather outspoken on the topic when it comes to giving advice to future beverage entrepreneurs.

Under Armour vs. Body Armor

While we haven't been able to reach out to founder Lance Collins about the trademark infringement lawsuit filed against him and his new brand, Body Armor, by well-established athletic clothing brand Under Armour, the suit itself does offer some awesome insight into brand building itself.

Energy Drink Companies Too Hot to Buy, Sez NY Post

Monday's speculation that the Coca-Cola Co., Inc., was possibly taking a swing at acquiring Monster Energy sent the New York Post off in search of further energy drink company speculation. What it came away with was something else entirely, however -- an analysis that both Monster and its fierce competitor, Rockstar, might be too racy to be purchased by any of the big beverage companies.

Nooyi: We’re About “Total Liquid Refreshment”

Pepsi's half-billion advertising push should take about two years to work, according to an article in the Financial Times. If it does, according to CEO Indra Nooyi, the company will be as well known for the "total liquid refreshment market" instead of the CSD competition known known colloquially as the "cola wars."

Morgan Stanley: Cott Delivers a Beat

Cott shares beat both Wall Street's and investment bank Morgan Stanley's quarterly earnings forecast yesterday by a wide margin on better than expected gross margins. The private-label soft drink maker also announced a $35 million share repurchase program over the next year.

BevNET TV: A Visit with Richard Tait of Golazo

As soccer has edged closer to the kind of mainstream acceptance that – in the U.S. - has been elusive for so many decades, Golazo, a line of all-natural energy and sports drinks targeted to the soccer community, is hoping to tap into growing interest and enthusiasm for the sport.

WSJ: Coke in Talks to Acquire Monster Beverage

Breaking news as the Wall Street Journal has reported that Coca-Cola is in talks to buy Monster Beverage. The energy drink giant has a market capitalization of more than $11 billion and would be the largest brand acquisition for Coke. Shares of Monster Beverage have skyrocketed on the news, fluctuating between $75 and $79 per share.