Headlines

Lemon Perfect: New CEO Says Scaling Top Priority as Brand Looks to ‘Go Anywhere’

Earlier this month, Lemon Perfect named former Mast-Jägermeister US head Jeff Popkin as its CEO, marking the first chief executive move at the enhanced water startup since it was founded in 2017. A month into the role, Popkin says his priority is to scale a brand he believes has the ability to “go anywhere” from c-stores to golf shops.

Taste Radio: Spiderman & ‘Saints’ Are Top Of Mind. One Was Chased By Sharks.

The hosts chat about actor Tom Holland’s foray into CPG with NA beer Bero, before riffing on an enlightening collaboration between an up-and-coming wine company and personal care brand. We also feature an interview with Megan Klein, the founder and CEO of Little Saints, an innovative brand of non-alcoholic cocktails infused with functional mushrooms, who recently appeared on “Shark Tank.”

New Products: Stok Gets Energized, V8 Joins Grillo’s for Brunch

In this week’s new products roundup, cold brew maker Stok makes its first foray into the energy drink space, V8 and Grillo’s join forces to shake up a classic brunch cocktail and Sprite spices up its portfolio with the return of a winter seasonal.

TRIP Teams with Calm on Co-Branded ‘Mindful Blend’ Drink

U.K.-based functional beverage maker TRIP is teaming up with consumer mental health company Calm on a new co-branded product intended to promote relaxation and mental well-being. The collaboration is timed to fuel an expansion of TRIP’s Mindful Blend collection in U.S. retailers.

KDP: RTD Beverages Grow, But Coffee Hampers Q3 Performance

Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) today posted a 2.3% year-over-year increase in net sales to $3.89 billion in Q3, fueled by segment growth in U.S. refreshment beverages and international markets that was weighed down by a continued decline in U.S. coffee sales.

Mateína Launches Powdered Yerba Sticks, Extends U.S. Business

Mateína, the Canadian yerba mate maker backed by podcaster and health influencer Andrew Huberman, is looking to bring more on-the-go convenience to the energizing tea segment with the online launch of a new line of powdered Yerba Sticks this month online.

Keurig Dr Pepper To Acquire GHOST, Expanding Energy Business

Keurig Dr Pepper has agreed terms to acquire energy drink and sports nutrition business GHOST, bringing one of the category’s fastest growing brands into its expanding energy portfolio.

Taste Radio: How Biena’s Bold Decisions Yielded Big Dividends

Poorvia Patodia, the founder and CEO of pioneering chickpea snack brand Biena, talks about how a “build to win” philosophy influenced key decisions during a challenging period. She also defines and explains the value of “true differentiation” and shares her take on when founders should raise capital and how to identify distributors with aligned values.

NACS: Chobani’s Prolific Protein Portfolio Growing

Chobani is putting on some muscle, in more ways than one. It may be a crowded space, but like La Colombe with coffee, Chobani believes the core proposition of its protein drinks is particularly compelling, ticking boxes for no added sugar, natural ingredients and high-quality casein protein.

Taste Radio: Is The U.K. Ahead Of The Curve On F&B Trends?

How do U.K. CPG brands compare to their U.S. counterparts? On the ground in London, the hosts discuss their experience at last week’s Cheers! The Drinks Summit event and highlight innovative snacks and beverages they encountered at visits to local retail chains and specialty stores.

Koia Gets Kid-Friendly with Latest Line Launch

Koia is going K-12 with its latest line launch, a new kid-friendly version of its protein shakes in smaller pack sizes. Koia Kids, now available online via Amazon, comes in three flavors: Chocolate Shake, Vanilla Shake and Fruity Cereal.