In this episode of Category Close-Up, the panel examined the present and future of the $19 billion-plus bottled water segment, from the business and investment climate to consumer perception around the category to advances in technology that could unlock future purchasing occasions.
For the last 16 years and counting, the Washington-based company has been offering a wide range of fruit and botanical flavored, premium, carbonated soft drinks. But relative to its bigger goals, the brand’s latest innovation — a three-SKU line of bitters & soda in 8.45 oz. glass bottles — represents more than just another choice for consumers on the shelf.
Today’s episode features an interview with Oded Brenner, the founder of both Max Brenner, an international chain of upscale chocolate-centric cafes, and Blue Stripes, a unique brand of food and beverages made from upcycled cacao fruit. Brenner spoke about his unconventional approach to entrepreneurship, why he believes that “there will always be a place for the niche,” why he embraces ideas that would commonly be perceived as mistakes and his definition for the ultimate form of success.
Get ready for June. BevNET and NOSH are cooking up a virtual feast of brand-building content and suspense, including BevNET & NOSH Virtually Live, our signature New Beverage Showdown and NOSH Pitch Slam, and a Boot Camp for new brands that encompasses both Food and Beverage startups.
California-based hemp milk maker UFO announced this month that it has opened a new 7,000 sq ft. co-packing facility, owned by a local SoCal brewery, ahead of a distribution expansion this year; Hemp extract-infused mocktail maker Proposition Cocktail Co. announced that it has partnered with Urban Outfitters for online sales, increasing the California-based brand’s nationwide presence.
Molecular alcohol maker Endless West has secured new capital in the form of a $21 million Series B round that is set to fuel the brand’s R&D and product design ambitions, the company announced last week.
Powdered beverage maker MANTRA Labs announced this month that it has closed a $1.5 million seed round, intended to help the company expand its around-the-clock health and wellness platform brand.
Powdered hydration beverage maker Nuun is continuing to build out its suite of functional products with its latest line extension, Nuun Energy. The dissolvable tablets contain a blend of 80 mg of caffeine sourced from organic green tea extract, Vitamins B5, B6 and B12, ginseng and electrolytes for hydration.
Former juice brand Forager Project this week announced it would launch plant-based ice cream — the next step in the company’s goal to become a plant-based “creamery.” The ice cream will debut in five flavors: Vanilla Bean, Bittersweet Chocolate, Cookies and Cream, Salted Caramel and Mint Chip, the line will be available nationwide this Spring.
Target is committing over $2 billion towards supporting Black-owned businesses through the end of 2025, the retailer announced today, as part of a broader effort to use its “size, scale and resources to create opportunity” for those companies.
Last week condiment and beverage brand Acid League announced it had closed $4.75 million in funding — capital the brand says will help it expand its omnichannel sales and marketing strategy as well as continue the company’s push into new categories.
Non-alcoholic beverage sales saw mixed year-over-year results for the period ending March 27 as the industry passes the one-year anniversary of COVID-induced pantry loading, according to an analysis of Nielsen data by Goldman Sachs Equity Research.
The latest Office Hours deals with the strategic use of fractional executives, including ways to develop trust, keep communication top-of-mind, and thoughts on the transition of roles as companies grow into larger armies.
The idea of drinking “Pickle Juice” may raise a lot of people’s eyebrows, and it’s a reaction The Pickle Juice Company is no stranger to. But as consumer awareness around the functional benefits of organic pickle juice-based drinks grows, the Texas-based beverage company is rapidly transforming to a broad-platform, international brand.
