Headlines

California-based Health-Ade Kombucha is preparing for a “full-on offensive court press” this summer with the launch of six new flavors and new 4-packs of 8 oz. glass bottles.

After less than a year on the market, Bend, Ore.-based coffee maker Riff Cold Brewed is expanding its brand platform with a new line of Sparkling Superfruit Teas made from dried cascara, which will launch next week at Natural Products Expo West 2019 in Anaheim, Calif.

California-based Positive Beverage has partnered with beverage incubator L.A. Libations to fast-track the brand’s retail expansion. Launched in 2015, Positive markets a line of electrolyte-infused sparkling drinks.

Having already backed brands making everything from pancakes to popcorn, Boulder Food Group (BFG) is ready to deepen its roots investing in the next generation of emerging consumer brands. The investment group announced today the close of its second fund, at roughly $100 million.

In a saturated beverage market, consumers are increasingly seeking products that offer more than just good flavor and appealing packaging.

Even as flavored water continues to be among the fastest growing beverage categories in the U.S., aguas frescas haven’t quite been able to enjoy the same success, despite repeated attempts by some of the industry’s biggest manufacturers to crack the market with a ready-to-drink product. Yet after years of fits and starts, that could be in the process of changing.

From fast rising functional ingredients to declines in dairy, BevNET reached out to a group of suppliers, brands and industry experts to get their insights as to where the market for ingredients and flavors in beverage will be going in 2019.

Sunny Delight Beverages Co. won a class action lawsuit that claimed that labelling for the brand’s fruit-flavored drinks did not clearly indicate the products were artificially flavored; Capri Sun sues manufacturer for breach of contract; Connecticut mulls its own soda tax.