New on FBU: What Drives Consumer Shopping Decisions?
In its recently released “The Why Behind the Buy” report, Acosta Sales and Marketing examines what drives consumers when they shop.
Headlines
Race, Ethnicity, and Natural Food
“You know, I’ve never thought about that question before.” That’s what I’ve been hearing almost exclusively lately when I ask whether there’s anything alarming about the lack of racial and ethnic diversity that I found remarkably easy to observe at Natural Products Expo West.
New Honest Tea Product Goes Nationwide in Wendy’s
A new national presence at Wendy’s, one of the country’s largest fast food chains, hits on two areas of focus for the organic tea brand: rapid growth of its foodservice business and the continuation of a company goal to “democratize organics” by making such products available to as many Americans as possible.
The State of Sweet
The sweetener industry would like you to understand that corn syrup isn’t dead. It sees marketers and retailers who have been rushing to swap HFCS from products as following a fad, and not getting a good overall picture of consumer behavior.
Press Clips: MBA Meets HPP; ABA Takes to Vermont
Fortune recently profiled Lumi Organics founder and CEO Hillary Lewis, who left a career in finance on Wall Street to make high-pressure-processed juice in Charlottesville, Virginia.
A Natural Progression: Coconut Water Shuffles the Flavor Deck
In a category loaded with flavored line extensions, the original, or “natural,” format remains the best-selling variety for most brands. But as flavor innovation and blending techniques improve, the focus is on new products with mainstream and familiar flavors.
Spotlight Category: Canned Juice Drinks
The canned juice category has received a shot in the arm through innovation and crossover products. Mountain Dew and V8 have caffeinated the category with Kickstart and V-Fusion, Pellegrino has revamped its products in cans and broadened the line, and FOCO has brought coconut water.
Putting the Pea in Protein
While soy, long the go-to alternative to animal-based protein, is falling out of favor with many of today’s increasingly health-conscious consumers, peas have emerged as the trending plant-based protein source du jour.
Popkin Out at Vita Coco
Vita Coco today announced the news in a press release, which added that company co-founder and CEO Michael Kirban would take on Popkin's responsibilities and serve as interim president.
Distribution Roundup: Celsius Gets Gains at Gold’s Gym; Tio Gazpacho Hits NYC
A week before announcing a $15.95 million investment round (one that included funding from Russell Simmons, Kimora Lee Simmons, and Asia’s richest man La Ka Shing), Celsius announced new distribution in Gold’s Gym Fitness Centers.
PepsiCo to Remove Aspartame from Diet Pepsi Products
The company announced the news today, revealing that the aspartame-free versions of Diet Pepsi, Caffeine Free Diet Pepsi, and Wild Cherry Diet Pepsi are slated to hit shelves in August.
Red Bull Editions Shine in IRI New Product Pacesetter Report
Red Bull Editions were a big winner in the convenience store channel, where the products racked up $238.9 million in year-one dollar sales.
AriZona Iced Tea Co-Founders Settle Longstanding Dispute
Domenick Vultaggio and John Ferolito have reached a settlement in what has been an eight-year long dispute over the value of the company they founded together in 1992.
Press Clips: Soda Giants Tea Off; Resqwater Survives Coachella
Soda rivalries aside, the battle for control of the ready-to-drink tea category is beginning to brew over.