Until distributors, retailers and consumers try maple water, they often hold expectations that don’t mirror reality. Rudy Quagliuolo, executive VP of Vertical Water, says as much in the embedded video, which was filmed this past weekend at Natural Products Expo West 2014 in Anaheim, Calif.
With news that flavor supplier Senomyx has received regulatory approval for its Sweetmyx product, is PepsiCo closer to a “holy grail” ingredient that CSD companies have long coveted? Yesterday, Senomyx announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been awarded Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status to Sweetmyx, an ingredient said to enhance the flavor profile of reduced-calorie foods and beverages.
When news broke last week of the merger between Safeway and Cerberus Capital Management, the investor group that controls Albertsons, the beverage industry could sense the ripple effects. Among those who were paying attention, the industry’s many tiers understood that the news would significantly alter the retailer landscape in the U.S. However, few reactions had a tone as fatal as that of Jia Lynn Yang, reporter for The Washington Post.
Here’s a math problem for you: if the show floor at Natural Products Expo West 2014 encompassed over 1 million square feet, how big do you think the proverbial elephant in the room (in this case, the Anaheim Convention Center) would have to be? Gargantuan, for sure, and for beverage exhibitors at the event, it was clear that the mammoth in the room is known as Whole Foods. The clout and sway of the natural grocer was in full display at Expo West.
BevNET’s 2014 Functional Beverage Guide features the largest and most comprehensive listing of functional beverage brands from a wide variety of categories as well as dozens of ingredient suppliers. The guide is an essential resource for beverage manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and retailers. Download your FREE copy of the guide here.
Natural Products Expo West 2014 offered buyers looking for new kids’ beverages several glimpses of new drinks that definitely colored outside the lines of longtime market stalwarts Capri Sun or Kool-Aid. But perhaps the most consistent idea was that some of the drinks featured products that had been repurposed from products or brands aimed for adults.
In short, we're exhausted. Natural Products Expo West 2014 was an incredible show in every aspect, and the BevNET team had a lot to cover. Over the next two weeks, we'll be releasing a wide range of multimedia content from Expo West, including stories on emerging trends in beverage innovation and retail distribution, video profiles on several new brands and a photo gallery on new products launches featured at the show.
In a new monthly video series, members of BevNET's staff will answer specific questions about the beverage industry as asked by subscirbers of our FBU platform. In this first installment, we address seven queries, including finding the right suppliers for your company, the variety of ways to get market information and sales data for individual beverage categories and the key elements of a five-star reviewed product.
After a long search for capital that had hampered business development and, ultimately, its ability to service some clients, natural and specialty DSD distributor Green Shoots announced yesterday that it has landed what it termed “its first multi-million-dollar capital raise” – right on the eve of its client base’s biggest sales event, Natural Products Expo West.
Bubbles were the rule of the week when it came to press clips, as Welch’s CEO Brad Irwin took to CNBC to advocate for his company’s licensing deal with at-home carbonation provider SodaStream. According to Irwin, the deal made sense because SodaStream -- despite a series of sales numbers that have sent the company’s stock price tumbling -- is nevertheless the leader of the category.
A couple of big beverage hires hit the news this week with Icelandic Glacial announcing that it has landed former Activate president Reza Mirza as CEO of the premium water brand, while ZICO veteran Bill Lange has taken his talents to Oxnard, Calif., as the VP of Marketing for probiotic beverage company KeVita.
With nearly 300 beverage-related exhibitors, Expo West 2014 looks to be a massive show for innovation, new brands and line extensions. BevNET.com will be on hand to cover the event from the show floor, with instant coverage on social media and in online and print stories in the days to follow. Below, you’ll find details about the show, listings of beverage exhibitors (supplied by New Hope Natural Media), and BevNET’s print-ready show planner.
Great Range Capital, a Kansas City, KS-based private equity firm, recently led a team of investors that have acquired a majority stake in Mountain Valley Spring Co., the 140-year-old company known for its domestically produced premium bottled water.
A lot of the time in the CPG space, the earliest investors you line up will themselves be successful entrepreneurs who recognize the potential for your product. But do you ever wonder how those experienced food and beverage entrepreneurs think about what companies to invest in themselves? Seth Goldman, co-founder & TeaEO, Honest Tea, has invested in several startup food and beverage companies over the years — and shared this piece with BevNET Food & Beverage University.
