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Expo West 2012 Booth Check-In: Honest Tea

by Ray Latif, Mar. 12, 2012 at 4:00 pm

Embracing the bonds that the two companies have shared since 1998, Honest Tea will launch Raspberry Fields, a raspberry flavored and lightly sweetened tea, exclusively in Whole Foods beginning in April. In this quick booth interview at Natural Products Expo West, Jeff Klineman, the editor-in-chief of BevNET, spoke with Honest Tea founder Seth Goldman and Melanie Knitzer, the vice president of natural channel sales, about the new product and its relationship with Whole Foods.

Expo West: Illy Goes Glass

by Jeffrey Klineman, Mar. 12, 2012 at 3:32 pm

It's a coffee brand that's done a fine job of accelerating in the past year, and it's gone from 2500 outlets in 2009 to more than 20,000 by 2012, but Coke Venturing and Emerging Brands group's licensed Illy Issimo has retained a fairly low profile. Now, in an attempt to grab a bit more space in the grab and go realm, Tom Larsen, the brand's general manager, revealed that he is moving three of the brand's varieties -- Cappuccino, Latte Macchiato and Mochaccino -- into 9.5 oz. teardrop bottles.

Expo West 2012 Booth Check-In: Zico

by Ray Latif, Mar. 12, 2012 at 2:52 pm

With a close eye on consumer feedback, Zico showcased a couple of new products from its crowded booth at Natural Products Expo West. As reported by BevNET last week, Zico launched Zico Latte, a new coconut water and coffee blend as well as two new Tetra-Pak sizes for its popular Chocolate flavor, which had previously been available only in PET bottles.

Expo West 2012 Booth Check-In: Coba

by Ray Latif, Mar. 10, 2012 at 9:14 pm

Back on the floor at Natural Products Expo West for a quick interview with Arnold Ventura, the CEO of aguas frescas maker Coba. BevNET founder John Craven spoke to Ventura about Coba's new Horchata flavor, one tinged with notes of cinnamon and vanilla.

Expo West 2012 Booth Check-In: Bai

by Ray Latif, Mar. 9, 2012 at 10:33 pm

BevNET's coverage of Natural Products Expo West begins with a series of short video interviews from the floor of the bustling event. In this segment, BevNET CEO John Craven spoke with Bai founder Ben Weiss about the brand's new packaging as well as the company's new distribution deal in metro New York.

Silverwood Partners Releases Natural Products Biz Report

by Jeffrey Klineman, Mar. 8, 2012 at 11:10 am

Investment bank Silverwood Partners has released a lengthy overview of the natural products just in time for valuations to hit at Natural Products Expo West.…

Thomas Kemper Expands in East, West

by Jeffrey Klineman, Mar. 8, 2012 at 10:56 am

Acquired by Texas-based soda company Big Red last fall, Premium CSD brand Thomas Kemper has begun a period of geographic expansion.…

Co-Founder Exits Dream Water

by Jeffrey Klineman, Mar. 8, 2012 at 9:54 am

Up and coming relaxation product Dream Water is launching into the natural channel, but it will be doing so without co-founder Adam Platzner. The 2.5 oz. “sleep shot” has moved…

New Vita Coco Lawsuit Filed — In Canada

by Jeffrey Klineman, Mar. 8, 2012 at 9:44 am

That ConsumerLab.com report from last August continues to dog coconut water category leader Vita Coco, which settled a class-action lawsuit in New York last month for $10 million. Word from…

Fair Trade RTD Beverages Grew by 37 Percent in 2011

by Ray Latif, Mar. 8, 2012 at 9:30 am

Sales of Fair Trade Certified ready-to-drink beverages grew by 37 percent in 2011, according to new SPINS data reported by Fair Trade USA. In a recent press release, Fair Trade USA cites rising consumer demand for Fair Trade products as well as a number of new beverages in the segment as chief reasons for continued growth.