Reviews: PLEZi Hydration, Be Love, Deadless
This week's review roundup take a critical eye to NBA star Steph Curry's collaboration with PLEZi Hydration, plus Be Love and Deadless.
News
As Spirits M&A Slows, Founders Urged to Get Creative
With softer sales and shifting trade policy rocking the spirit industry, founders searching for a buyer will need to get creative, according to a panel discussion at the annual Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. (DISCUS) conference in Washington D.C. last week.
SunnyD Maker Harvest Hill Acquired by Castillo Hermanos
Harvest Hill Beverage Company, best known as the maker of kids drink brands SunnyD and Juicy Juice, has agreed terms for its acquisition by Guatemalan business group Castillo Hermanos, in partnership with private investment firm Centerview Capital.
What’s New in RTD Tea & Coffee? – SPINS April 2025 Category Report
Both subcategories see positive sales performance and have bounced back from negative unit sales the year prior.
Trend Alert: The Rise of Sea-Based Beverages – Brightfield Group April 2025 Report
Drinks featuring sea-derived ingredients like algae, spirulina, and sea moss are gaining strong momentum, fueled by rising consumer interest in health, sustainability, and plant-based nutrition.
Calypso Acquires Mela Watermelon Water
King Juice, the parent company of Calypso Lemonades, is expanding its beverage portfolio with the acquisition of plant-based hydration brand Mela Water, producers of a premium watermelon water in cans.
Wet Hydration Closes $4.5M Round, Former Celsius EVP Joins
Functional beverage startup Wet Hydration has closed a $4.5 million funding round, backed exclusively by private investors, as the brand looks to amp up its market presence this year with new innovation and key new personnel hires, including a former Celsius sales executive.
Distribution: TRIP Hits the Bullseye; 7-Eleven Teams with AriZona on Private Label Brand
U.K.-based functional beverage maker TRIP Drinks expanded its reach to Target stores across the U.S. this month, bringing the brand’s total global distribution footprint to 40,000 doors.
Nixie Nets Nearly $27M Investment
Nixie Beverage Company has landed a $26.9 million investment as it scales deeper into the zero-sugar soda set.
Nutcracker: Could Costco Cut $90M From Vita Coco?
Attempting to separate fact from fiction in a short seller report is a dangerous pastime, no doubt. Last week’s NINGI Research report on Vita Coco does all but light the final match after dousing the coconut water company in flammable rhetoric, concluding after an incendiary 20 pages that “we don’t see why anyone should bet on this horse.”
Taste Radio: Startup To $800M Sale. How A Three-Word Mantra Guided Kevin McCray.
Kevin McCray, the co-founder behind groundbreaking brand Kevin's Natural Foods, reveals the strategic playbook that propelled his namesake brand to an $800 million acquisition by Mars, Inc. in 2023, and how he's applying those same winning principles to his latest CPG venture, Wild Fox Foods.
Stone Distributing and Classic Beverage Acquired By Hand Family Companies’ Sunset Distributing
Hand Family Companies (HFC) has made a blockbuster deal to add Stone Distributing Company and Classic Beverage in Southern California to its newly formed Sunset Distributing subsidiary, the multistate independent Anheuser-Busch distributor announced today.
On-Premise Update & Outlook – CGA by NIQ March 2025
The On Premise universe grew in December, particularly driven by openings of Casual dining outlets, which were the most common venue type.
Daily Briefing (Insiders Only): Saratoga’s Morning Routine Bump
Fitness influencer Ashton Hall’s morning routine has turned into a huge boost for Saratoga Spring Water, and after a viral video last month turbo-charged the brand’s sales, we’re watching for their next move.