Rounding out our coverage of the 2015 Winter Fancy Food Show is the following news regarding distribution gains for brands exhibiting at the event as well as updates on line extensions and product revamps.
Coconut water brand C2O has unveiled its first flavored variety. C2O Chocolate comes in a 1 L Tetra Pak that is priced at $4.99 per package. The product will be available nationally and sold at C2O retailers Kroger, Safeway, Whole Foods, Sprouts and others. C2O representatives said that the company has plans to add other flavored products later this year. Noting that sales of coconut water are starting to flatline, particularly as private label offerings have emerged and cut into growth of brand name varieties, C2O is looking to evolve through the introduction of coconut-based snack products, including chips and freeze pops, each of which the company featured at the show.
Arty Water, a plant-based water made with California artichokes, has partnered with Dora’s Naturals for distribution of its products in New York and New Jersey. Dora’s will deliver Arty Water to 31 Whole Foods Markets in the region. Arty Water, which is planning to debut a ginger-infused line extension at the 2015 Natural Products Expo West, is also sold in a variety of retail and foodservice locations in Texas including H-E-B and Central Market stores, Equinox gyms, and college campuses. Additionally, the company is making its first foray into the Canadian market.
Aiming to expand its presence in foodservice, Kombucha Wonder Drink is developing a keg program for its beverages to be sold on draft. The company is eyeing corporate offices, hospitals and colleges for placement of the kegs, as well as its 8.4 oz. shelf-stable cans. Kombucha Wonder Drink is also considering a label revamp for its “Raw” sub-line, and updating the names of the products to better reflect the flavor and formulation of the drinks (i.e. renaming its “Japan” variety to “Matcha”).
Cheribundi has gained placement for six of its tart cherry juice-based drinks at 1,100 Publix locations. The company, which recently rolled out its new Black Cherry variety at 2,300 locations of Walmart, where is product is exclusively sold, is also adding its Cheribundi Light juice to 1,600 additional Walmart stores. The company has also launched a new website, where it continues to promote its “7-Day Challenge,” which asks consumers to add one 8 oz. serving of Cheribundi juice to their diet for a week.
Health-Ade, which produces a line of organic kombucha drinks made with fresh fruit juice, recently landed placement in 400 Safeway and Vons locations in Northern and Southern California.
Brands Within Reach (BWR), a U.S. based sales and marketing firm that represents a range of natural and specialty beverage and snack brands, is preparing to launch a new 1 L package for mineral-rich Volvic water. The new product will debut globally in March. BWR recently partnered with Heart of Tea, a line of glass-bottled teas brewed from fresh-picked tea leaves, and is in the midst of extending the brand’s current distribution footprint beyond New York and into Northern and Southern California. BWR is also bringing sparking water brand Selters to the U.S. A leading brand in Germany, BWR will market a variety of package options for Selters, including a 0.8 oz. glass bottle and 1 L PET, the latter of which will be sold as individual bottles and in a 6-pack.
Daily Greens, a producer of cold-pressed, high pressure processed green juice and hemp milk products, showcased its first 12 oz.-sized offerings, which the company launched on Jan. 1. The new products are carried by Harris-Teeter at all of its locations and will be distributed in 400 Kroger-owned stores west of the Mississippi next month.
Bruce Cost Ginger Ale debuted a Blood Orange/Meyer Lemon variety that will be sold as a 30-day exclusive at Whole Foods locations in New York beginning in February.
Elsewhere…
- Since its launch in December, Mocked Up Mocktails has secured distribution agreements with several large retailers. The company’s non-alcoholic cocktail mixes, which are packaged in 1 L Tetra Paks, are now available at 45 Whole Foods stores in the natural grocers Northeast region, as well as 450 Stop & Shops and 180 Shaws locations.
- Onli Beverages has announced that the company is launching its own DSD division. After finding success distributing its product line of sparkling waters throughout South and West Florida, the Palm Beach-based company will be taking on other food and beverage brands on its delivery routes as well, including Essentia, Hiball Energy, and Hard Rock Energy. The new distribution arm of Onli Beverages is named Onli Choice.
- The Pulse Beverage Corporation’s Natural Cabana Lemonade and Limeade will now be available at 218 locations nationwide.
- PowerICE has secured a distribution deal with H-E-B that will land its all-natural frozen hydration bars in all of the grocer’s 75 Texas locations.
- Southern Teaz’ 2015 growth plan looks to take its Non-GMO, Fair Trade teas to over 800 stores nationwide. The company appears to be well on its way, recently announcing a distribution deal that will land its product on shelves at over 190 Sprouts Markets and 130 Raley’s locations and Bel Air Foods stores.
- FitAID is now available at at select Vitamin Shoppe stores nationwide and on VitaminShoppe.com. LifeAID Beverage Company launched the “paleo friendly” sports and recovery drink in 2012
- CideRoad, makers of a new line of organic switchel, is now being distributed by Associated Buyers of New Hampshire and Haddon House of New Jersey. The partnership will bring the brand’s three varieties – original, cherry, and blueberry – to Kings Food Markets in the tri-state area.