NACS: Pepsi Revs Up Energy, Revamps Cold Brew
Pepsi is sprucing up its diverse mega-brand portfolio with new products, packaging and positioning, all of which were on display at the NACS trade show this week.
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This Week’s New Products: Apple Crumble THC Seltzer, G Fuel, Koia, Super Coffee and More
In this week’s new products roundup, Super Coffee gets XXTRA caffeinated at the 2023 NACS Show, Simply Crafted takes inspiration from a classic autumn dessert and G Fuel teams up with Jason Voorhees to Hack ‘n Slash.
Zuckerman Honickman President to Leave Family Business
Michael Zuckerman, president of beverage packaging provider Zuckerman Honickman (ZH), is preparing to exit the company co-founded by his great grandfather, effective January 1.
Taste Radio: The Best Ways To Generate Buzz? Innovate, Collaborate & Breathe Fire.
Can you pair tinned fish and beer… in the same can? Kids’ cereal flavors in protein drinks – does it work? Is chili crunch and ranch dressing the perfect duo? And, why are we losing it over a “Dragnum”? The hosts discussed how brands are attempting to grab our attention and generate sales via innovation, package design and unexpected collaborations.
Distribution: WithCo Sprouts More Company; Illicit Elixirs In Brick and Mortar
Seven months after hitting Target stores nationwide, WithCo Cocktails has found more company in the grocery channel. This week, WithCo announced it is rolling out nationwide at Sprouts Farmers Market stores. Read the full roundup for more distribution news from Illicit Elixirs, Fever-Tree, Oatly, Shroomi and Odyssey.
Data: Non-Alc Beverage Sales Remain ‘Healthy But Decelerated’
Non-alcoholic beverage sales remained “healthy but decelerated” in the two-week period ending September 23, according to an analysis of NielsenIQ data by Goldman Sachs Equity Research.
NACS: Celsius Steps (Back) Up to 16 oz. Format
Celsius' rise to the third-largest energy player has come as the brand has cultivated a more approachable, female-friendly positioning in which its 12 oz. can format played a key role in bringing new consumers into the category.
How Brands Are Addressing Non-Alc’s Biggest Barriers
Despite non-alc’s momentum, only 26% of the U.S. consumers moderating their alcohol, say they are drinking no-alcohol alternatives to their favorite full-strength drinks, citing barriers around taste and lack of availability, according to a recent report from bev-alc data firm IWSR.
Beekeeper Coffee Co-Founders Talk NBA Inspiration, Market Moves
Pressurized margins. Competition from all sides. A scary high failure rate. Breaking into RTD coffee is not for the faint of heart. But with the backing of a seasoned team of brand builders and well-connected operators, Beekeeper thinks it has a shot.
InvestBev Backs Celeb-Branded Thomas Ashbourne RTDs
Spirits-focused private equity firm InvestBev has backed Thomas Ashbourne Craft Spirits, the ready-to-drink brand crafted with the help of celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Taste Radio: Why Aura Bora Doesn’t Need A Secret To Be Successful
Aura Bora co-founder and CEO Paul Voge spoke about how the botanical-centric sparkling water brand has cultivated a loyal community by focusing on flavor, why he believes that “the best marketing is sales and vice versa,” the reason Aura Bora discontinued its viral “Secret Menu,” how DTC success translates to brick-and-mortar sales and why his personal phone number is on every can.
Calexo Aims To Capture Minnesota Effect With New Business Model
Nearly five years since its launch as a cannabis cocktail company, Calexo believes it has finally found the right recipe to succeed in the THC drinks space. The critical step? Dropping cannabis.
“We Learned From Our Failures”; Inside 5-Hour Energy’s Growing Pains
Living Essentials has struggled to find its footing in the energy drink category after launching its full-sized, 16 oz. format in late 2021. Armed with more flavors and a distribution strategy focused on grocery, 5-Hour is starting to make gains.
Liquid Death Names Former White Claw Sales Head Ballard as CCO
As the brand’s footprint surpasses 100,000 doors across the U.S. and U.K., Liquid Death has named Stephen Ballard, a sales professional with over 25 years of experience in the alcohol space, as its first Chief Commercial Officer.