GNC Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection
Nutrition retailer GNC filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection today, and will shutter 800 to 1,200 stores nationwide.
Headlines
Nielsen: Positive Sales Trends Continue in Early Summer
Non-alcoholic beverage sales continued to rise over the two-week period ended on June 13, increasing 13% from the same time frame last year, according to an analysis of Nielsen data by Goldman Sachs Equity Research.
Taste Radio Ep. 219: This Is How Category-Leading Brands Stay On Top
Henry Chen, founder/CEO of SPI West Port, the owner of ALO Drink, ALO Snacks, Jen Collagen and Woodridge Snacks, spoke about the importance of staying true to the company’s core focus, who he views as the ultimate industry gatekeeper, how the company strategizes around retail placement and the key element entrepreneurs can’t overlook when scaling.
FARE Calls for Universal Labels on Allergen Products
After the FDA last month released temporary guidance to allow companies to make “minor” ingredient substitutions without labeling changes, advocacy organization Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) and other groups have advocated for greater transparency.
LifeAID Launches ‘Go!’ Powdered Line
Expanding its platform beyond the RTD space, LifeAID Beverage Co. announced today the launch of LifeAID Go!, a line of single-serve powder drink mixes which will debut online this week. Go! features powdered versions of the brand’s ImmunityAid and FitAid SKUs, which co-founders Orion Melehan and Aaron Hinde said are among the brand’s top selling beverage products.
Season 1 of SprintToSuccess: Superfrau & InteractBoulder
SprintToSuccess, a 7 week creative process designed to take an entrepreneur-in-need from streamlined strategy to a ready-for-world brand free of charge, has announced its Season 1 subject, chosen from a pool of 107 applicants: Melissa Martinelli’s SuperFrau.
Pitbull and Dance Team Named HALO Sport Investors
Organic sports drink maker HALO Sport has announced Grammy-award winning artist Armando Christian Perez, a.k.a. Pitbull, has joined the company as an investor and ambassador.
Go Girl Energy and Silk Road Soda Announce Merger
Northern California regional brands Go Girl Energy and Silk Road Soda Co. announced this week they have merged to form Go Roads, LLC The company will seek to expand both product lines outside of the Golden State with rebranded and reformulated offerings.
Taste Radio Insider Ep. 90: It Takes A Certain ‘Touch’ To Make Distributors Love You
Chuck Casano, founder of Pitaya Foods and HiTouch Distribution, spoke about navigating the food industry on two fronts, how a social mission guided his foray into entrepreneurship, the failure that propelled his decision to launch HiTouch, the elements of successful brand relationships and being on the front lines of food distribution during the pandemic.
AriZona Launches Santa Fe Sparkling Water
AriZona Beverages today unveiled its latest venture: Santa Fé (stylized “SANTA FÉ”), a sparkling water line flavored with a “splash of real fruit.”
Ocean Spray Launches CBD Beverage Line CarryOn
Massachusetts-based Ocean Spray Cranberries is aiming to meet the growing demand for relaxation beverages with CarryOn, a new line of hemp-infused sparkling waters which launched this month in a pilot run. The new line features two varieties: Descend, a blueberry flavor containing L-Theanine and 20 mg of CBD, and Elevate, a grapefruit flavor containing choline and 10 mg of CBD.
Chris Reed’s California Custom Beverage Aims for “More Than Just Ginger”
Now operating as an independent, Reed says he’s free to flex his talent as a flavor chemist and product developer on his own terms, with a focus on premium natural ingredients over flavorings.
Watch Office Hours: Money and Ops with Team Siddhi
This week's Office Hours explores the interplay between operations, innovation, and finance during highly disruptive times with Melissa Facchina and David McCormick, two of the leaders of Siddhi Capital and Siddhi Ops.
Taste Radio Ep. 218: Can CBD Help Fix The NFL? DEFY’s Terrell Davis Is A Believer.
NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Davis and Megan Bushell, co-founders of CBD-infused beverage brand DEFY, discussed how the company is navigating a murky regulatory environment for CBD, the positioning of the beverages as “performance drinks” and how Davis is advising current NFL players about incorporating hemp- and cannabis-based products into their lifestyles.