The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has reversed a published claim that energy drinks are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The change came shortly after BevNET contacted the organization to inquire about the validity of the claim.
Kraft Foods Group is backing its faith in MiO, the liquid water enhancer, by placing a 30-second advertisement of the brand in the third quarter of the Super Bowl, according to Ad Age.
Mistakes have been made, but they're acceptable. So is spending a lot of money to spend a brand. At least, that's the assessment of Mike Repole, the chairman of Body Armor, who earlier today revealed that he and company founder Lance Collins, along with other investors, are willing to spend approximately $50 million over a 4-5 year period in marketing and building their year-old brand of "superdrink."
BevNET is now accepting listings for the 2013 Functional Beverage Guide. To be published as a special section in the March issue of BevNET Magazine, the Functional Beverage Guide will feature functional beverage brands and their suppliers. Listed alphabetically, beverage brands will be tagged with functional attributes (i.e. energy, relaxation). Brands will be indexed according to function at the start of the guide.
Life Juice is a new line of cold-pressed, high pressure processed juices. The products are packaged and sold direct-to-consumer in individual bottles, as well as in one- or multi-day juice cleanse regimens. With new juice cleanse products continue to pop up everyday, it might be difficult for some brands to stand out in the category. However, we feel like Life Juice has done well to stand out from the pack in both formulation and packaging.
It's a Whole Foods exclusive for a while, natch. According to the company's Twitter account, it is releasing the four-flavor line in "Austin, SA, Houston, Dallas, New Orleans and beyond." The flavors for Honest Fizz, which will be available in 12 oz. cans and 6-packs, include Root Beer, Lemon "Limey", Orange Pop, and (perhaps in tribute to Yale School of Management-based co-founder Barry Nalebuff?) cherry-flavored "Professor Fizz."
The nutritional and performance shake company, which was 69 percent Hershey-owned, "has decided to immediately cease operations and dissolve," noted a brief press release sent to BevNET. The reasons? A competitive category requiring further investment to make the company work.
Sherborn, MA-based investment bank Silverwood Partners has brought on Lynette McKee and Neal Yanofsky as Industry Advisors within its Consumer division. McKee and Yanofsky join Silverwood having both held executive roles in the restaurant, foodservice, and beverage industries, with positions at Dunkin' Brands, Burger King, and Panera Bread.
Steaz has introduced new packaging and transitioned to a 100 percent green-tea based beverage portfolio, the company announced today in a statement. Steaz, which makes a variety of organic and Fair Trade certified drinks, has already launched its new look energy shots in stores and will begin distributing its zero-calorie sparkling tea products in new 12 oz. sleek cans sometime within the next two months.
Ahhmigo is a new line of cap-activated drinks that comes in three health and wellness-focused varieties: Chia, Camu, and Greens. Having tried a lot of cap-activated beverages, we can say that this is one of the easier caps to figure out (just twist and push). However, the brand might need to consider a greater infusion of flavor or function into its drinks to find greater consumer pull.
Avitae would like you to know that the reports of its impending death are greatly exaggerated. Yesterday, BevNET – citing information from former employees of the company - reported that Avitae might be facing the prospect of a shutdown. Shortly after the article was published, however, the caffeinated water company’s social media operation took to the online world, refuting reports of its demise on both its Twitter and Facebook accounts.
Heart of Tea is a new all-natural line of ready to drink teas. The brand, which comes in three fruit-flavored varieties, is very straightforward and enjoyable in both its formulation and packaging, although it’s hard to see where this product fits amidst the massive sea of RTD teas that are already on the market.
Caffeinated water brand Avitae has laid off its entire staff and is in the process of liquidating its remaining inventory, according to former employees. Brian Pitzer, who founded Avitae in 2009, was ousted as CEO in September by the company’s board of directors, the employees say. Multiple calls to Pitzer have not been returned.
All-natural protein smoothie company Mix1 is on the verge of shutting its doors, just three months after the Hershey-controlled brand announced a broad redesign. Employees were informed of the state of the company on Wednesday and an announcement is expected from Mix1 on Friday; calls to CEO Brian Murphy were unreturned.
