Headlines

RelaxZen to Return

After spending months in limbo as product slowly trickled through a declining number of stores and online retailers, relaxation shot RelaxZen has been sold to a pair of Brooklyn-based investors by former CEO Brent Sonnek-Schmelz.

Snapple Launches “Lightly Sweetened” Teas

Latching onto growing consumer demand for lower sugar, low-calorie beverages, Snapple has launched a new line of all-natural teas lightly sweetened with real sugar. Snapple Lightly Sweetened Teas are made with a base of white tea and contain 18 grams of sugar - less than half the sugar content in other Snapple varieties.

BevNET Live Wrapup: Disruption, Distribution, Avoiding Distraction

Looking at the numbers at the seventh incarnation of BevNET Live, which finished up on Tuesday after two days of intense teaching, networking and community building in New York City, however, the event started and ended with the simplest number: one.

Talking Rain’s Sparkling Ice an Overnight Success — After 25 Years

As of April, Sparkling Ice’s growth was up an almost-unheard-of 2000 percent, to more than $43 million, according to SymphonyIRI, which named the brand a “Rising Star” in April. And that’s not counting accounts like Wal-Mart, where the brand also thrives.

Grady’s Cold Brew Takes New Beverage Showdown 3

In what has become one of the most compelling parts of BevNET Live, the New Beverage Showdown once again rocked the conference, dazzling attendees with a range of innovative and on-trend products, and offering some pulsating drama to end the show. The competition, ultimately won by Grady's Cold Brew, gave companies the opportunity to showcase their brands in front of a judging panel of beverage veterans and experts, and an audience of 500 industry professionals.

Adina Prepping For Shutdown

A letter sent to stockholders of the long-struggling Adina beverage company seemed to indicate that the new age beverage shop's doors are about to close for good. The company is selling through its remaining stock but is also liquidating its assets in order to satisfy debt obligations.

Just in Time for New NYC Regs, Rob’s To Launch No-Calorie Cola

Rob Ehrlich, of Rob’s Really Good, has always been fast on his feet when it comes to rolling out on-trend products, but this has to be something of a record. One day after New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg launched his latest salvo against the beverage industry by attempting to severely restrict the sale of sugary beverages larger than 16 ounces, Ehrlich announced plans to release three zero-calorie Kola-nut based sparkling beverages.

With DPSG Deal in Hand, Coco Café Going National

Only nine months after its launch, Coco Café is going national. The company recently revealed that it will enter the Dr Pepper Snapple (DPSG) system beginning in early June, a key piece of a national DSD network that the company hopes to complete later this summer. Acute beverage watchers will note that Coco Café is mirroring the same growth path as parent company Vita Coco, which has begun transitioning most of its distribution to national DPSG houses.

John Blair Joins Bruvado Hiring Parade

BevNET has learned that former Muscle Milk marketing chief John Blair has joined shot-and-a-beer brand Bruvado as President after a slow exit from the protein drink's parent company, Cytosport.

FDA Rejects Petition to Change Name of High Fructose Corn Syrup

Corn refiners suffered a defeat yesterday as the FDA rejected an industry petition to rename high-fructose corn syrup as “corn sugar” on nutritional labels. The Corn Refiners Association (CRA), sought the name change as part of an effort to reverse years of controversy and negative publicity about the health effects of the sweetener. However, the FDA decided that "corn sugar" does not "accurately identify or describe the basic nature of the food or its characterizing properties."

AQUAhydrate Expands Sales Division Ahead of Brand Relaunch

Few brands launch with the cash and reach of the Mark Wahlberg-backed AQUAhydrate, which was featured in many public forums, including the TV show Entourage, but it has been a slow build for the electrolyte-infused water brand. Still, new CEO John Cochran has announced that the brand is re-launching and has staffed up his sales force with beer and water industry veterans to carry the load.

POM Wonderful Launches New Ad Campaign Following FTC Ruling

Following an FTC Judge’s recent ruling that POM Wonderful deceptively marketed health claims in ads for its pomegranate juice products and must end all claims about the health benefits and performance of its drinks, the company has launched a new media campaign touting "its right to legally advertise the general health benefits of its products."