News

Better Booch Announces $2.5 M Funding Round

Los Angeles-based kombucha maker Better Booch announced today it has raised $2.5 million in a funding round led by Crush Ventures, the venture capital arm of artist management firm Crush Music. The company has “bootstrapped” its finances since its 2012 launch and the funding round is the first time the brand has taken outside money.

CLEAN CAUSE Debuts New Packaging

CLEAN Cause, the Austin-based natural and organic energy drink fueled by Yerba Mate, has launched new packaging for its 16 oz. cans.

Bragg Live Food Products Acquired by Investor Group

Apple cider vinegar maker Bragg Live Food Products announced today it has been acquired by an investor group led by private equity firm Swander Pace Capital, positioning the 107-year-old wellness brand for expansion and innovation.

RETHINK Brands Partners With My Gym Children’s Fitness Centers

Internationally-renowned Children’s Fitness Centers has joined with RETHINK Brands, launching a unique partnership which offers healthful beverage options in select My Gym locations around the United States including Texas, Maryland, District of Columbia, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey with more locations soon to be announced.

Taste Radio Ep. 168: The CEO Behind C4 On The Power of Premium & Keys to Explosive Growth

Nutrabolt CEO Doss Cunningham explained why focusing on premium as the guiding principle of the company’s business strategy was key to its development and that of its anchor brand, C4. He also discussed the mission and focus of his venture capital firm LivWell Ventures and the lessons he hopes to impart to brand owners within its portfolio. This episode is presented by Flavorman, the beverage architects.

Project Juice and Beaming Wellness Announce Merger

California-based juice bar chains Project Juice and Beaming Wellness announced last week they have merged to create Superfood Holdings LLC. The new entity will maintain both brand names, which combined operate 16 “organic clean-food kitchens” throughout California.

KDP Withdraws Peñafiel Water Line Containing Arsenic

Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) announced last week it is voluntarily withdrawing bottles of its Peñafiel mineral water line, three weeks after a class action lawsuit accused the beverage conglomerate of willfully ignoring tests showing the drinks contain dangerous levels of arsenic.

BevNET Live Summer 2019: The New Faces of Beverage VC

In this panel from BevNET Live Summer 2019, held June 12 in New York City, BevNET editor-in-chief Jeff Klineman sits down with three new fund managers to learn how these “new faces of beverage VC” approach investments, brand loyalty, ingredient trends, and entrepreneurship.

Shaquille O’Neal Joins FORTO As Investor

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has joined FORTO coffee shot maker Dyla Brands as an investor and will be the face of a $20 million media campaign for the product this fall, CEO and founder Neel Premkumar told BevNET. The size of the investment was not disclosed.

Taste Radio Insider Ep. 39: The Art and Science of Getting Investors to Say ‘Yes’

In this week’s episode, Sebastian Dreher, the managing director of Dohler Ventures U.S., discussed the firm’s funding philosophy and why he believes that investing in emerging brands is more “art than science.” He also spoke about how he evaluates scalable innovation, why category dynamics are crucial to Dohler’s investment strategy, and why great founders are also great fundraisers.

BevNET Live Summer 2019: Weller’s John Simmons Reports from the CBD Front Lines

Speaking in June at BevNET Live Summer 2019 in New York City, Weller co-founder John Simmons shared lessons and learnings from his experiences as a CBD pioneer, including how other cannabis product categories have informed the brand’s strategy, how retailers and distributors are looking at infused products, and the process Weller followed to define its platform.

Perfect Hydration Partners With Julian Edelman

Julian Edelman is MVP of more than The Big Game, now he’s also part of the Perfect Hydration alkaline water team. The Wide Receiver has officially partnered with Perfect Hydration, embodying the healthy, active lifestyle the brand represents.