ON TOP
- BevNET Live: Early registration ends this Friday! Link
- Download BevNET's Expo East show planner. Link
- NACS 2010 showcased plenty of energy and a good dose of relaxation. The show report also takes a look at new products and developments seen at the event. Link
ON THE SHELVES
- Snow Beverages has launched its new Light Snow line made with zero-calorie sweeteners including Stevia. The first flavor available will be Lemon-Lime and it will appear in stores across Connecticut and Rhode Island with an East Coast rollout to follow. Link
- Cooper Tea has launched B.W. Cooper's Iced Brew Tea Mini-Bottles in Sheetz convenience stores. Each concentrated 4 oz. bottle makes 4 quarts of unsweetened, brewed tea. Link
- Mix1 has launched a new line of Lean Performance shakes. Link
IN THE MEDIA
- An article on Cincinnati.com looked at the growth of Hoist, an anti-hangover drink. It has expanded distribution to approximately 650 convenience stores, liquor stores and bars in Ohio and Northern Kentucky, including most United Dairy Farmers and 108 Walgreens stores. Link
BRAND MARKETING & PROMOTION
- FUZE Beverages and its partner the Detroit Pistons are presenting special ticket offers in order to raise funds for the 2011 Susan G. Komen Detroit Race for the Cure. The team has designated three pre-season games as breast health awareness nights. Link
- PRE Beverage Company will be working with Christie Communications to assist in raising awareness of the company's ready-to-drink organic Probiotic Enhancers, 10 Calorie Probiotic Enhancers, and Synbiotic Drink Mixes in the U.S. market. Link
- A new promotion from 5150 Energy asks fans to link to the product's website via their own webpage. If the link is well-positioned, the site owner will receive two free bottles of the beverage with another 12 to arrive after a year. Link
TRENDS AND STUDIES
- According to a new study, more than 90 percent of pregnant women have "detectable" levels of bisphenol A in their blood — only it's coming more from environmental factors like cigarette smoke and cash register receipts than from beverage containers. Link
- Nancy Rodriguez, a researcher at the University of Connecticut, has found that chocolate milk is a good way for athletes to rebuild muscle post-workout. Link
DEALS
- Wild Flavors has partnered with the ET Horn Company. The pair will showcase items including stevia products, flavors, and functional ingredients designed for the supplement industry at the SupplySide West show in Las Vegas, NV. Link
- J.F. Fick Inc. has purchased the non-alcoholic lines of Freeman Beverage Co. It will now be selling 7UP, Sunkist, Canada Dry products, Fiji water, Stewart's Beverages, Arizona teas, Snapple, Nantucket Nectars among others, according to Fredericksburg.com. Link
SUPPLIER SIDE
- WILD Flavors, Inc, and its subsidiary Pouch and Pack Concepts,have installed new high speed spouted pouch filling equipment at selected co-packing locations in the United States. Link
- The latest ad campaign for Cargill's zero-calorie sweetener, Truvia, is called "Honestly Sweet." It encourages consumers to consider Truvia the answer to their sweet cravings as a healthier alternative, an article on BrandChannel.com revealed. Link
PEOPLE
- Coca-Cola Enterprises has elected Jan Bennink as its new director. He most recently acted as chief executive officer of Royal Numico, which is now a division of Danone Group. Link
- NACS has elected five retail members to serve on its Board of Directors. The new members are Rahim Budhwani, CEO of 6040 LLC, Wendy Chronister, CEO of Chronister Oil Co, Frank Gleeson, retail director of Topaz Energy Group, Jeff Parker, president, Kwik Shop Inc. and Peter Tedeschi, president & CEO of Tedeschi Food Shops. Link
ETC.
- Faygo Beverages has received the State of Michigan’s Consultation Education and Training (CET) Bronze award for workplace safety in 2010. Link