The Flow: Predictions for 2010; BevNET’s 2010 beverage guide

ON TOP


  • Video: 2010 Predictions – What does 2010 hold for the beverage business? According to some of the industry’s top minds, this year will see more functions, more natural ingredients and flavors and more emphasis on low-calorie products. BevNET’s video roundup of 2010 prognosticators includes Monster Energy President Mark Hall, Adina co-founder Greg Steltenpohl, and natural channel pioneer Chris Reed, as well as insight from seasoned consultants and formulation and financial experts. See the videos to hear the speakers themselves. Link
  • 2010 BevNET Beverage Guide – From Iced Teas to Energy Shots, take a look at the BevNET.com New Beverage Guide for a record of the beverage products introduced in 2009. Link
  • BevNET’s 2010 Energy Guide – List your company today. Find out more. Link


ON THE SHELVES


  • Apple Rush Co., Inc. announced a new look for its school packages. Link
  • CHROME SODA announced the launch of CHROME DIET SODA. Link


DISTRIBUTION


  • Coca-Cola Co., Inc. beverages will return to Costco store shelves as soon as next week, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports. Link
  • Glazer’s Distributors, a Texas-based alcoholic beverage distributor, has acquired Harbor Distributing, the MillerCoors distributorship in Little Rock, Ark. and G & G Distributing, based in Shreveport, Louisiana. Link
  • TeaZazz Sparkling Tea announced its Peach, White Tea Orange Mango, Green Tea Lemon and White Tea Kiwi Strawberry flavors are now available at participating Nordstrom Espresso Bars.
  • CHROME SODA announced that it signed a distribution deal with Carlson Miller Distributing for the state of Utah. Link
  • Innovative Beverage Group Holdings, Inc. announced that Circle K will be selling drank in stores across Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and in the Florida panhandle. Link
  • BeBevCo announced that Update Enterprises will now be distributing BeBevCo’s Koma Shot, as well as the Potencia Blast Energy Shot in the Carolina region. Link
  • Skinny Nutritional Corp. announced that Skinny Water is now available at all 23 Kings Supermarket and two Fresh Ideas store locations. Link


LAW, POLICY, AND ADVOCACY


  • The California Chamber of Commerce sued the state of California for deciding to transfer more than $500 million from the Beverage Recycling Container Fund to the General Fund and Air Pollution Control Fund. Link
  • The city of Thousand Oaks, CA has ordered that stores that sell energy drinks — regular or alcoholic — to post signs highlighting the products’ potential dangers, the Thousand Oaks Acorn reports. Link


BRAND MARKETING & PROMOTION


  • PepsiCo Inc. will promote its SoBe Lifewater brand through a spread featuring Twilight actress Ashley Greene in Sports Illustrated‘s annual swimsuit edition. Link
  • Cheerwine announced it has crowned its first “Czar of Chillocity”: UNC-Chapel Hill sophomore Lauren Odom from Hendersonville, N.C.
  • High Voltage Beverages appointed Tattoo Projects of Charlotte, N.C. to handle advertising for its Volt line of sodas.
  • Electronic Arts has teamed up with Dr Pepper to give away codes good for current and upcoming EA games such as The Sims 3, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, and Mass Effect 2. Link
  • Deborah Behr, Managing Director of Ex Drinks will appear on Lifetime‘s “The Balancing Act” to give advice on what to avoid and what to look for when choosing an energy drink. Link


TRENDS AND STUDIES


  • A Consumer Edge Research survey found that 80 percent of consumers who drink CSDs on a weekly basis are reducing consumption of the drinks for health reasons. Twenty-five percent reported reducing consumption because of the economy. Among monthly drinkers who report drinking less for health reasons, 28 percent were 18-to-24-year-olds. (See “Beverages” section) Link
  • Pomegranates may reduce the risk of estrogen-fueled breast cancers, according to new research from City of Hope cancer research and treatment center in Duarte, Cali. Link
  • Patients with chronic hepatitis C who consumed about 2 1/4 cups of coffee with caffeine daily had milder liver fibrosis, according to researchers at researchers at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Link


IN THE MEDIA


  • As part of its new year predictions, TIME magazine predicted the end of bottled water. Link
  • Los Angeles Times‘ Health blog offered its take on the trend of beverage brands swapping HFCS for sugar, concluding that they may taste different, but they’re no healthier. Link
  • CNN highlighted this year’s intense lobbying efforts by the American Beverage Association. Link


FINANCIALS


  • United Natural Foods, Inc. is scheduled to hold its Annual Meeting of Stockholders on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. ET at the Company’s corporate headquarters. The Company is offering a live webcast of the Annual Meeting at the Investor section of its website at www.unfi.com. Link
  • Senomyx, Inc. announced that Kent Snyder, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, will present a corporate overview on Wednesday, January 13, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time during the 12th Annual Needham Growth Stock Conference. To access the live presentation or a subsequent archived recording, log onto Senomyx’s website at http://investor.senomyx.com. Link


SUPPLY SIDE


  • Buzz Oates Group of Cos. said it has leased 130,000 square feet of industrial space in West Sacramento to Nor-Cal Beverage Co. Inc. for storage and distribution of beverage containers. Link
  • White Rock Distilleries introduced a 375mL replica bottle from Amcor PET Packaging which mimics the appearance of the company’s 1.75L PET container. Link


PEOPLE


  • New Leaf Brands, Inc. announced the appointment of David Tsiang, a member of the Board of Directors, as the company’s new CFO. Neil Reithinger, former CFO and COO, stepped down and resigned from the Board of Directors effective January 7. A previous version of The Flow misattributed the titles of Tsiang and Reithinger Link


ETC.


  • Biologists in Roanoke, Va., reported finding coliform bacteria and other microbial contaminants in soda dispensed from nearly half of 30 tested self-service and staff-operated beverage fountain machines in restaurants and cafeterias. Link
  • A man in Tennessee recently stole a Coca-Cola vending machine. Police took notice after an eyewitness said they spotted a pick-up followed the stolen machine and a shower of sparks. Link
  • Would anyone like a pair of Pepsi-branded sneakers? Link