ON TOP
- BAWLS to continue operating – The brand’s investors, who have yet to find a buyer, will infuse cash into the energy soda to stabilize BAWLS while they continue to search for an exit strategy. Link
- Pepsi’s Global Director of Social Media Joins Panel of Social Marketing Experts – BevNET announced that B. Bonin Bough, the global director of digital and social media at PepsiCo Inc., will be anchoring the panel, which will include a discussion of several rapidly-evolving marketing strategies. Also joining the discussion will be Darrel Jursa of DIG Communications, an expert in both online and word-of-mouth marketing efforts. Link
- Joining those in New York and Washington, lawmakers in Kansas are considering levying a tax of sugary sodas Link, as are lawmakers in Tennessee. Link
ON THE SHELVES
- Pepsico Inc. is raising prices on Tropicana orange juice after a deep freeze hurt Florida’s citrus crop. The company said it is shrinking its most popular size by about 8 percent while maintaining its price. Link
- Tazo is debuting a new line of Tazo Zero Calorie Naturally Sweetened Bottled Teas at Natural Products Expo West. Link
- CRUNK!!! Energy Drink announced the launch of CRUNK!!! Energy Stix, a powdered energy shot. Link
- Columbia Gorge Organic announced the addition of a new seasonal offering, Pure Squeezed Blood Orange Juice with Orange Juice. Link
- Gold Peak Tea now comes in new plastic bottles. The brand has launched new multi-serve chilled Gold Peak Tea nationally. Link
- Lifeway Foods announced the launch of Green Kefir with Phytoboost. Link
- Borojo Beverages, LLC will introduce its innovative new branding at Natural Products Expo West. Link
DISTRIBUTION
- Next Generation Beverage LLC, entered into a distribution agreement with The Canada Dry Bottling Company of New York. Link
- Innovative Beverage Group Holdings, Inc. announced that the company has entered into an agreement with Clark Distributing Company and Central Distributors Inc. in Tennessee. Link
- New Leaf Brands, Inc. announced a distribution agreement with Beverage Distributors, Inc. in Cleveland, Ohio. Link
LAW, POLICY, AND ADVOCACY
- New York’s commissioner of health criticized the beverage industry for “ceaseless marketing” in its campaign against a proposed tax on sugary drinks, UPI reports. Link
- First Juice, one of the beverage companies chastised by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for violating labeling standards for its “50 percent less sugar” claim, has asked the FDA to change its standards to allow such a claim on children’s beverages. Link
- Lobbyists are mobilizing in opposition to the sugary beverage tax proposed by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Link
- The Illinois Liquor Control Commission blocked a bid by Anheuser-Busch InBev to buy a controlling stake in its largest Chicago-area beer distributor. Link A-B InBev responded by suing the commission, claiming that the regulator’s decision violates the commerce clause of the United States constitution. Link
BRAND MARKETING & PROMOTION
- Apple Rush Co., Inc. will exhibit at and sponsor the Family Farmed EXPO at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Link
- Neuro Drinks served as the presenting sponsor at the Sir Elton John and David Furnish-hosted 18th Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party, which raised $3.7 Million for the fight against AIDS. Link
- The city of Spartanburg, S.C., BI-LO and Coca-Cola are teaming up for a recycling incentive program called “iRecycle and Win!” A prize patrol will go through Spartanburg neighborhoods on recycling day, looking for new blue roll carts. Randomly selected homes using the new system will be given a $50 gift card to BiLo. Link
- underWay named Brooke Burke as brand spokesperson. Link
- The Coca-Cola Co., Inc. will serve as an Official Sponsor of the 2010 Honda LA Marathon presented by K-Swiss. As the Official Beverage Sponsor, Coca-Cola will keep an expected 25,000 marathoners hydrated. Link
TRENDS AND STUDIES
- Nutrition researchers at the University of North Carolina concluded that people would lose five pounds per year if soda prices jumped 18 percent. Link
DEALS
- Hall of Fame Beverage Inc. announced that it acquired a stake in the V Group, makers of a.n.d. (Antioxidant Nutritional Drinks). As part of the agreement, HFBG will be allowed to appoint a member to the Board of Directors of the V Group as well as an equity stake in the Company. In return, the V Group will receive monetary compensation to assist in the production of a.n.d. Link
IN THE MEDIA
- A couple from Watsonville, Cali. will introduce their version of bottled water — in a box — at Natural Product Expo West, the Register Pajaronian reports. Link
- The Coca-Cola Co., Inc., PepsiCo Inc. and the Dr Pepper Snapple Group are touting their recent accomplishment in getting their sugary sodas out of schools, but AdAge reports they’re no more in favor of taxes on the drinks than they ever have been. Link
- Susan Neely, president and CEO of the American Beverage Association, appeared on FOX Business’s Diamond District to say that Americans don’t want to pay taxes on beverages. Link
- High-fructose corn syrup is just sugar with an image problem, but the movement against the sweetener continues, reports CBS News. Link
FINANCIALS
- International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. announced that its Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share on the common stock of the corporation, payable on April 7, 2010 to shareholders of record on March 24, 2010.
- Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated announced it earned $38.1 million on net sales of $1.44 billion for fiscal 2009, compared to net income of $9.1 million on net sales of $1.46 billion for fiscal 2008. Link
- Senomyx, Inc. announced that Kent Snyder, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, will present a corporate overview on Tuesday, March 16 at 3:30 p.m. EST during the ROTH 22nd Annual OC Growth Stock Conference. Snyder will discuss corporate developments including the Company’s pipeline of novel flavor ingredients and its business strategy. Link
- National Beverage Corp. reported financial results for the nine months and third quarter periods that ended January 30. Revenues increased to $443.9 million, up 4 percent. Net income grew to $23.6 million, up from $17.9 million. Link
SUPPLY SIDE
- GMP Laboratories of America, Inc. announced that the recent expansion of its production capabilities for various forms of liquid products is now up and running. Link
- Amcor Rigid Plastics is the new corporate name for the former Amcor PET Packaging business based in Ann Arbor, Mich. Link
TOOTING THEIR HORN
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded PepsiCo a 2010 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award in recognition of its leadership in protecting the environment through energy efficiency. PepsiCo’s accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 18, 2010. Link
ETC.
- A bid to declare milk as the official beverage of Arizona failed 31-26 in that state’s House. Link
- The Coca-Cola Co., Inc., PepsiCo Inc. and Dr Pepper Snapple Group teamed up for a commercial promoting their efforts to remove full calorie sodas from schools. Link