ON TOP
- Dick's Sporting Goods began selling Gatorade's new line of G Series Pro products. The retailer will also be the first and exclusive outlet for new Gatorade sidelines equipment. Other Gatorade branded items, including towels and cups, will also be available. Link
- From Beverage Spectrum Magazine: Mary Poppins or Miss Hannigan – Beverage Spectrum editor Jeff Klineman explains a dustup on the role of taxes and regulation in the food and beverage industry. Link
- Only 6 days until BevNET Live Summer 10 Link
ON THE SHELVES
- Minute Maid Co. redesigned its 128 and 89 oz. bottles of Minute Maid Premium Orange Juice to include clear packaging, more color, a larger handle and sleeker design allowing for the bottle to fit on the top shelf and in the door of average household refrigerators. Read more: Minute Maid orange juice gets a makeover – Houston Business Journal Link
- Earth Beverages is launching a World Series of Poker-branded line of energy shots in eight flavors, as well as a full line of "energized" cocktail mixers during this year's World Series of Poker tournament from May 27 to July 17. Link
DISTRIBUTION
- Neuro announced that DPSG, Varni Brothers Corporation, Gillespie Distributing and 7-Up Chico will distribute Neuro Beverages in Northern California.
- Pilot Travel Centers announced that it is now offering RelaxZen NIGHT at 300 travel outlets in 40 states nationwide. Link
LAW, POLICY, AND ADVOCACY
- U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) asked Dr Pepper Snapple Group CEO Larry Young to return to negotiations with workers at a Mott’s apple products plant who went on strike contesting new contract terms. Link
- A series of temporary taxes on bottled water, beer, candy and chewing gum have taken effect in Oregon. Link
- Texas legislators are considering ending that state's sales tax exemption on bottled water, the Houston Chronicle reported. Link
BRAND MARKETING & PROMOTION
- Snapple's presence on the "Celebrity Apprentice" season finale helped boost the brand's buzz score significantly, according to market research firm YouGov's BrandIndex report. Link
- Times Square visitors got a look at the Red Bull Air Race World Championship coming to Liberty State Park in Jersey City next month. Link
- Beginning this month, anyone who buys three Pepsi or Frito Lay products at Kroger grocery stores will receive a free one-night rental code for a Redbox DVD. The promotion, dubbed “Make it a Movie Night,” runs through 2010, reported Home Media Magazine. Link
TRENDS AND STUDIES
- Retail sales of health and wellness products reached nearly $125 billion in 2009, an overall growth rate of 5 percent over the previous year, according to new data released by the Natural Marketing Institute. Link
IN THE MEDIA
- Walmart cut prices on 24-packs of soda as low as $5 for Memorial Day Weekend, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported. Link
- Norman Snyder, the new president and chief executive officer of Adina, plans to move the company's headquarters from San Francisco to South Norwalk, Conn., reported the Wilton Bulletin. Link
- Several health organizations in Silicon Valley are encouraging parents to celebrate a "Soda-Free Summer," reported the Silicon Valley Mercury News. Link
INTERNATIONAL
- PepsiCo's recently announced $2.5 billion investment in China signals a new intensity in the competition there between PepsiCo and The Coca-Cola Co., Inc., the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Link
- Tata Beverages is eyeing acquisitions in the US and eastern Europe, and also plans to strengthen its presence in US, Middle-East and Russian markets, the Economic Times reported. Link
TOOTING THEIR HORN
- The 2010 World Tea Expo, June 11-13 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, will award first-place prizes to tea brands including ITO EN, China Mist Brands, New Leaf Brands, and The Republic of Tea. Link
ETC.
- Dublin, Texas will rename itself as Dr Pepper, Texas on Monday, June 7 to celebrate the soft drink brand's 119th birthday. Link
- An entrepreneur in England has begun marketing bottled sea water. Link
- In commemoration of National Dairy Month in June, Tetra Pak has released a 'Daily Dairy' calendar with facts and tips about milk and its benefit to a healthy lifestyle. Link