Yanni Hufnagel, the founder and CEO of Lemon Perfect, spoke about his ambitious vision for the fast-growing enhanced water brand, the parallels between coaching college basketball and running a beverage company, why nailing “the big decisions” has been critical to the brand’s development, how his perspective on gross margin has evolved and why Lemon Perfect has invested heavily in field sales.
Kitu Life Super Coffee pilot-launched its first non-coffee innovation in Texas last weekend: a three-SKU, zero-sugar energy drink line enhanced with collagen and probiotics called Super ENRGY.
In part two of our coverage of Summer Fancy Food Show 2022, mocktail brands like Mingle and Mocktail Club gain ground in retail; startups such as Shrubbly and Waku debut new rebrands; and Circles Coffee introduces a new single-serve pour over format.
Taste Radio’s hosts reflected on the return of BevNET and NOSH’s summer events to New York City, the accessibility of admired brand leaders and top retail executives at NOSH Live, the palpable camaraderie among entrepreneurs meeting each other for the first time in person at BevNET Live and why taste and story inspired the strongest reactions for judges in the events’ brand competitions.
In this first dispatch from Summer Fancy Food Show 2022, Joe Tea discusses its move into plastic bottles, ready-to-drink boba tea brands debut new innovations, and Lifeway Foods discusses its charity kefir bottle to support Ukraine.
Nearly one year removed from the company’s IPO filing, zero-sugar soft drink maker Zevia has announced a changing of the guard. Paddy Spence will cede his longtime role as CEO to President Amy Taylor on August 1, but remain Chair of the Board after he steps down.
Educational sessions and discussions covered topics ranging from NFTs to THC during the second day of BevNET Live Summer 2022. Highlighted by a wild conversation with Bang Energy founder Jack Owoc, Thursday’s agenda also featured a beverage data dive from SPINS, Liquid Death’s work in web3 and insights into TikTok’s role in creating the next generation of CPG stars.
Plink!, a startup brand of low-sugar beverage tablets, emerged victorious today in the 23rd edition of the New Beverage Showdown , BevNET’s biannual pitch competition for emerging beverage brands sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company’s Venturing and Emerging Brands Unit (VEB).
Bang Energy boss Jack Owoc offered both aggression and optimism during a talk at BevNET Live Summer 2022 on Thursday, dismissing “haters” and “negativity” while encouraging beverage entrepreneurs to stay true to their core principles and to avoid the mistake of chasing overnight success.
Six beverage startups emerged from a field of 12 contestants to secure a spot in tomorrow’s final round of New Beverage Showdown 23 at BevNET Live Summer 2022, sponsored by Coca Cola’s Venturing and Emerging Brands Unit (VEB).
BevNET Live Summer 2022 returned to New York City on Wednesday for the first time in three years at a “precipitous time,” according to Jeff Klineman, BevNET Editor-in-Chief. Beverage industry leaders and professionals convened during the first session of the two-day industry conference, which opened with a state-of-the-industry discussion featuring insights from retailers, brands, investors and distributors.
SYSTM Foods, the strategic partnership of private equity firm SYSTM Brands and venture capital fund PowerPlant Partners, staked its first claims on the impact-focused food and beverage category on Wednesday by announcing it has acquired Chameleon Coffee from Nestlé USA, along with independent functional beverage brand REBBL.
With more drinkers reaching for tequila-based ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails, mezcal versions could seem like a natural next step considering the spirit’s recent rise. Madre Mezcal, a brand with a foothold in the mezcal market is the most recent to launch their version, a 5% ABV can called Desert Water that comes in four flavors. Meanwhile, Elenita, which launched as the first mezcal RTD in 2020, has been steadily growing their distribution. But unlike other agave spirit RTDs, they might not get much competition for a while – the supply chain challenges are just that big.
Speaking just a few weeks after the energy drink maker’s Q2 earnings report, Monster president and chairman Rodney Sacks said the price increase will kick in on September 1, coming on the heels of incremental hikes in late 2021 and early 2022. The move will put Monster in line with chief rival Red Bull, which communicated to retailers that it will raise pricing by 7.6% (about 10 cents per can) on the same date.
