Foodservice-focused Enlightened Hospitality Investments (EHI) announced today that it has closed its second fund at $332 million. The round was oversubscribed, according to a press release, and included prior limited partners as well as new institutional partners, college endowments, strategic investors, and family offices.
Gnusante Creations, the maker of a better-for-you kids drink in a pouch, is heading into the U.S. after growing up in the Canadian innovation company of Ron Kendrick, one of the original links to 90s fruit-flavored drink Orbitz, a signature beverage for its era. This time, though, Kendrick’s family is on board as well.
New year, new products. This week’s latest launches feature new sober-friendly alcohol alternative options as well as plant-based drinks for consumers embracing New Year’s resolutions, as well as nostalgic throwbacks and celebrity-backed launches from larger beverage producers.
Dan White and co. over at Coke’s New Revenue Streams operation hinted during a BevNET Live interview a month ago that there was more to come for Coke in the alcohol space, and now we’ve got yesterday’s announcement that the company is launching some alcohol-enhanced products under the Fresca Mixed brand in a tie-up with beer, wine, and spirits giant Constellation.
In this week's Distribution Roundup, Phocus continues to expand in the South with Kroger, while Greek import Green Cola enters 1K new retailers and electrolyte powder mix Ultima partners with Walmart.
Global packaging distributor TricorBraun announced today that it has acquired beverage packaging providers Zuckerman Honickman and Vessel Packaging in a move providing the conglomerate with additional non-alcoholic beverage capabilities and an expanded footprint in Canada.
Constellation Brands has entered a brand agreement with The Coca-Cola Company to manufacture, market, distribute and launch Fresca Mixed – a spirit-based ready-to-drink cocktail based on the citrusy soft drink.
California based supplements brand Nouri is branching out into the beverage set with its latest innovation, Inner Immune, a line of immunobiotic functional drinks intended to promote gut health and immunity.
One of the nation’s largest craft breweries is dipping its toe into the non-alcoholic beverage space. Sierra Nevada Brewing Company has launched its first non-alcoholic product, Hop Splash, a sparkling water infused with Citra and Amarillo hops.
U.S. dairy processors earned a major victory this week after a three-member panel ruled in their favor in a dispute with Canadian regulators over access to the country’s national market.
The California-based canned water maker announced this week that it has raised $75 million in a Series C round led by startup studio Science Inc. The new funding brings the brand’s total financing to about $125 million since its founding in 2018 and is aimed at helping the company scale its presence in the conventional channel and support a new flavored sparkling water line launching at the end of this month.
Todd Carmichael, who co-founded pioneering third-wave coffee company La Colombe, is once again breaking new ground with the launch of innovative “shimmering water” brand Loftiwater. In this episode, Carmichael spoke about how the pandemic influenced his decision to step away from La Colombe and inspired a fresh start, his ambitious vision for Loftiwater and why the brand’s early start included a chartered plane to Venezuela.
Singer Katy Perry is embracing “pleasure with restraint” with the launch of De Soi, a line of sparkling non-alcoholic apéritif created in partnership with master distiller Morgan McLachlan of premium spirits maker AMASS.
As CEO of online consulting firm Sharma Brands, Nik brings unique insights and experience as to how CPG companies large and small should think about their go-to-market strategies and their approach to establishing a brand in the modern web environment.
