In this week’s roundup of new product launches, Brisk launches its first-ever sparkling tea with Taco Bell, Vita Coco adds juice to its portfolio and cannabis-infused beverage maker Cann introduces new “lite” offerings with zero sugar, plus new plant-based milks for at-home baristas, non-alcoholic cocktails and electrolyte drink mixes.

Kansas-based milk alternative startup Strive Nutrition Corp. announced today it has partnered with Perfect Day for its first line of animal-free whey protein beverages, which will launch next month online with plans to enter brick and mortar retail later this year.

Industry leaders and investors warned CPG entrepreneurs that brands need to plan for a tighter investment market if they hope to survive in the rapidly changing economic climate at a Wednesday panel discussion hosted by the Naturally Network.

Reichenbach noted that in his role as executive chairman he was still active in the brand’s daily operations, responsible for running capital markets and shareholder relations. While he worked closely with Patarnello on key decisions, Patarnello was primarily responsible for managing the executive team.

Convenience channel growth decelerated to 1.7% in the first quarter of the year, underperforming all other retail channels, according to market research firm IRI’s “The Convenience Store Landscape Q1 2022” report released this week.

After the pandemic put some of its new product plans on hold, New York-based iced tea manufacturer AriZona Beverages is beginning to reload its innovation pipeline, beginning with an expansion of its Red Tea line this summer.

Despite multiple rejected attempts, Virginia-based alt-sweetener startup Bonumose will keep working to “compel and convince” the FDA to reconsider a regulation that mandates that its proprietary alt-sweetener, tagatose, be labeled under ​​total or added sugar counts on Nutrition Facts Panels (NFPs), said the company’s CEO Ed Rogers.

Ready-to-drink canned cocktail maker Crook & Marker has confirmed the elimination of positions in its sales force, according to a company spokesperson. The spokesperson declined to share the specific number of jobs that were eliminated.

The Tory Burch Foundation announced this month its newest cohort of 50 fellows for 2022, eight of whom are female entrepreneurs in the food and beverage CPG industry.