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.

Non-alcoholic beverage sales growth accelerated thanks to strong volume across nearly all categories in the two-week period ending May 21, according to an analysis of Nielsen data by Goldman Sachs Equity Research.

In this week’s roundup of new product launches, SUNNYD and Red Bull roll out seasonal favorites in time for summer, GHOST debuts a new hydration stick variety in collaboration with Sour Patch Kids and SOM Sleep shows its support for the LGBTQ+ community with limited-edition Pride Month cans.

Investments in packaged food and beverage companies have been focused on the same areas for the past few years, with perhaps an increasing focus on alternative protein sources as well as social impact (excluding the impact of the pandemic on dining at home and home delivery).

Curaleaf is launching Endless Coast infused seltzers in Massachusetts, while Hi5 is rolling out its new energy drink in both regular and sugar free varieties.

Heartbreak and Confusion. Those were the feelings that hit the builders of Honest Tea – hard – on Monday after the Coca-Cola Company announced its intention to discontinue the organic beverage brand by the end of the year.

Over the brief history of the gut-friendly soda category, much of the competition for new consumers has happened online, where leading brands like Poppi and Olipop have leveraged social media and user-generated content to build their brands. But, at least for the next few weeks, the action is moving offline with Olipop and Poppi both launching pop-up experiential activations in Columbus, Ohio and New York City, respectively.