Citing ongoing growth in the natural CPG market, asset-based lending company Gerber Finance this week announced it would launch a dedicated natural food and beverage products division.

In the competition for sports drink market share, Gatorade’s Bolt24 is pumping up its offense. The functional hydration sub-line will roll out a new ad campaign this month taking aim at rising competitor BodyArmor, calling out the Coke-backed brand by name.

Nutrition platform brand Bulletproof 360 today announced a $13 million capital raise to fund the brand’s omnichannel expansion and the development of products in new and existing categories. The raise was led by Beliv, the Latin America-based business unit of multinational beverage corporation the CBC Group, and Rocana Ventures along with existing investors CAVU Venture Partners and Trinity Ventures.

This month, the New York-based company is expanding its portfolio of pili nut-based products with the Whole Foods exclusive launch of plant milks in Unsweetened and Chocolate varieties, as well as an unsweetened plant creamer, both in 28 oz. multi-serve bottles.

As special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) targeting the CPG sector have experienced a sudden surge in interest this year, Clayton Christopher is the latest food and beverage industry veteran to join the party, joining with Capstar Partners as a co-sponsor and board advisor in Capstar Special Purpose Acquisition Company

A panel of six food and beverage entrepreneurs from across the country joined up with BevNET Editor in Chief Jeff Klineman to discuss the challenges that the summer of 2020 -- and the ongoing struggle with a global pandemic -- brought them. Speakers addressed ways they are overcoming challenges around production, financing, sales and marketing, offering support and advice to each other.

Dave Colina, founder & CEO of natural sports recovery brand O2, spoke about how the company’s decisions over the past five years prepared it to meet the challenges and opportunities of the last five months, how the brand achieved record sales numbers while donating 50% of profits to independent gym owners affected by COVID-19 and why he believes that entrepreneurship is as much about personal growth as building a successful brand.

Delivering on its promise to expand beyond alcohol into an “around the clock” beverage platform, Molson Coors Beverage Company announced this week the launch of four new non-alcoholic product lines across multiple categories that are set to begin rolling out in the coming months.