As the fast casual dining industry has seen an influx of new chains with focuses on rising food trends, Tractor Beverage Co. is hoping to rise with the tide by introducing better-for-you alternatives to the traditional soda fountain. In 2018, the brand launched at restaurant trade shows with a broad, multi-category portfolio of organic, non-GMO beverage products.
Spark is a line of sparkling CBD beverages from The Hemp Division, a division of premium tea company Harney & Sons. The product is available in two flavors, Orange Mango and Tangy Lime, both of which have 20 mg of CBD per 12 ounce can.
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.
Out of a survey group representing 30,000 U.S. convenience retail locations, or roughly 20% of the channel, 65% of respondents indicated that they had a more positive outlook on the total beverage category as compared to the previous one to two months.
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.
Veteran beverage entrepreneur CJ Rapp, the founder of Karma Water and cult cola brand Jolt, spoke about why he defines himself as a “marketer,” the key lesson learned from launching several ahead-of-their-time beverages and what he believes to be the guiding path for any entrepreneur.
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.
Leaning into both ecommerce and functional beverage trends, PepsiCo today announced plans to launch a relaxation beverage brand called Driftwell this winter.
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.
Health-Ade Plus, which was announced in mid August, is a line of USDA Certified Organic kombuchas that are enhanced with functional ingredients.
BevNET and NOSH will be presenting our very first Supercharge D2C event on Sept. 29 with the purpose of helping food and beverage brands develop, refine, and energize their approach to the direct to consumer channel. This event -- included for BevNET and NOSH subscribers -- will address strategic, operational, and marketing practices around D2C, as well as provide direct-from-the-entrepreneur stories of how companies are dealing with the D2C environment.
