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.

Last month Melissa Facchina, founder and CEO of outsourced operations firm Siddhi Ops, and the Finn Family, the backers of Martstar investments, announced the close of their first fund under the newly formed firm Siddhi Capital. Facchina will also partner with the father and son duo of Brian Finn (the former CEO of Credit Suisse USA) and Steven Finn to launch a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) as well.

As the co-founder and CEO of Philadelphia-based Hidden Gems Beverage Company, Bahirat is aiming to fuse wellness and sustainability with the brand’s debut product: Reveal, a three-SKU line of beverages made from brewed avocado seeds.

L.A. Libations Hires Kroger’s Michael White, Promotes Shah and Orr; Jones Soda Appoints Mark Murray as President; Nutrabolt Names New Chief Digital Officer, CMO Exits; Matt Swenson Takes Director of Coffee Role at Nestlé; Vita Coco Names Halima Aden “Chief Coconut Officer” to Support Global Initiative

It’s the summer of special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs). Also known as blank check companies, SPACs have increasingly become appealing for the ability to quickly create category leaders and getting capital infusions into brands that need them. The past week has seen two such investment vehicles from industry experts.

In the midst of a pandemic, on top of a worrying slump in the coconut water category overall, Vita Coco appears to have found its groove.

CBD-infused beverage and snack brand Weller is expanding its platform beyond CBD with the launch of Sparkling Immunity, a new line that builds on the company’s goal to become a functional wellness brand while increasing its footprint with retailers that don’t carry CBD products.

Though the pandemic has created a tricky retail environment for early-stage beverage brands, with fewer grab-and-go cold case purchases and less consumer trial for innovative products, carbonated cold brew coffee brand Sofee is seeking to remain nimble by rolling out new ecommerce and marketing efforts.