Fairlife to Open $200 Million Production Facility in Arizona

Fairlife is heading west as construction is set to begin this year on a new 300,000-square-foot production facility in Goodyear, Ariz. The brand anticipates the $200 million facility will be online by the second half of 2020.

Elevator Talk: Up To Good’s Sparking Energy Drink Upcycles Cascara

Andrew Aussie is the president of Up to Good, a beverage company that is upcycling coffee waste to offer a unique energy drink. The beverage is brewed with cascara, the coffee cherry, which is normally disposed of in coffee processing. The brand believes its sustainable focus, direct trade practices and mission to give back to coffee farmers will resonate with millennials.

Review: Vital Proteins Collagen Water

Vital Proteins has been marketing collagen enhanced products in various forms since the company launched several years ago. However, ready-to-drink has not been one of those formats -- until now.

Review: Four Sigmatic Mushroom Focus Shot

Four Sigmatic, which produces a variety of mushroom and adaptogenic drink mixes, is making its way into the ready-to-drink space with the launch of Mushroom Focus Shot. Packaged in the same 2.5 oz bottle that has been the staple of the energy shot category, Four Sigmatic Mushroom Focus Shot contains a host of functional ingredients, including Lion’s mane mushrooms, rhodiola, guayusa (a natural source of caffeine), and rose hips.

Taste Radio Ep. 157: How This Blogger Built a $200 Million Paleo Powerhouse

A serial entrepreneur who started working for himself at age 12, Mark Sisson finally hit the jackpot. Sisson is the founder of Primal Kitchen, a Paleo-centric brand of condiments that Kraft Heinz acquired in 2018 for $200 million. Although Primal Kitchen was on the market for just three years when it was acquired, the brand, which was born out of Sisson’s popular blog, was decades in the making.

Fresh Start: Fresh Market Plots Beverage Overhaul

Facing a sustained double digit decline in beverage sales, The Fresh Market’s director of grocery Dwight Richmond knew the retailer needed something more than the standard category reset to fix its issues. Last month Richmond put into motion his plan to turn around the massive drop in beverage sales.

Aloha Launches Plant-Based Protein Drink

In moving into beverage this spring with the launch of a three-SKU line of RTD protein drinks, Aloha CEO Brad Charron told BevNET the launch is a long-planned piece of the company’s strategy to “make sure the latent potential of [Aloha] is realized.”

Review: Kokomio Whole Coconut Drinks

Kokomio is a new line of high pressure processed (HPP) whole coconut beverages that are produced in Mexico. The brand’s initial lineup features three flavors, including Whole Coconut + Cold Brew Coffee, Whole Coconut + Hemp, and Whole Coconut + Probiotics.

Distribution Roundup: Big Geyser Revamps Energy Roster Post-Monster

Big Geyser and Monster Part Ways, Distributor to Revamp Energy Roster; Clean Cause Builds Distribution Network, Raises $3.75 Million; LEMI Superior Lemonade Launches with Low Calorie Category Play; Runa Joins KDP Network

Taste Radio Insider Ep. 28: This Is What It Takes to Become a Category Leader

In this episode, we examine brand-building and retail strategies for center store grocery in interviews with the founders of two category-leading brands: Katlin Smith, the founder and CEO of fast-growing baking mix and snack brand Simple Mills, and David Eben, the founder of Carrington Farms, a brand of organic seeds, grains and oils.

CBD Startup Daytrip Taps Former Rockstar EVP Cannata

Daytrip is currently establishing a distribution network and plans to rollout next month through ecommerce and in independent retail accounts. The CBD-infused sparkling water line includes Cherry, Coconut Pineapple, Lemon Lime, and Tangerine flavors which contain 5 calories and 10 mg of CBD per 12 oz can.

Q Mixers Lands $40M Investment From Eurazeo Brands

Brooklyn-based mixer brand Q Mixers today announced it has secured a $40 million investment from Eurazeo Brands, the CPG-focused arm of French investment company Eurazeo.

DrinkTru Using Functionality, New Funding to Fuel Next Growth Phase

For Jack McNamara, the founder and CEO of DrinkTru, the coming weeks and months will test if his plan to disrupt the space bears fruit. The company is entering a critical growth stage by expanding its product lineup into on-trend functional categories and securing new financing and advisors.