People Moves: CEO Shakeups At AQUAHydrate, Live Soda, Moonshine Sweet Tea

In this edition of People Moves, we report on major shakeups in the CEO positions at AQUAhydrate, Moonshine Sweet Tea and LIVE Soda. Also, Vive Organic hires a new director of marketing, Nestle Waters North America loses its chief sustainability officer, and Andrew Simpson joins Sunshine Beverages as VP of sales.

Jim Murphy To Succeed Matthew Mitchell At Coke VEB

Jim Murphy will succeed Matthew Mitchell as Vice President, Strategy and Venturing, at The Coca-Cola Company’s Venturing and Emerging Brands (VEB) unit, the company announced in an email on Friday.

Starbucks: Record $6B in Revenue in Quarter

During an earnings call with investors on Thursday, CEO Kevin Johnson partially attributed the company’s growth during the quarter to its $384 million sale of Tazo Tea to Unilever in November, as well as the strategic decision to close Teavana cafes in order to focus on that brand’s CPG products.

Peet’s Pushes Ahead in RTD

Buoyed by an expansion of its cold-chain distribution network Coldcraft, the Emeryville, Calif.-based coffee roaster and retailer is preparing several new RTD product launches over the coming weeks to further build its brand presence across multiple retail channels.

PepsiCo: North America Beverages Continue Decline in Q1

PepsiCo’s snack business helped offset declining performance from its beverage brands during the first quarter of 2018, according to financial results released by the company earlier today.

Après Raises $1.1 Million in Seed Round

The company, which launched online in November 2017, markets a line of plant-based protein beverages targeted at active women. Each SKU is vegan and non-GMO, contains 180 to 190 calories per 11 oz. Tetra Pak container, and has 13 g of protein.

DPS: Volume, Revenue Increase in Q1

Dr Pepper Snapple (DPS) saw net income decline and revenue increase during the first quarter of 2018, according to a Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) this morning.

Diet Coke Revamp, Core Brands Drive Q1 Growth

The Coca-Cola Company touted its Diet Coke rebrand, the performance of Coke Zero Sugar, and its 2017 acquisition of sparkling water brand Topo Chico as positive contributors to its Q1 2018 financial results during a conference call with investors on Monday.

Distribution Roundup: Sound Tea Gains DSD in New York

Sound Tea Gains DSD in New York with Gold Coast, Target Launch Announced; CHERRiSH Partners with CoreMark; Flow Water Enters Sprouts Farmers Market; Hydrive Energy Water Announces Southeast Grocer Expansion

C-Store Survey: Coke, Monster Spur Incremental Growth

Respectable growth from The Coca-Cola Company and Monster Energy Corp. helped non-alcoholic beverage sales in C-stores rise 3.4 percent in Q1 despite poor weather, according to a survey of over 15,000 retailers conducted by Wells Fargo Securities.

Yes We Can: Kombucha Looks to Future Outside Glass Bottles

As kombucha continues to penetrate mainstream retailers, brewers are exploring new ways to capture a larger share of the expanding set and create differentiation within it. Following the example of craft beer, they are increasingly looking to cans as a way to realize kombucha’s full potential.