Keurig Dr Pepper will eliminate 500 jobs nationwide by Jan. 4, 2019, including 118 jobs across four facilities in Vermont, as the company consolidates operations following its merger this summer.

Kahn brings to the role more than 20 years of marketing experience, including overseeing Sprite, Glaceau Vitaminwater, Smartwater, and POWERADE at The Coca-Cola Company. He has also held positions at Heineken, Restorsea, and, most recently, as the VP of marketing at Save-A-Lot.

Quaker Oats, a division of PepsiCo, will officially enter the non-dairy plant-based milk space in January with the launch of Oat Beverage, a refrigerated three-SKU line available in 48 oz. multi serve bottles in three varieties: Original, Original Unsweetened and Vanilla.

Probiotic water kefir maker The Living Apothecary has raised $1.4 million in a fundraising round led by L.A. Libations and Venice Brands, setting the brand on a path to triple its distribution over the next year.

Bend, Ore.-based Humm Kombucha has launched a pair of new, reduced-sugar SKUs: Raspberry Hops and Ginger Juniper, each with 5g of sugar and 25 calories per 8 oz serving.

Frey Farms CEO Sarah Frey grew her family’s single farm in southern Illinois into a national supplier of produce, with more than a dozen farms and facilities located throughout the Midwest and Southeast. Now the company is continuing to build its beverage division -- which already includes Tsamma Watermelon Juice and craft private label provider Fresh pour -- with a new line of better-for-you drinks, Sarah’s Homegrown.

Vanessa Walker has left her role as executive vice president of sales and marketing at functional beverage company CELSIUS, effective immediately.

Bolstered by the completion of a new 40,000 sq. ft. production facility, Canadian kombucha maker RISE is making its long-awaited move to the United States with the launch of four SKUs in New York City, as well as an expansion of its availability throughout Vermont.