As Pilotworks Shuts Down, New Brands Face Uncertain Future

“Distributed kitchen” startup brand incubator Pilotworks abruptly ceased operations nationwide this weekend, leaving hundreds of food and beverage businesses without production and storage facilities or distribution to retail outlets.

Distribution Roundup: OWYN Expands to Walgreens, Wegmans

OWYN Aims to Triple Store Count, Enters Walgreens and CVS; Dunn’s River Brands Partners with Big Geyser for Sweet Leaf Distribution; Wandering Bear Expands in Target with Grab-and-Go Placement; Alkaline88 Adds 7,500 Stores

NACS News Roundup: New Age Embraces CBD; Red Bull Revamp; Sparkling Waters Rising

In this roundup of news from the 2018 NACS trade show in Las Vegas, BevNET checks in with Red Bull and Hint about recent line extensions, examines developments in the sparkling water space, learns about new CBD drinks from New Age Beverages, and samples Brew Dr. Kombucha's new C-store exclusive innovations.

Canteen and Forto Join BevNET Live Winter 2018 Lineup

BevNET Live Winter 2018 will feature speakers who can talk about where you’re headed and the kinds of adjustments it takes to get there. Joining the main stage lineup will be Jessi Moffitt, the director of innovation at national vending company Canteen, and Neel Premkumar, the founder and CEO of fast-growing coffee brand Forto.

Review: Clutch Coffee Roasters Coffee Soda Pop

Clutch Coffee Roasters is a Portland, Ore. based coffee company that sells coffee beans, ready-to-drink cold brew coffee, and the coffee sodas that are the subject of this product review.

Bang Energy Maker Targeted in Patent Suit

The proprietary status of a key ingredient in fitness energy drink Bang is the subject of a legal battle between the drink’s parent company Vital Pharmaceuticals and supplement maker ThermoLife.

NACS 2018 Video: Beverages in Brief

In this video recorded at NACS 2018, BevNET assistant editor Martin Caballero and staff reporter Brad Avery offer a quick recap of some of their main takeaways from the show.

Post WFM, Truesdell Joins Almanac & Ramps Up Canopy Copacker

At Almanac Insights, former Whole Foods Market global director of brands Elly Truesdale will help the firm evaluate possible investments and advise portfolio brands, which includes beverage makers Spindrift and New Barn.

Press Clips: Amazon Increases Minimum Wage for Employees

Amazon increases minimum wage for all its workers to $15 per hour; Bloomberg article questions whether kombucha can make it big or not; Canadian cannabis provider CannTrust exploring beverage opportunities; Dirty Lemon opens storefront.

Elevator Talk: Element Shrub Crafts Functional, Non-Alcoholic Cocktails

Element Shrub founder & CEO, Charlie Berkinshaw, has developed a non-alcoholic cocktail alternative that not only tastes good, but is also healthy and functional. The product is ACV-based, which has challenged the brand to change consumers’ perceptions of how the ingredient could taste in a beverage.