 
			 
		
	Drinking to Live
Green juice. Protein-jacked shakes. Oat-based smoothies. Probiotic, drinkable yogurts. With the category having such an unclear identity, meal replacement has yet to define itself.
 
			 
		
	Green juice. Protein-jacked shakes. Oat-based smoothies. Probiotic, drinkable yogurts. With the category having such an unclear identity, meal replacement has yet to define itself.
 
			 
		
	Durant has long been a fan of the brand, having begun his NBA career with the Seattle Supersonics. The team played about 22 miles from Talking Rain headquarters in Preston, Wash., before relocating to Oklahoma City.
 
			 
		
	Using Philippine coconut water, the 250 mL glass bottles of Jax Coco are filed in China. It’s a pretty unique product from a packaging perspective -- you really don’t see many products in glass or at this small size. But is the bottle enough to differentiate the brand from other coconut waters?
 
			 
		
	As whodunits go, it’s not exactly Murder on the Orient Express, but the causes for the slow bleed-out of the diet cola business are still worth exploring.
 
			 
		
	The $165 million investment has a valuation of $665 million. The agreement includes distribution of the brand’s portfolio throughout mainland China.
 
			 
		
	In collaboration with Steuben Foods, Cold Stone Creamery recently launched Milk Shakers, a line of ready-to-drink shakes that come in three decadent varieties. It's clear that the goal of the brand is to translate the decadent flavors of Cold Stone into a convenient on-the-go product. With flavors that reach 450 calories and 15g of fat per bottle, the line is certainly decadent.
 
			 
		
	While the energy drink category has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of reduced shelf space for CSDs, there is significantly more room to grow.
 
			 
		
	Unilever, a global consumer packaged goods conglomerate, sold the brand to Kainos, but will retain a minority stake in the business.
 
			 
		
	Marketed as a "Vitality Energy Drink," is a USDA certified organic energy drink that is made with zero calories and no sugar. On the branding end of things, we’re honestly a little confused as to what this product is trying to be. It feels very much like a product that is attempting to go after night clubs, but the messaging, which includes tagline “The Smart Choice,” seems to be more focused on selling a “better for you” product.
 
			 
		
	To better manage the product’s final outcome, stevia suppliers such as Stevia First Corp., Cargill and DSM have begun fermenting it.
 
			 
		
	Earlier this year, Vita Coco unveiled a new name and packaging for its Coco Cafe line of espresso and coconut water lattes. Visually, the switch to a brand now known as Vita Coco Cafe was something that we were a bit skeptical of. That said, we definitely see this as an upgrade for the drinks.
 
			 
		
	Indra Nooyi, the CEO of PepsiCo, recently discussed the challenges of balancing work with the rest of her life.
 
			 
		
	With their latest releases, Nestle and LaCroix have kept the carbonation, retooled the flavors and dropped the sweet stuff.
 
			 
		
	Go Body’s Berry Pomegranate, which was the only flavor available at the time of review, is a pleasant tasting sports drink-style protein drink. It packs in 25g of protein with only 8g of sugar and 150 calories per bottle along with a well rounded mix of vitamins, antioxidants, and more. But does the packaging do a good enough job communicating the brand to consumers?