Download BevNET’s Show Planner for IFT New Orleans 2014

The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Annual Meeting & Food Expo opens this Sunday in New Orleans, and BevNET will be on hand to report on flavor, ingredient and beverage technology exhibitors at the event. Below, you’ll find details about the show, listings of beverage-related exhibitors, as well as BevNET’s print-ready show planner.

Press Clips: Intelligent Containers, Broccoli Bevs, Private Coke Rumors

Now there’s innovation, and then there’s Star Trek-like innovation. The latter of which could be used to describe Vessyl, a new drinking container that’s able to tell you exactly what you are consuming and how the liquid affects your body, according to theWire.com. Is your mind blown yet? No? Read on.

Calif. Assembly: No Warning Labels on Sugary Drinks

California Senate Bill 1000 failed on a 7-8 vote in committee, with opponents claiming that a warning on sugary drinks would be confusing and do little to change consumer behavior.

Review: Clover Juice

Self-described as "Los Angeles's First 'Perfectly Pure' Cold-Pressed Juice Bar," Clover Juice produces a line of raw (non-pasteurized and non-HPP) juices that it sells in two retail storefronts in downtown L.A. The juices are quite enjoyable and feature some quite blends, yet Clover will need to do some work to build a brand that can evolve beyond company-owned stores.

Red Bull Launches Tropical Flavor as Exclusive in 7-Eleven

In a statement, Red Bull said that "Summer Edition," the first new product introduction for the energy drink giant in nearly 18 months, “performed extremely well with U.S. consumers during taste tests.”

Mohsenian, Herzog Mixed on Monster Sales

Herzog was bullish on Monster’s recent performance – up nearly 15 percent over the four weeks ending June 7 – but that doesn’t include C-stores. For Mohsenian, the brand kept up with the category.

Review: Honest Tea Summer Refreshers

Last month, Honest Tea debuted its "Summer Refreshers" line, a five-SKU mix of juice-based drinks that are USDA Organic and use Fair Trade sugar as a sweetener. Packaged in 32 oz. glass bottles, the company has done a really nice job with the formulation and branding of the products, which look more mature and polished than some of the larger format products that it competes with.

Honest Tea Hits a Billion

For Honest Tea, the math works out like this: 16 years + 22 million pounds of organic ingredients = a billion beverages.

Review: Vital Juice Kids

Nearly a year after the brand's debut on the market, Vital Juice has introduced a kids' line. Featuring four varieties, each made with cold pressed fruits, vegetables and almond milk, the drinks are well formulated and come with playful labels that should appeal to young consumers. One significant issue for us: the lack of a strong call-out indicating that the product contains nuts.

A Stump With Room to Grow

Stumptown's recent partnership with Straub Distributing serves as one piece of the coffee company’s growing distribution network, one that president Joth Ricci envisions as a national juggernaut.