Multi-Layered Strategy Catalyzes Celsius

In the past few years, Celsius CEO Gerry David and lead investor Carl DeSantis have sharpened the company’s strategy by focusing on sales of its single-serve cans, six specific U.S. markets, international sales and digital marketing. Results from the company’s fourth-quarter earnings report indicate that the multi-layered strategy continues to catalyze a brand not far removed from a nosedive.

KonaRed Enters $12 Million Purchase Agreement With Chicago-Based Investor

The investment follows a busy few months for KonaRed, including the announcement on Tuesday of its partnership with VDF FutureCeuticals, Inc. The partnership settles a long-standing patent infringement lawsuit between Sandwich Isles Trading Company, the maker of KonaRed’s coffee fruit beverages, and VDF, which alleged that KonaRed had violated coffee fruit production methods and technologies marketed by VDF.

Review: True Nopal Cactus Water

True Nopal Cactus Water is a brand of prickly pear “water” that seeks to position itself alongside coconut water products. Compared with coconut water, it has fewer calories and sugar, however, it also lacks electrolytes, a key selling point of coconut water. Asking coconut water drinkers to forgo a key benefit to simply cut calories is a big mistake. Beyond that, the biggest thing that this -- or any other brand of cactus water -- is missing is an answer to “why am I drinking this?”

Coke Acquires 10 Percent Stake in Green Mountain Coffee; Will Launch Pod-Based Product Line in 2015

The Coca-Cola Co. has agreed to acquire a 10 percent minority stake in Green Mountain Roasters, maker of the popular Keurig Single Cup brewing system, for $1.25 billion, according to a joint statement. As part of the deal, Coke and Green Mountain have signed a 10-year exclusive arrangement in which the cola giant will launch a Coke-branded line of pod-based, single-serve beverages for use in the Green Mountain's forthcoming Keurig Cold at-home beverage system.

BevNET FBU’s Supplier Finder – An Essential Resource for All Food & Beverage Companies

Featuring dozens of industry-leading service vendors and suppliers, ranging from ingredient companies and co-packers to legal and marketing consultants, BevNET FBU’s Supplier Finder is an exceptional resource for new and existing companies. Presented in a easy to navigate format, the Supplier Finder contains listings and contact information of vendors from all parts of the country, enabling users to quickly and efficiently find the best suppliers for their needs.

Press Clips: Coke’s Super Bowl Ad Elicits Bigotry

Around Super Bowl season, perhaps the only thing that can match America's gorging of slop is the disgorging of American opinions. These opinions, of course, most commonly have nothing to do with football and everything to do with the ads, which are either shockingly bad or create responses that are shockingly bad. Sometimes both. It's fun.

blk. Signs Distribution Agreement With Big Geyser

In a joint release, the companies announced Tuesday a partnership that will take all blk. products into the five boroughs of New York City, as well as Westchester, Long Island, Nassau and Suffolk counties in New York.

Alt-Dairy: Obstacles to Change

While it’s true that entrepreneurial beverage companies have taken encouraging steps in the dairy aisle, it continues to be a challenging place for emerging brands to find a shelf placement. There just might be more challenges than opportunities.

Review: Love Grace

Based in New York City, Love Grace produces a line of cold-pressed, HPP organic juices and smoothies. The company has done an excellent job with the formulation of the beverages, often packing a wide variety of ingredients into very approachable and drinkable products. The one thing we would might tweak: packaging. But that's just nit-picking...

Got Other Milk?

Beverage companies continue to form novel takes on dairy products and consumers translate their interest into acquisition. By adapting to the demand for nutrition, versatility of occasion and portability, alternative dairy brands have made headway in a former no-fly zone.

Review: Tumeric Alive Mineral Green Elixir

Tumeric Alive’s Mineral Green Elixir is a nice riff on green juice, blending its core turmeric base with spirulina, barley grass, chlorella, cardamom and spearmint in a high-pressure processed formulation. From a flavor perspective, the turmeric is still very much a dominant flavor and aroma (it’s pretty hard stuff to overpower).

BevNET FBU Brings “Food & Beverage University” to Boston on March 27, 2014

Topics to be covered during the full-day program will range from those rudimentary design, sales and marketing, and production elements that are required of any new enterprise to distribution and retail launch strategies. Entrepreneurs and financial advisors will provide thorough understanding of the capital requirements food and beverage companies need for growth and sustainability, and the best ways to access potential investors at various stages of company maturity.

Distribution Roundup: Rooibee Red Tea Expands Presence Across U.S., Reed’s Partners With FreshDirect

Rooibee Red Tea, which markets a line of USDA-organic, ready-to-drink red tea made from the South African rooibos bush, announced Thursday that it has expanded its presence on both coasts and the South. The tea will be available in Whole Foods stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Washington D.C. at the start of 2014, Publix stores in Florida, Georgia and Alabama, and Bristol Farms and Nugget Markets in California.