Last week, Bai Brands formally announced a new national distribution agreement with Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPSG), to bring its Bai 5 brand of coffee fruit-infused drinks into the soda giant’s vast DSD network. Ben Weiss, the founder of Bai, said that the deal will vault the brand onto the national stage, particularly with a partner like DPSG, which he said “has a real seat at the table” and “puts a lot more wind in your sails as you look to bring on national chains and satisfy that national footprint.”

The health and wellness fervor has become more of an industry idea than something conceived by the consumer, said Tim Kezman, the president of King Juice Company, Inc, makers of Calypso Lemonade. With an overload of vitamins, nutraceuticals and other hard-to-pronounce details, consumers can feel overwhelmed and unsure of their decisions. This opinion isn’t on-trend, but distributors still boast to Kezman about how there’s no educational process needed with Calypso.

Coke has finalized its purchase of Zico coconut water, purchasing the remaining outstanding shares. Zico was purchased through Coke's Venturing and Emerging Brands Group (VEB). Founder and current CEO Mark Rampolla will be moving into a role of non-executive advisor during the transition; G. Scott Uzzell will become President, rejoining Coke a year after he left VEB to become Zico's Chief Commercial Officer and EVP of Sales.