Lots of shakeup here in the tea category as AriZona and Lipton’s core brands seem to have cooled a bit while Lipton’s PureLeaf is soaking up share. Even the vaunted Arnold Palmer has begun to slow, with small declines registering for the first time. Is it just a seasonal issue?
As we expand our beverage reviews to include more non-RTD products, including cocktail mixers, Owl’s Brew, which markets a line of teas that are crafted for use in cocktails, is a great place to start. From a flavor perspective, the products are very enjoyable; whether we drink it straight or use it as a mixer, the enjoyment factor is the same. Add to the mix some standout packaging, and you've got a great recipe for success.
Organic and refreshing continue to be the plays for the company’s latest release, a coffee-tea blend in Original and Vanilla flavors, which will debut next month at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, Calif. And as far as ready-to-drink products go, Meghan Conboy, the marketing manager of Sweet Leaf, said that these products serve as the first of their kind.
Often marketed as tea drinks, RTD hibiscus-brewed beverages have been popping up with greater frequency in recent years. A relatively new brand is Bissap Breeze, which sells a line of hibiscus drinks and concentrates. In our review of its RTD products, we think the company has done a good job with the formulation and branding of the drinks, but could use a bit of tweaking, and, perhaps, a trimming of its line up.
Washington City Paper reporter Jessica Sidman writes that on Wednesday, with snow looming, lines stretched two lengths of the store. She also took photos of 12 items that, by 8 p.m., were out of stock or close to it.
On Tuesday, Eric Lipton of The New York Times summarized an extensive, recently-publicized lawsuit between beverage-sweetening rivals that outlines more than a decade of manipulation and wrangling. How have the corn refinery and sugar industries responded to waning sales and the jeremiads sprouting from each other, consumer advocate groups and politicians? Spend, spend, spend.
Fast-growing cold-pressed juice brand Suja is facing the potential of a class-action lawsuit that includes claims that the company has misled consumers by labeling its products, which are high pressure processed, as “raw.” Meanwhile, it appears that rival Blueprint, which was hit with a similar false advertising lawsuit last year, has dodged the legal bullet -- at least for now.
It's often the first question when launching a new company: "How will I fund this endeavor?" While traditional routes, including angel investment and bank loans, are common sources of financing, a relatively new option exists: crowdfunding.
While the flavor of Go Ape Energy Drink is definitely one that we’ve had before, the company wisely chose NOT to use the classic Red Bull-style flavor that so many upstart brands use. Unfortunately, however, the taste isn't overly memorable or substantially better than what’s out there. And while the ape theme is certainly something that will catch eyes, it does, at least in our opinion, undermine its credibility as a functional product.
Concerned that public perception has been unfairly skewed, the American Beverage Association (ABA), an industry trade group, recently published two statements intended to reinforce its view that energy drinks are safe and not marketed to children.
Apple & Eve, the largest privately held juice company in the U.S., today announced that it has acquired The Switch Beverage Co., which markets a line of sparkling 100 percent juice drinks and holds a strong presence in U.S. schools.
With each new variety that Bai adds to its Bai5 line of coffeefruit-infused drinks, the flavor has gotten better and better. Bai's latest introduction, Tanzania Lemonade Tea, is no exception, with the stevia and erythritol providing a level of sweetness that is about as sugar-like as we’ve seen from any drink that has used these sweeteners.
Having recently announced its tenth consecutive year of growth, eight of which reached double-digits, Essentia is positioning itself for a booming 2014 -- and well beyond. Earlier this year, Essentia, the top-selling enhanced water brand in the natural channel, raised $3.2 million in convertible debt and is perhaps prepping for a much larger round of funding later this year.
First Aid Shot Therapy (F.A.S.T.), a brand of condition-specific shots that are designed to offer liquid versions of over-the-counter remedies, is launching in Boston behind a second round of funding, one that included a very familiar name in these parts.
