Review: L.I.F.E. Energy

L.I.F.E. (aka “Let It Fly Energy”) Fruit Punch is a “vitamin enhanced energy drink” that is sweetened with sucralose and stevia. For the most part, we enjoyed the formulation of the beverage, but the design of its package and the branding of the product (beginning with the name itself) are both causes for concern.

Sell the Portfolio: Coke’s VEB Brands To Combine Sales Teams

Coca-Cola’s Venturing and Emerging Brands Unit (VEB) is planning to reorganize the sales forces of its three wholly-owned entrepreneurial brands into a single unit capable of selling its portfolio throughout the Coke system, BevNET has learned.

Video: Pieces in Place, Zola is in Execution Mode

Profitable and continuing to evolve, Zola’s restaged “Fruits of the World” platform and rapid ascension as a player in the coconut water category have positioned the company for sustained growth in both natural and mainstream retail channels. With the pieces in place, founder Chris Cuvelier and his team are pressing forward -- and not looking back.

Review: Diabolo Loco Acai Berry Guava

Diabolo “Loco” Acai Berry Guava is a reduced-calorie energy drink and one of two varieties that make up the brand’s “Energizing Collection.” While we’re not sold on the company's segmentation of “Refreshing” and “Energizing” products (all of them look like energy drinks), this is definitely one of the more enjoyable varieties that we’ve sampled from Diabolo.

Review: DRY Soda’s New 12 oz. Cans

Although consumption of mainstream CSDs continues to slide, natural and specialty soda brands are finding some opportunity in the space with the launch of innovative flavors and packaging options. DRY…

Complete Video Coverage of Beverage School San Francisco is NOW AVAILABLE

Complete video coverage from the event is now available on BeverageSchool.com, BevNET’s on-demand video learning site. Hear from experts in product development, packaging and design, legal requirements, retailing and distribution, marketing and much more from the day’s packed program.

Review: Something Natural (Updated)

Something Natural, a line of flavored sparkling waters that are sweetened with stevia and cane sugar, recently underwent a visual refresh. While the product still uses the same chic 11 oz. blue glass bottle, the brand features more approachable graphics and imagery.

Download BevNET’s 2013 Natural Products Expo East Show Planner

New Hope Natural Media’s annual Natural Products Expo East show returns to the Baltimore Convention Center this week. Expo East, along with its sister show Expo West, are the leading venues to see and sample all-natural and organic products. BevNET.com will be on hand to cover and report on the beverage-related exhibitors at the show – nearly 115 in total this year.

Does Innovation Sell, or is Selling Innovation?

Some of the most highly touted “innovations” of recent years so far have failed to reach ignition, though it’s still early days. Rather, many of the more successful brands of recent years seem to defy common notions of what’s innovative.

BevNET Live: Get Business Experience with Suja CEO Jeff Church

BevNET Live attendees will hear Church discuss the issues frequently faced by start-ups across the business environment and the ways that his experiences of a “serial entrepreneur,” have helped fuel the fast start at Suja.

Study Hard

The most important point to be made during the congressional hearings on energy drinks was made early on, and it’s one that everyone seemed to agree on: it’s just not that cool to try to hook the youth of America on energy drinks before they’re old enough to drive.

Review: Harmless Harvest 100% Raw Tea (Updated)

Now in its production ready format, Harmless Harvest’s 100% Raw Tea has been refined and given a packaging update. The beverages are still made with raw tea leaves and are USDA Organic certified and high pressure processed, and the labels have been given an upgrade. But how could the company improve on something that we already reviewed as being exceptional...?

Inko’s Expands in Walmart

Inko’s LLC, makers of low- and no-calorie white teas, announced Thursday its expansion into 2,500 Walmart stores nationwide. The expansion represents an increase from the brand’s Northeast test market of 200 stores in the first quarter and 783 stores by July.