A Colorful Array

Transparency, literal and figurative, is always good for a product. A pink lemonade should dress the part. As such, whenever possible, you should banner the brand to help the consumer make the connection. The reds, blues, greens and other colors of the spectrum helped to give Jones Soda and dozens of other companies their signature. They were all fun, and added to the drinking experience. That holds true today.

BevNET Live Winter ‘13: Live Video Stream Announced

We’re pleased to announce that BevNET Live Winter ’13, the tenth consecutive sold-out BevNET Live conference, will feature the return of a free video stream of the event. Broadcast live from Santa Monica, the video stream will cover every presentation and panel from the show, which will take place at the Loews Hotel in Santa Monica, Calif.

Review: PowerCrunch

Power Crunch Double Chocolate Blast is a whey protein drink that features, among other things, 20 g of protein per 12 oz. bottle. In terms of taste, it's definitely a very drinkable product (we’d say the same for the vanilla variety, which is very similar). On the packaging front, however, we wish that there were little more effort and originality in the design.

Spotlight Category: PET Still Water

It’s easy to disrespect the Coke purchase of Glaceau, but taken together, the company brands have sold $1.3 billion in IRI-tracked channels in the past year; that puts the whole Coke water system at $2.2 billion, well ahead of PepsiCo. Smartwater has nearly eclipsed Vitaminwater, it’s true – but that gives the red system a premium-priced alternative to Dasani and a brand architecture that many brands would only dream of.

BevNET Live Winter ’13 is SOLD OUT; Wait List Now Available

BevNET Live Winter '13 is now SOLD OUT. If you would still like to attend, a wait list is available. Follow the link below to enter your name and information, and a BevNET representative will contact you as soon as possible.

Review: ALO Exposed Light

ALO Exposed “Light” is a reduced-calorie version of their flagship offering. Given that the high calorie content is one of the major grievances that people have with aloe vera beverages, getting the product down to only 30 calorie per 8 oz. serving (60 calories per bottle) is definitely a good move.

Kombucha Bubbles Toward the Mainstream

The segment certainly is becoming tantalizingly visible even to the beverage conglomerates. Some of the investment in Health-Ade, after all, came from the Coca-Cola Co. via its stake in the First Beverage fund; also, there have long been rumblings that kombucha-like probiotic brand KeVita has dallied with PepsiCo’s incubation arm in Southern California.

Consumer Health Group: HFCS is “The New Trans Fat”

Nearly a month after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a preliminary determination that partially hydrogenated oils, the major dietary source of trans fat in processed foods, are no longer GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe), a prominent consumer advocacy group is calling for an end to the use of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

Gauging the Stage for Innovation Acceptance

What does it say about the beverage business that the small companies on display at Natural Products Expo East, the little sibling of the massive West Coast show, could generate more energy than those who were attending the annual showpiece fiesta of a giant organization?

BevNET Live Winter ’13: Over 40 Industry-Leading Sponsors and Exhibitors

In addition to one-of -a-kind opportunities to learn and network, BevNET Live Winter '13 attendees will be able to visit and learn from over 40 best-in-class sponsors, suppliers, and vendors -- all armed with high-quality innovations -- during the BevNET Live Expo. The Expo will take place 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Monday, December 9, the first day of the two-day BevNET Live event.

Review: POPWater

POPwater is new line of 30-calorie, fruit-flavored sparkling beverages that are sweetened with a blend of sugar, erythritol and stevia. Packaged in 11.2 oz. aluminum bottles, POPwater has done quite well in terms of flavor and brand execution; it's a line that could certainly gain a loyal following in the low-calorie sparkling beverages segment.

Review: Chiquita Tropicals

Chiquita Tropicals is a new line of tropical fruit juice blends. The products come in four varieties -- Banana Strawberry, Mango, Pineapple, and Passion Fruit -- and contain no added sugar or preservatives. While Chiquita is certainly a brand that has some credibility and awareness as far as produce is concerned, the execution of it as a beverage feels like it's lacking something.