Health Activists: Shaq Needs to Pick a Side
With his playing days over, Shaquille O’Neal doesn’t need to sweat free throws any longer. Instead, however, he’s got health activists calling him out.
Wells Fargo: Beverages Thrive in C-Stores on Labor Day; Pepsi Pricing Strategy Needs Work
For beverage sales in convenience stores, Labor Day was the strongest holiday weekend thus far in 2013, according to a survey conducted by Wells Fargo Securities. The survey, which represents beverage retailers from more than 10,000 C-store locations across the country, indicates that C-store beverage sales increased by 4 percent over the long weekend.
Video: Body Armor’s Collins: “The Pricing Game Has Changed”
Yes, the rollout of Body Armor has featured some missteps; yes, people have noticed. But founder Lance Collins, as grizzled a beverage veteran as any, is determined to achieve success with his multi-function, “superdrink” brand. But the current ultra-competitive pricing environment for beverages, in which new products face off against highly promoted brands made by bigger companies, has made that road tougher than ever, Collins said.
Review: Suja Elements
Looking to broaden its base of consumers, Suja has introduced Elements, a new line of 12 oz. cold-pressed, HPP and organic juice blends that bridge the gap between the company's flagship line and the bottled smoothie category. The new line comes in three flavors -- each with a more mainstream-focused price of $4.99 -- and from our perspective, Suja has done an excellent job with the formulation and branding of the products.
Beverage School San Francisco is NEXT WEEK! Explore the Benefits of Our Exclusive Program.
Whether you're new to beverages or an industry veteran, having a solid grasp on the fundamentals is paramount to success. Beverage School San Francisco will bring you up to speed on topics including Getting Started, Company Structure, Product Development, Branding & Design, Distribution, Retailing and Marketing. Also, hear experts present on relevant capital-centric topics including: Angel Investment, Crowdfunding, The Financing Lifecycle, and General Fundraising.
Distribution Roundup: Drink Chia Goes National, Bai Agrees With FreshDirect, Double Cola Goes Home
Three companies — Bai Brands, Drink Chia and Double Cola — announced news of expanded distribution this morning. Drink Chia, a growing part of a hot category, and Bai, a coffeefruit-infused beverage, both claimed new distribution in major marketplaces. Meanwhile, Double Cola announced regional expansion.
Third Street Chai Launches RTD Teas via Whole Foods Partnership
Long a supplier of chai and lemonade concentrates to the natural products giant, as well as independent coffee shops and natural food stores, Colorado-based Third Street Chai has developed a new 1 Liter tea line for national launch in Whole Foods and has changed its name to Third Street Inc. as well.
Beverage School San Francisco — Learn to Sell from Guayaki’s Mateo Sluder; Event is Next Week!
Beverage School attendees will get an inside look at what it means to try to break through in the Bay Area during an exclusive interview with Mateo Sluder, the Northern California "Cebador" for the vitally innovative yerba mate beverage company Guayaki.
Review: Tuvunu
Marketed as “100% Natural Greek Mountain Tea,” Tuvunu is a product is made with sideritis tea, wild blossom honey and not-from-concentrate lemon juice. Despite the exotic-sounding tagline, the beverage tastes nearly identical to a standard sweetened black tea with lemon. Figuring out some way to make this drink’s flavor memorable -- while maintaining the enjoyment of the beverage -- is the obvious next step.
Review: Sipp (New Packaging)
Sipp, which produces a line of organic sodas, recently revamped its packaging and is now marketed as “sparkling organics.” The new look, which moves the Sipp into a 12 oz. longneck bottle and features new label design, definitely makes a good brand even better.
Video: Cold-Pressed Gold – Examining the New Wave of Super-Premium Juice
Indeed, cold-pressed, super-premium juices, the majority of which are sold by natural retailers, have attracted a tremendous amount of attention and enthusiasm, and sustained growth appears to be a forgone conclusion. However, a deeper examination of the category reveals a potentially challenging path for new brands.
LGBT Activists Protest Coke’s Sponsorship of Olympics in Russia
Shortly after announcing a boycott of Stolichnaya Vodka, LGBT organizations and activists dumped Coca-Cola onto the streets of New York’s Times Square Wednesday to protest the soda giant’s sponsorship of the upcoming Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
Review: Ayala’s Herbal Tea
Earlier this summer, Ayala’s Herbal Water debuted a new line of caffeine- and sugar-free herbal teas. Rolled out as an exclusive at Wegman’s and The Fresh Market, Ayala’s Herbal Tea…
Reed’s Culture Club Kombucha Enters Kroger Stores
Reed’s Inc., the Los Angeles-based natural soda maker, announced Tuesday that Kroger will take on four of its eight kombucha flavors in approximately 1,000 supermarkets across the country.