For one of the country’s hottest brands in the natural channel, Natural Products Expo West 2014 also seemed to be something of a point of departure for Kevita, a fast-growing sparkling probiotic brand that aims for 100 percent growth annually for the next five years – and has hit that mark for the past two, according to co-founder Bill Moses.
Having established itself as a leading player in the rarified realm of “third wave coffee,” Chameleon Cold-Brew has now set its sights on bringing high-end coffee to a broader base of consumers with a new line of single-serve, ready-to-drink products.
Gravity Apple Cider Vinegar Drink is a blend of 30 percent apple juice and two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar. The product, which is also sweetened with xylitol and honey and enhanced with vitamins, tastes very much like apple juice. This is a different approach than other apple cider vinegar drinks that we’ve sampled (yes, there are a few out there), which tend to be much more forward in their vinegar flavor.
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When we’ve seen companies fuse disparate categories into one beverage, it’s the consumers who often inspire the innovation. It’s the same story with Cleveland-based Garden of Flavor, which blends cold-pressed juice with probiotics.
The premise of Organic Gemini’s Guarana Energy is seemingly straightforward and simple: blend coconut water (from concentrate) with a caffeinated punch of guarana extract. The resulting product has the flavor and hydrating abilities of a traditional coconut water and the caffeine equivalent of a cup of coffee. To that end, this USDA Organic beverage is enjoyable and fills what seems like a logical niche in the coconut water category.
In this video, filmed at Heath-Ade’s booth at Natural Products Expo West 2014, BevNET CEO John Craven speaks with co-founder Daina Trout about the company’s frugal deployment of capital, its production strategy and why an increase in manufacturing requires a slow and steady approach. Trout also discusses the target market for Health-Ade, why the kombucha category can pull from other beverage segments and new distribution of its beverages.
Think maple and birch tree water companies have lots of work to do before persuading consumers? Think the same for cactus water? From a matter of association, and the arduous steps of building a contiguous category, the challenges could be next to nothing when compared to those of artichoke water.
The bond between the food and beverage CPG industries continues to strengthen. Last week, B&G Foods, Inc., a conglomeration of food brands such as Cream of Wheat and Ortega, announced that Michael Sands has been promoted to the newly created position of executive vice president of snacks, according to a company release.
A recent announcement from new Coke VEB President Scott Uzzell has answered the succession question for portfolio brand ZICO. Tom Larsen, who has been the general manager of VEB’s Illy RTD coffee business, will take over as President and GM of ZICO. Larsen, a long-time Coke veteran, will be moving from Atlanta to run ZICO from its El Segundo, Calif. base.
In the embedded video, which was filmed at the Caliwater booth at Natural Products Expo West 2014, founder Matt McKee goes into greater detail about the product’s chief benefits, such as skin revitalization and bodily detoxification. Among other effects, he said that the betalains can reduce under-eye puffiness and add a glow to skin.
While established beverage brands took advantage of the high-profile event to announce line extensions, updated formulations and packaging revamps, a significant number of early-stage companies utilized Expo West to introduce their products to swarms of distributors, retailers and media personnel walking the show floor. Covering every new product introduction or revamp at Expo West was no easy task, but our team was up for the challenge.
Happy Tree Maple Water is a high pressure processed (HPP) beverage that, as the name might suggest, is made using water sourced from maple trees. While this is one of several products that are coming to market as part of what appears to be an emerging trend, Happy Tree is definitely the best maple water that we’ve had to date.
BevNET is proud to announce two exciting new program additions to the BevNET FBU Boston lineup, both of which draw on the great strength of opportunities available to food and beverage entrepreneurs in the New England area.
