Review: Rockstar Super Sours
Along with a new line of energy waters, Rockstar unveiled its new “Super Sours” line at the recently held 2012 NACS show. The line features two candy-inspired flavors, Bubbleberry and…
BevNET Live: Dispatches from the Front Lines With Chia\Vie, Golazo, RealBeanz founders
BevNET Live will begin on Monday, Dec. 3 with a discussion of the challenges of the entrepreneurial beverage business — as described by three companies who are on the front…
Review: Lanilai Relaxation Drink
LANILAI is a new non-carbonated, lightly sweetened relaxation drink. As with other relaxation drinks that don’t contain ingredients that are commonly used in sleep aids, we can’t tell you if this one works, but avoiding potentially controversial ingredients seems like a smart move in the long run. And while we applaud Lanilai for a flavor profile that is both soothing and relaxing, the brand could use an upgrade in its branding and packaging.
Less Than Three Weeks Until BevNET Live Winter 12 – Have You Registered?
BevNET Live Winter 2012 is less than three weeks and is on pace to be a completely sold out show. If you are interested in attending, but have still not registered, now is the time to reserve your spot among over 500 beverage industry professionals, including investors, suppliers, retailers, and distributors. Sign up now by clicking the link below...
Monster Board Approves $250 Million Buy Back in Outstanding Stock
For the second time in three months, Monster Beverage’s board of directors has authorized a repurchase of up to $250 million of the company’s outstanding common stock. Monster’s board initiated the stock repurchase following weaker than expected third quarter revenues and profits. The company achieved $541.9 million in revenue for the quarter – a 14 percent jump in year over year sales – but fell well short of the $578.4 million that analysts projected.
DPSG To Pull 7UP Antioxidant Line Off the Market
Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPSG) is pulling its line of 7UP Antioxidant sodas, the company announced last Thursday, shortly after being hit with a lawsuit alleging that the drinks were misleading to consumers. However, DPSG stated that its decision was based on longstanding plan to reformulate the drinks and is not related to the lawsuit.
Last Call: Apply NOW for New Beverage Showdown 4 at BevNET Live Winter 12
BevNET Live Winter 2012 is only three weeks away, and now is the last chance for beverage companies to apply for New Beverage Showdown 4. If you operate a new beverage company (meaning your brand is less than one year old or not yet on the market), New Beverage Showdown 4 is a one of a kind opportunity to showcase your brand in front of over 500 industry professionals, including investors, suppliers, retailers, and distributors, and a chance to win $10,000 in cash/prizes.
Review: Granny Squibb’s Unsweetened Teas
Granny Squibb's has launched unsweetened varieties of its iced teas, which are made with black tea and real fruit juice. The new unsweetened line contains no added sugar and has 10 calories per 16 oz. bottle. While we have mixed opinions about the two flavors that we sampled, there are few visual differences between the unsweetened and sweetened products, and it might be difficult for consumers to discern between the two lines.
Beverage School: How Do I Get My Brand Into a Distributor’s Portfolio?
You’ve a got a great new product, and you think it’s ready for distribution. But how does your brand find its way into a distributor’s portfolio? In this segment featured on BeverageSchool.com, Debbie Wildrick, a 23 year veteran of the beverage industry with executive roles at 7-Eleven and PepsiCo, talks about the importance of having a product that fills an unmet need in the market, and a thoroughly planned marketing and sales strategy as the best ways for a brand to find distribution.
Review: Taste Nirvana Coco Motion
Taste Nirvana Coco Motion is blend of coconut water, coconut nectar, lime juice, sea salt and lime flavor. While we enjoyed the taste of the product, simplifying the look of its 16.2 oz. can - and making it more clear that the beverage is lime-flavored - would definitely help its presence on the shelf.
Nielsen Data: Energy Drinks, Bottled Waters Stay Hot, While CSDs Slide
While pricing remains muted, the carbonated soft drink category continued to slide with sales declining by 2.4 percent in a year-over-year comparison for the four weeks ending on October 27, according to Nielsen Scantrack Enhanced FDMx data released in a new report from Morgan Stanley. Yet while CSDs remain on a downward slope, the hottest category in beverages remains energy with category sales up 12.4 percent compared over the same timeframe last year.
BevNET Live Winter 2012: Final Agenda Now Available
BevNET has posted the final agenda for BevNET Live, to take place on Dec. 3 and 4 in Santa Monica, Calif. at the Loews Beach Hotel. Descriptions of breakout sessions and some remaining speaker bios will be posted in the days to come.
Aloe Showing Some Sparkle as Novamex Launches Alova in The Fresh Market
Calling it a "new direction" for the company, Mexican beverage marketer Novamex has launched Alova, a new all-natural, sparkling aloe vera drink. Novemex, which produces and sells a range of Mexican-inspired drinks including Jarritos soft drinks and Mineragua water, has gradually expanded its footprint in the U.S. and will look to Alova as a point of entry into the natural channel via growing consumer exposure of aloe and its aura of health and wellness.
Packaging Evolution
Here’s the issue: GNC is a well-known retailer, but the process of rolling a beverage brand licensed from GNC into other stores presented a bit of a design problem for Shadow Beverage and Snacks, the company that licensed the right to develop the drinks. To begin with, there’s complexity – the company envisioned three kinds of products—an enhanced water, a sports drink, and a protein drink – covering both the average, aspirational grocery consumer and the highly involved athletic achiever.