Xumma Semi Sweet Cola is a product that was designed, as the name clearly states, to be a less sweet cola. And a less sweet cola is exactly what it is, with 80 calories and 21g of sugar per 12 oz. bottle. While it might be challenging to have a single focus on cola, which is traditionally an area where upstart brands (as well as larger entrants) have struggled to gain traction, we think that the Xumma concept could be applied to other flavors.
The independent product-testing organization found that 12 brands of CSDs manufactured by The Coca-Cola, Co., Inc., PepsiCo, Inc. and Goya contain varying levels of 4-methylimidazole (4-MeI), a potentially-carcinogenic chemical byproduct of the production of certain types of caramel color as an ingredient.
Despite the Fancy's Food's Show's penchant for lip-smacking and indulgent flavors, beverage companies aren't dim about the overall consumer shift toward healthier living, and several of those exhibiting at the recent event showcased new products aimed at health-focused consumers with a discerning palate.
Nature’s Pure Organic Cola is a premium version of one of America's classic beverages: cola. The beverage is one that has been tried again and again, but very few brands -- up against Goliaths like Coke and Pepsi -- seem to do anything more than carve out a small niche. In the case of Nature’s Pure, the company at least has a chance to do just that, if not more, with a nice 8 oz. portion size, USDA organic certification and very enjoyable flavor.
KeVita announced Wednesday that it has expanded operations with three veteran sales hires for its team, as well as a new headquarters in Southern California. The additions come in response to surging demand for sparkling probiotic drinks, according to a company release.
According to a survey released Wednesday by IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm, the sluggish economic growth of 2013 has influenced all age groups to tighten purse strings in 2014. However, despite the widespread frugality, millennials have consistently struggled since the beginning of the economic slump.
With several intriguing product debuts and packaging updates from a number of the 50 beverage brands represented at the show, including Hint, Purity Organic, Califia Farms, ITO En and Q Drinks, attendees caught a glimpse of new beverage trends and innovation that are likely to remain on a steady course throughout 2014.
A student from the University of St. Thomas (UST) in St. Paul, Minn., has launched a cold-pressed juice vending machine, calling it Juice Cold Pressed. Nick Halter of The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal writes that after devising the idea in a business class at UST, Kalamel Mohamed plans to install 250 of the machines across the Twin Cities, along with business partners LJ Stead and Eric Ploeger.
Little Miracles produces a line of tea-based, organic energy drinks that are already distributed in 21 European countries. By signing with Acosta Sales and Marketing and Coast Brands Group, John Carroll, U.S. CEO of Little Miracles, said that the brand has begun to make its push into the U.S. marketplace.
The mango variety of INGO Cucumber Water follows in the footsteps of the company's two other flavors -- Lemon and Watermelon -- with its zero-calorie and sweetener-free formulation. However, it also brings a more enjoyable taste and improved packaging than what we previously saw in the other two varieties.
BevNET is now accepting listings for the 2014 Functional Beverage Guide, which will be published as a special section in the March issue of BevNET Magazine and will feature functional beverage brands and their suppliers. Listed alphabetically, beverage brands will be tagged with functional attributes (i.e. energy, relaxation).
Last week the Associated Press reported that San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera had started working with New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who issued subpoenas to several energy drink companies in 2012 as part of an investigation of his own, into the marketing practices, ingredients, and overall assessment of health risks that those products might present.
Talking Rain CEO Kevin Klock didn’t mind firing a few shots at the competition during a conference call for investors conducted Thursday by Bonnie Herzog, the managing director of beverage, tobacco and consumer research for Wells Fargo Securities, LLC.
Jay Street Coffee is a new line of ready-to-drink, aseptically-packaged coffee beverages marketed by Japanese tea maker ITO EN. The three-SKU line is made with coffee that is brewed from 100 percent Arabica Coffee beans and blended with milk and sugar. In terms of taste, the drinks are quite good, and we're also big fans of the name and labels, both of which pay homage to ITO EN's U.S. headquarters.
