Karma Tries for a Pure Play
Karma Water, best known as one of the leading mix-to-drink brands utilizing a cap that enables vitamins to be dispersed into a bottle of water, has launched a new alkaline…
Short-Term Innovation: Red Bull Soccer, Sprite’s Seasonal
Call it a nod to niche: a couple of high-profile beverage brands recently launched limited edition line extensions. Red Bull has launched “Bull Energy Drink," a new sweet orange-flavored variety that is sold in soccer arenas and other special venues, and the Coca-Cola Co. has introduced a new cranberry-flavored Sprite for the holidays.
Manhattan Marketers Create Tea Cocktails
Jennie Ripps and Maria Littlefield, the founders of Owl’s Brew, a tea made specifically for cocktails, didn't set out to reinvent the mixer category, but BevMo likes the idea, anyway.
Novartis Puts NoDoz Into Energy Shot Game
Long before Red Bull, Monster and 5-Hour Energy, there was NoDoz, one of the first and best known over-the-counter caffeine supplements sold in the U.S. In recent years, however, energy drinks and shots have become a booming, multi-billion dollar category, and, in the process, made NoDoz seem like a relic of previous generations. That may change. After years of sitting on the sidelines, NoDoz has finally gotten into the game with the recent launch of NoDoz Energy Shots.
Review: Harmless Harvest Cinnamon & Clove
Harmless Harvest’s Cinnamon & Clove 100% Raw Coconut Water is a new “seasonal” product that is being introduced for the 2013 holiday season (it’s launching in early November in Whole Foods nationwide). As far as flavor goes, it’s definitely something that’s unique and creative, almost to a fault (at least from a natural appeal perspective).
Evolution Fresh Puts Pressure on Cold-Pressed Competition with Launch of New $70 Million Facility
The new 264,000 sq. ft. facility, is “one of the largest (in dollar sales) HPP juiceries in the U.S. capable of sourcing, peeling, squeezing and pressing raw fruits and vegetables,” according to the company. Equipped with four HPP machines, the new manufacturing plant will allow Evolution Fresh to produce 140,000 gallons of juice per week, four times as much as the old facility.
BevNET Live Santa Monica to Feature Special Edition of Beverage School
BevNET Live will once again feature a smaller, in-depth look at the challenges facing beginning beverage entrepreneurs through a Special Edition of Beverage School on Sunday, Dec. 8 for qualified BevNET Live registrants. Sponsored by Sovereign Flavors, The program will offer attendees lessons on product development, sales and marketing, supply chain management, distribution, and more.
Review: Belvoir Rose Lemonade
Building on the same elderflower base that’s in the company's Elderflower Presse flavor, this variety adds lemon and rose extracts to the mix. While lemon juice and rose petal extract are definitely complimentary flavors, rose seems to be one of those “love it or hate it” type of flavors. Nevertheless, Belvoir Fruit Farms has created a well-executed and sophisticated product that will likely do well with its customer base.
First Beverage Ventures Invests in Kombucha Brand
Six months after launching a new fund aimed at investment in emerging non-alcoholic beverage brands, the private equity arm of First Beverage Group has taken a stake in Health-Ade, which markets a line of premium, small-batch kombucha products. The deal is the first transaction made by First Beverage Ventures’ new fund.
In Zone Good 2 Grow Behind Rebrand
The thing to remember here is that In Zone wasn’t doing badly. The brand, best known for its distinctive “toppers” – toylike straws molded in the image of kid-friendly licensed characters sitting atop toddler and kid-focused juice drinks -- has been on an upward trajectory over the past several years, after taking the time to go quiet and rework its distribution strategy in 2007.
Review: TumericaALIVE Japanese Matcha
Compared with the other varieties that make up the TumericALIVE brand, this product is definitely the most unique tasting and has the lightest turmeric flavor of the line. And while the product is being marketed as a turmeric drink, it definitely feels like it could contend as an iced tea alternative as well.
Download BevNET’s 2013 NACS Show Planner
The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) annual show is less than a week away in Atlanta. The largest event for the convenience and petroleum retailing industry, NACS is also one of the beverage industry’s most important events of the year. This year’s show features over 125 beverage companies. As always, BevNET.com will be on hand to cover and report on the beverage-related exhibitors at the show.
Dreamwater Departure: COO Porpiglia Leaves
Two of the original three founders of Dream Water have now left the widely-distributed sleep shot company. Vincent Porpiglia, the company’s COO and acting CMO, resigned last week to pursue other options.
Video: Jin+Ja Builds on Solid Foundation
While it’s still early for the line of ginger-based drinks, founder Ruben Canada believes that Jin+Ja has and will continue to benefit from a solid footing in formulation, packaging and branding. “I think a big part of [our success] is making sure that we nailed it as far as making sure that we had a good foundation for the brand,” Canada said in an interview at the 2013 Natural Products Expo East show.