Company CEO Paddy Spence revealed to BevNET yesterday that the brand was in the process of implementing a new sweetener mix – “Sweet Smart” – which deploys a purer form of Rebaudioside A (more commonly known as Stevia) mixed with Erythritol and Monkfruit extract.
Nick Webb of The Irish Independent writes that Kilkenny, Ireland-based Glanbia, an international nutrition and cheese company, is amid a three-way shootout to buy Cytosport, Inc., the company that produces Muscle Milk, for about $500 million. Webb writes that Glanbia is said to be facing competition from dairy-ingredients firm Whitewave Foods and NBTY, a manufacturer of vitamins and nutritional supplements.
Following the dismissal of its lawsuit against San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera, Monster Beverage Corp. has issued a statement in response to one released by Herrera’s office earlier this week.
Industry veterans have expressed a wide range of opinions following the decision by The Coca-Cola, Co., Inc. to split its North American operations into two units. However, despite the range, one sentiment prevails with many: the shift could present a new set of challenges for Coke and its partners.
Danone Waters of America (DWA), the makers of evian spring water, announced last week that it will test a distribution partnership with Red Bull Distribution Company (RBDC). The test will focus on small format channels such as convenience, drug, select food service and specialty retail stores in southern California and central/southern Florida, two of evian’s key markets.
blk Beverages has introduced a new flavored line extension to its brand of fulvic trace mineral infused waters. blk+ contains the same black-colored liquid as blk's primary line along with citric acid, natural flavors and stevia, which keeps the calorie count at zero. All in all, blk has done a good job in creating a mainstream-oriented offering, although the company still needs to do a bit more in terms of educating consumers about the functional benefits of the products.
Seven months after Monster Beverage Corp. filed a lawsuit against San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera, one that aimed to block his investigation into the company’s marketing practices and regulate the caffeine content in its energy drinks, a federal judge has dismissed the case.
Eisner, who co-created the brand with Burke Eiteljorg as the Rising Beverage Co., Inc. in 2005, announced Friday that he was buying the company back from its current investors and that he would be taking over the position of President. Craig Berger was taking on a dual COO/CFO role while current president Reza Mirza was departing.
Last week, Whey Coco, which markets a powdered blend of whey protein and coconut water, announced a new broker agreement with SoCal-based beverage incubator L.A. Libations. The deal has been in the making since June and recently produced a major retail placement for the brand: Whey Coco will gain shelf space in select Kroger stores in the Northeast beginning in March 2014 with plans for a national launch later in the year.
Complete video coverage of BevNET Live Winter 2013 is NOW AVAILABLE on BevNET FBU, our on-demand video learning site for the food and beverage industry.
Making its debut in the U.S. market. Fire Blade is a Austrian-based brand that markets an energy drink and shot. The products are not bad, but with a formulation, flavor and design that feels very much that of typical energy brands, we're concerned that Fire Blade could easily be forgotten amongst the sea of similar products that have come before it.
Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc. (BWW) announced Thursday that PepsiCo, Inc., will become the restaurant’s primary soft drink and non-carbonated beverage supplier. The partnership, which will begin in early 2014, will replace products by The Coca-Cola Co., Inc., in the chicken wing chain. It will also initiate a series of joint marketing initiatives tied to sports and entertainment, according to a release.
In an effort to streamline operations and expedite its refranchising to independent bottlers, The Coca-Cola, Co., Inc. announced late Thursday that it will divide its North American operations into two units. On January 1, 2014, Coca-Cola Americas will no longer exist, paving the way for Coca-Cola North America (CCNA) and Coca-Cola Refreshments (CCR).
IBEX is a line of drinkable yogurt products that are sweetened with cane sugar and come in four varieties. While yogurt is often associated with probiotic functionality, three of the SKUs feature an added function -- including recovery and "brain-boosting" -- that is specific to the variety. On the whole, we like the brand and formulation of the beverages, however, some minor changes will be needed to better explain the extra benefits in some of the flavors.
