With a significant decline in consumption of concentrated orange juice, overall U.S. sales in the category tumbled 5.4 percent in volume and 0.6 percent in revenue in a year-over-year comparison for the four weeks ending on July 7, 2012, according to the Dow Jones. The sales data, compiled by Nielsen and published by the Florida Department of Citrus (FDC), also shows that orange juice prices rose by 5 percent versus the same period in 2011.

The Coca-Cola Co., Inc. announced today that it will streamline its operations around three major businesses in an effort “to better address the changing demands of the global marketplace.” The reshuffling of Coke’s operational structure will be effective on January 1, 2013.

Deep presence in the natural channel? Check. National distribution? Check. Chain authorization in mainstream retailers? Check. In less than two years, Mamma Chia has racked up an impressive set of wins and shows no signs of slowing down with the recent announcement that the company has gained distribution in 150 Ralph’s stores in Southern California. Ralph’s joins Giant Eagle, Fairway and Vons as mainstream grocers that now carry the organic chia drink.

Following a three month campaign in which the company enlisted its Facebook fans and media professionals to help choose its newest flavor, AriZona announced today that Cherry Lime Rickey would join its formidable cadre of tea and juice drinks. BevNET’s own John Craven and Andrew Guard were two of the folks asked to help choose from three contending flavors, and we created a short video of their taste test back in April. It turns out that Craven and Guard know how to pick a winner...

Innovation Ventures LLC, the manufacturer of 5-Hour Energy, is planning a major expansion that includes broader sales and marketing initiatives, new product lines, export to international markets, and a third manufacturing and distribution facility, according to a recent article in Forbes. The company has created a new offering for $400 million in notes to fund the expansion of the 5-Hour Energy brand.

PepsiCo and the National Football League (NFL) announced today that Pepsi will be the sponsor of the 2013 Super Bowl Halftime Show and follows the renewal of a long-term agreement between PepsiCo and the NFL last year. Pepsi, which last sponsored the live event in 2007, will also have 60 seconds of advertising time during the game, one that attracted over 111 million viewers this year.

Pitaya Plus has gained new distribution in over 100 Ralph's stores in Southern California. Ralph's is the first mainstream grocer to carry the all-natural pitaya (more commonly known as dragonfruit) drink, which is also distributed in hundreds of natural foods stores along the East and West coasts, including Whole Foods, Sprouts, and New Leaf.

Calling New York City's proposed ban on large containers of sugar sweetened drinks an "arbitrary" idea that "complicates the practical realities of commerce," Honest Tea founder Seth Goldman expressed frustration with Mayor Mike Bloomberg's plan in an op-ed published in The Wall Street Journal today.