Splash! PepsiCo Relaunches Sparkling Aquafina Brand

PepsiCo today re-introduced Aquafina FlavorSplash, a line of zero-calorie, flavored and carbonated waters. The brand, which first appeared in 2005 and was dropped after a few months on the market, has returned with a new look and branding that leans toward a younger set of consumers. The return of the brand also comes with a new line of liquid water enhancer products -- PepsiCo’s first foray into the category,

Early Registration for BevNET Live Winter 2013 Ends in TWO WEEKS! Spots for New Beverage Showdown 6 are Running Out!

If you haven’t yet signed up for BevNET Live Winter 2013, you have just two weeks to take advantage of early registration pricing for the event. The two-day business conference will be held on Dec. 9 and 10 in Santa Monica, Calif. and is a critical learning and networking opportunity for beverage entrepreneurs, suppliers, distributors, retailers and investors. The last nine BevNET Live shows have sold out, and space is running out fast!

LaCroix Revives Spree, Launches Brand Nationally at Target

Though the restaged brand bares more than a passing resemblance to Sparkling ICE, the line is, unlike the Talking Rain-owned juggernaut, an all-natural product. LaCroix has launched Spree at Target, and will position and place the brand to reach natural consumers wary of artificial and genetically modified ingredients, according to Vanessa Walker, SVP Marketing and Strategy, LaCroix Beverages Group.

Review: Gutz Energy Drink

Gutz Energy Drink, which is the flagship flavor of the company’s line of shots and energy drinks, is one of those unfortunate brands that, as is so often the case in the energy category, has put the cart before the horse.

Review: Reed’s Culture Club Kombucha (New Flavors)

Reed's has in recent months seen quite bit of traction with its Culture Club Kombucha line having gained new distribution for the products in several mainstream and natural retailers, including Kroger. With steadily increasing sales, the company recently rolled out two new varieties -- Lemon Ginger Raspberry and Passion Mango Ginger -- for the brand, and both are excellent additions to an already solid line-up.

Keeping Cool Under Pressure at Pack Expo

With the fresh juice craze reaching a fever pitch in the U.S., product preservation technology was featured prominently at this year’s PACK EXPO International, held from September 23-25 at the…

Cheribundi’s Challenge: Amplify Its Athletes

Cheribundi CEO Brian Ross said that about 90 teams from the NHL, NFL, MLB, NBA and NCAA regularly drink his company's tart cherry juice, but most consumers don't know that yet.

Review: L.I.F.E. Energy

L.I.F.E. (aka “Let It Fly Energy”) Fruit Punch is a “vitamin enhanced energy drink” that is sweetened with sucralose and stevia. For the most part, we enjoyed the formulation of the beverage, but the design of its package and the branding of the product (beginning with the name itself) are both causes for concern.

Sell the Portfolio: Coke’s VEB Brands To Combine Sales Teams

Coca-Cola’s Venturing and Emerging Brands Unit (VEB) is planning to reorganize the sales forces of its three wholly-owned entrepreneurial brands into a single unit capable of selling its portfolio throughout the Coke system, BevNET has learned.

Video: Pieces in Place, Zola is in Execution Mode

Profitable and continuing to evolve, Zola’s restaged “Fruits of the World” platform and rapid ascension as a player in the coconut water category have positioned the company for sustained growth in both natural and mainstream retail channels. With the pieces in place, founder Chris Cuvelier and his team are pressing forward -- and not looking back.

Review: Diabolo Loco Acai Berry Guava

Diabolo “Loco” Acai Berry Guava is a reduced-calorie energy drink and one of two varieties that make up the brand’s “Energizing Collection.” While we’re not sold on the company's segmentation of “Refreshing” and “Energizing” products (all of them look like energy drinks), this is definitely one of the more enjoyable varieties that we’ve sampled from Diabolo.

Review: DRY Soda’s New 12 oz. Cans

Although consumption of mainstream CSDs continues to slide, natural and specialty soda brands are finding some opportunity in the space with the launch of innovative flavors and packaging options. DRY…