New Beverage Showdown Returns to BevNET Live Winter 2012 in Santa Monica, CA

Beverage entrepreneurs will have the chance to once again win $5,000 and the recognition that they have a brand on the rise when: the New Beverage Showdown returns to BevNET Live on Dec. 3 and 4 in Santa Monica. Continuing the format enhancements that launched two “wild card” entrants alongside the pre-chosen field of six during the last event in New York City, winners will have the chance to join companies like Coco Café, Grady’s Cold Brew and Ojo in the spotlight.

Former Glaceau Ace Kahn Moves to Heineken

Marketing whiz Matthew Kahn, who worked closely with Glaceau marketing chief Rohan Oza in the key growth years immediately preceding the company's eventual sale to the Coca-Cola Co., Inc., is moving into a similar role at Heineken, where he will be the new VP of Marketing for Portfolio Brands.

The Day After: Reactions to the NYC Beverage Ban

One day after New York City’s Board of Health issued a landmark ruling that will ban the sale of many sugar-sweetened beverages in the city, supporters and critics of the plan expressed a wide range of opinions ranging from relief and approval to anger and indignation.

Causes Meet Corporate Thrice Over for Coca-Cola Co.

Talk about piling on. During the same week that the New York City Board of Health passed its ban on serving jumbo sodas, a pair of developments in two other closely watched social and environmental causes are affecting the Coca-Cola Co., including calorie counts in fast food chains and a battle over Genetically Modified Organisms.

Review: Eric’s Famous Energy

Eric’s Famous Energy is a line of energy drinks based in the Pacific Northwest. Most notable is the the brand’s packaging, which, with its choice of a 12 ounce glass…

Industry Group on NYC Beverage Ban: “The Fix Was in From the Beginning”

Calling the ruling a "rubberstamped" decision by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, beverage industry group New Yorkers for Beverage Choices blasted the city's Board of Health for passing a proposal that will ban the sale of many sugar-sweetened drinks in restaurants, food trucks, theaters and other on-premise retailers.

Review: Reed’s Culture Club Kombucha

Reed’s, Inc., maker of several lines of soda that are sold in the natural channel nationwide, recently announced their entry into the kombucha category. Known as “Culture Club Kombucha,” their…

NYC Board of Health Approves “Bloomberg Ban”

Let the legal challenges begin... This morning, New York City's Board of Health approved the so-called "Bloomberg Ban" on the sale of large containers of sugary drinks in on-premise retail locations. The ten-member panel approved the proposal, which cited sugary drinks as a leading cause of obesity, by a vote of eight to zero, with one abstention and one vacant seat on the board.

Coke Completes Senior Leadership Team with New Appointments

The Coca-Cola Co., Inc. announced today that it has completed the formation of its senior leadership team within its new global operating structure. Coke appointed a number of executives to top positions in its newly organized three operating businesses - Coca-Cola International, Coca-Cola Americas and Bottling Investments Group (BIG) - effective on Jan. 1, 2013.

Review: A-Game

A-Game, which is marketed by Orlando based startup All in Beverage, LLC., is a new sports/hydration beverage that is enhanced with sea salt and honey. In addition, it offers pleasant…

Personnel Carousel Keeps Spinning at PepsiCo

PepsiCo, Inc. today announced that John Compton, PepsiCo's current President, has left the company to become the CEO of Pilot Flying J Oil Corporation. PepsiCo Europe CEO Zein Abdalla has been elevated to President, PepsiCo, and PepsiCo executive Enderson Guimaraes has been named CEO of PepsiCo Europe, succeeding Abdalla.

BevNET Live: Explore Alternative Financing with CircleUp

BevNET is pleased to announce that Ben Lee, Director of Business Development for CircleUp, will be on hand during the BevNET Live event in Santa Monica on Dec. 3 and 4. CircleUp is an online platform that connects high-growth small consumer brands with value-added investors, and is just one of several sources of alternative financing that Lee will discuss in his presentation, "Alternative Sources of Financing for Beverage Companies."

Bai Makes Deeper Push into California

Bai Brands is expanding the availability of its coffee fruit-infused beverages in California. Today, the company announced a new distribution agreement with Santa Barbara-based Pacific Beverage Company and a retail authorization with premium grocer Gelson’s, which operates 17 locations in Southern California.

Honest Opinions: First Seth, Now Barry’s Take on The Bloomberg Ban

A few weeks after Honest Tea co-founder and TeaEO Seth Goldman penned an op-ed criticizing New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposed ban on the on-premise sale of large containers of sugary drinks, Barry Nalebuff, the company's other founding partner, offered his own critique in a recent post published on (ironically enough) Bloomberg.com.