Judge Gives Tentative Approval to $5.3 Million Muscle Milk Settlement

A federal judge has tentatively approved a settlement in which the makers of Muscle Milk will create a $5,275,000 million fund for consumers adversely affected by marketing of the products. The settlement, in which Cytosport Inc. denies any wrongdoing, will resolve a 2011 false advertising lawsuit filed against the company.

Coke Finishes Buyout of Zico; Uzzell Becomes President, Rampolla to Advise

Coke has finalized its purchase of Zico coconut water, purchasing the remaining outstanding shares. Zico was purchased through Coke's Venturing and Emerging Brands Group (VEB). Founder and current CEO Mark Rampolla will be moving into a role of non-executive advisor during the transition; G. Scott Uzzell will become President, rejoining Coke a year after he left VEB to become Zico's Chief Commercial Officer and EVP of Sales.

Review: Suja Elements – New Varieties

Suja has added a few more varieties to its Elements line of juice smoothies. Like all Suja products, the new Elements flavors are cold-pressed and high-pressure processed, and while we have mixed feelings about some of the new varieties in terms of packaging and branding, the formulation and flavor of the products are excellent.

Download Your FREE Copy of BevNET’s New Beverage Guide

BevNET’s New Beverage Guide, the most comprehensive collection of non-alcoholic beverages compiled annually, is now available for download. Featuring nearly 160 new brands and products from a wide range of drink categories, the guide is an essential resource for beverage manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and retailers. Download your FREE copy of the guide here.

On the Air, Blumenthal Continues Energy Drink Battle

After Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) received a tweet with an image of a toy boat draped in branding from Rockstar Energy, CNN anchor Jake Tapper aired Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) on his news show to chat about youth marketing and energy drinks, a rather familiar subject by now.

Review: Rockstar Sparkling Energy

Amid rising demand for low-calorie and flavored sparkling waters, Rockstar has released a new “Sparkling” brand extension to its line of energy drinks. The beverages, which come in Cherry Citrus and Peach varieties, are zero-calorie seltzer-like products that are sweetened with Ace-K and sucralose. With a softer vibe than its primary line, both in terms of flavor and branding, the drinks are a nice addition to the Rockstar family.

BevNET Live: 7-Eleven Execs to Present on Assortment — and Investment

BevNET is delighted to announce that attendees of BevNET Live will get two perspectives from inside the country’s largest convenience store chain, 7-Eleven. Julie Whittle, the Category Manager for Soft Drinks and Energy, will speak on getting into 7-Eleven and staying in, while Raja Doddala, VP of Portfolio Management, will discuss a new venture capital model that is emanating from the retailer itself: 7-Ventures.

BevNET Live: Learn Costco from the Inside Out with John Eagan and Danny Stepper

In a joint interview, John Eagan, the V.P. and Senior General Merchandiser for Costco Wholesale, and Danny Stepper, the CEO & Co-Founder of L.A. Libations, will participate in a discussion matching one of the company's most important gatekeepers with an entrepreneur who has a strong background in introducing and supporting products in the chain.

BevNET Live: Meet Your Virtual Board of Secret Weapons — Sadowsky, Barnhorn, Goldberg

At BevNET Live in Santa Monica, BevNET will bring together a group of three of the best “secret weapons” in the business – a trio of experienced beverage entrepreneurs who have gone on to work with companies as investors, board members, and advisors and who are highly cognizant of the factors that cause companies to succeed or fail. Together, they will discuss the repeated challenges and some of the most effective ways they have seen for companies to assess their performance.

Water Still Plays Second Fiddle for Children, Teens

Although water has overtaken carbonated soft drinks as the most consumed beverage among U.S. adults, children and teens remain more likely to choose drinks like milk and soda than water, according to a new report from The NPD Group, a market information and advisory firm.

BevNET Live is THREE WEEKS Away! Join the 400+ Already Registered!

With over 400 registrations to date, BevNET Live Winter 2013 is selling at a record pace, and space is filling up faster than ever. At this pace, the conference, which will be held on Dec. 9 & 10 at the Loews Hotel in Santa Monica, is expected to sell out well before the event date.