Over the last three days, the American Beverage Association (ABA) has published three separate statements countering a recent Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) report which found that the number of emergency room visits involving energy drinks more than doubled from 10,068 in 2007 to 20,783 in 2011. The ABA called the report inaccurate and “more sensational than substantive.”
For all its heroic marketing, Red Bull provides no more energy than a cup of coffee or a caffeine pill, a recent lawsuit argues. Filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the lawsuit claims that the energy drink company uses deceptive marketing to justify its premium pricing even though its products offer a strong but not superior boost of energy. The lead plaintiff is Benjamin Careathers of the Bronx, N.Y., who has been drinking Red Bull products since 2002.
The 2013 Winter Fancy Food Show begins this Sunday in San Francisco. The show is one of the largest for the specialty, natural, and gourmet food and beverage industries. The event will features approximately 50 beverage companies. BevNET.com will be on hand to report on news and innovation from beverage-related exhibitors at the show.
Riding the wave of momentum for lemonade drinks and health and wellness products, Mr. Mo's is a new line of organic lemonades. While the beverages are enjoyable from a taste perspective, the branding and packaging of Mr. Mo's leaves something to be desired.
Taking direct aim at the Smartwater juggernaut, Nestlé Waters North America (NWNA) announced that it is now distributing its Resource water brand nationally. NWNA test launched the premium-priced water brand, which is spring-sourced and contains naturally occurring electrolytes, last year in Southern California, and initiated new distribution of the brand across the U.S. earlier this year.
New York City’s Board of Health has announced that it will give restaurants and other on-premise food retailers a three-month grace period before enforcing its ban on the sale of large format sugary drinks. Once the 90-day grace period ends, violators of the ban will be subject to a $200 fine.
A proposal to introduce a five cent deposit on beverage containers sold in Maryland has distributors and industry groups calling the plan "ill-conceived, outdated and ineffective," according to an article in the Baltimore Sun. State delegates Maggie McIntosh and John A. Olszewski Jr. have announced their intention to introduce a bill called “Recycle for Real," that would add Maryland to a list of 10 other states that require beverage container deposits.
Vinki, a line of all-natural juice drinks made with apple cider vinegar, recently underwent a mild rebranding. The products are still being positioned as a digestive health beverage, but feature a new label design that has a more modern and good for you feel. Overall, it’s definitely an improved product, but it’s not totally there yet.
In this short video, we’ve compiled a month by month timeline of the headlines and news stories that shaped our coverage in 2012 and look to have a significant impact on ingredient trends, marketing, government regulation, and financing deals in the months to come.
In response to growing concerns about rising rates of obesity in the U.S., the Coca-Cola Co., Inc. has produced a two-minute video advertisement, that “encourages everyone to be mindful that all calories count in managing your weight, including those in Coca-Cola products and in all foods and beverages,” according to a statement released today by the company.
Frizzante is a line of 100 percent natural sparkling juice drinks that comes in three flavors. For better or worse, the entire lineup is based on apple juice, meaning that the flavored varieties don’t actually have other fruits in them (they uses essences, a type of flavoring). The formulation of the drinks leads us to question the direction that the company has taken in its branding and packaging.
Energy drinks saw a significant deceleration in c-store sales growth, according to a new report from Morgan Stanley. The investment bank today released an overview detailing a year-over-year comparison in which category sales of energy drinks rose by 11.2 percent over the four-week period ending on Dec. 22. The recent slide in sales growth appears to be tied to the sustained deluge of controversy and criticism in recent months surrounding energy drinks.
PepsiCo and Anheuser-Busch InBev are collaborating on joint promotions and in-store marketing for the first time, according to a story by Ad Age. The collaboration will take place in the days leading up to the Feb. 3 Super Bowl.
The FRS Company is facing a class action lawsuit alleging that the company is engaging in false and misleading advertising related to its Healthy Slim product line. Filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court on Dec. 5, the lawsuit states there is “no generally accepted scientific evidence within the scientific community” the active ingredients in FRS Healthy Slim, consumed “either individually or in combination,” will contribute to weight loss and appetite suppression.
