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.
Another week, another new energy brand, and, unfortunately, our review of Plasma Energy cites many of the same issues facing other recent entries in the category.
The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has reversed a published claim that energy drinks are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The change came shortly after BevNET contacted the organization to inquire about the validity of the claim.
Kraft Foods Group is backing its faith in MiO, the liquid water enhancer, by placing a 30-second advertisement of the brand in the third quarter of the Super Bowl, according to Ad Age.
Mistakes have been made, but they're acceptable. So is spending a lot of money to spend a brand. At least, that's the assessment of Mike Repole, the chairman of Body Armor, who earlier today revealed that he and company founder Lance Collins, along with other investors, are willing to spend approximately $50 million over a 4-5 year period in marketing and building their year-old brand of "superdrink."
BevNET is now accepting listings for the 2013 Functional Beverage Guide. To be published as a special section in the March issue of BevNET Magazine, the Functional Beverage Guide will feature functional beverage brands and their suppliers. Listed alphabetically, beverage brands will be tagged with functional attributes (i.e. energy, relaxation). Brands will be indexed according to function at the start of the guide.
Life Juice is a new line of cold-pressed, high pressure processed juices. The products are packaged and sold direct-to-consumer in individual bottles, as well as in one- or multi-day juice cleanse regimens. With new juice cleanse products continue to pop up everyday, it might be difficult for some brands to stand out in the category. However, we feel like Life Juice has done well to stand out from the pack in both formulation and packaging.
It's a Whole Foods exclusive for a while, natch. According to the company's Twitter account, it is releasing the four-flavor line in "Austin, SA, Houston, Dallas, New Orleans and beyond." The flavors for Honest Fizz, which will be available in 12 oz. cans and 6-packs, include Root Beer, Lemon "Limey", Orange Pop, and (perhaps in tribute to Yale School of Management-based co-founder Barry Nalebuff?) cherry-flavored "Professor Fizz."
The nutritional and performance shake company, which was 69 percent Hershey-owned, "has decided to immediately cease operations and dissolve," noted a brief press release sent to BevNET. The reasons? A competitive category requiring further investment to make the company work.
