And the hits just keep on coming for Monster Beverage. The energy drink giant is facing new scrutiny about the safety of its products, this time from the city attorney in San Francisco. In a letter sent to the company on Wednesday, Dennis J. Herrera alleged that Monster's marketing campaigns have led to “unsafe and irresponsible consumption of its products,” and asked Monster to substantiate its claims that consuming large amounts of its highly caffeinated drinks is safe for consumers.

In an industry that is often risk averse, BevNET Magazine publisher Barry Nathanson suggests that beverage retailers and distributors take more chances on new brands and innovative products. "Beverages are in a lull, waiting for the next great thing. If it arrives soon, terrific. But until then, take a chance on some exciting new entries," said Nathanson.

Screening job candidates is one of the first - and perhaps most critical - parts of the hiring process. It can, however, be very time-consuming and difficult to navigate, particularly for a company with limited resources. In order to more efficiently manage the screening process, Josh Wand, the founder of BevForce, a staffing agency focused on the beverage industry, shares a few ways to most effectively screen potential employees.

Time is running out to submit your brand for BevNET's Best of 2012 Awards! November 15 is the last day that we are accepting submissions for our 9th annual “Best of” awards, which are announced in December and will feature winners in over 12 categories. Winners will be invited to participate in the awards presentation at BevNET Live Winter 2012, and will have the ability to use the BevNET Best of 2012 logo in press releases, marketing materials, and product packaging.