Looking to shed "promising upstart" status in favor of a seat at the big kids' table, búcha live kombucha has named veteran natural foods and beverage exec Ron Lloyd as CEO. The move, made quietly last spring, has already paid dividends, as the company’s new distribution strategy has recently pushed internal growth expectations up 30 percent for 2011.

A national rollout of its new mid-calorie soda is indeed next for Pepsi. Following what the company called a successful test launch of Pepsi Next in Iowa and Wisconsin, the cola giant plans to begin selling the beverage throughout the United States beginning in April 2012, according to the Associated Press. Pepsi Next contains 60 calories per 12 oz. can, 60 percent fewer calories and 60 percent less sugar than regular Pepsi.

Fresh off its recent $30 million acquisition of super-premium juice brand Evolution Fresh, Starbucks made another major move this week as the coffee giant announced plans to relocate its Tazo Tea business from Portland, Ore. to Kent, Wash. With the move, Starbucks will improve production efficiencies and streamline operations as the company consolidates and upgrades its manufacturing plant in Kent.

Relevant in the news today include stories about the continuing and mounting pressure on PepsiCo and why consumers love innovation in oft-consumed food and beverages. Shortly after Nelson Peltz’ Trian Fund acquired 2.36 million shares of PepsiCo, The Financial Times examined the potential for the cola giant to retain outside advisors to help adjust its business and marketing strategies and defend against a corporate shake-up.

As 2011 marked a year in which the United States was pummeled by some of the worst tornadoes, floods, and wildfires on record, Nestlé Waters North America employees were recently honored by AmeriCares, a nonprofit global health and disaster relief organization, for donating over one million bottles of water to natural disaster survivors in 12 states across the country. Over the last seven years, Nestlé Waters has worked with AmeriCares to donate over 6 million bottles of water to disaster survivors in the United States and Haiti where the company supported relief efforts after the 2010 earthquake.

Shareholder concerns at O.N.E. Coconut Water and Celsius Holdings appear to have reached a boiling point as both companies ousted top executives this week. As first reported in Beverage Business Insights, O.N. E. Coconut Water dismissed both Steve Coston, the president of the O.N.E., and Steve Vasquez, the vice president of sales. O.N.E. founder Rodrigo Veloso said that the moves were part of a general restructuring at the company, though he declined to explain the exact reasons behind Coston and Vasquez’ seemingly abrupt exit.

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