Having built its core business in Southern California, functional beverage brand VYBES is now aiming to capture one of the region’s biggest markets; Also, Angry Angel makes its debut in Publix, Rowdy Energy expands nationwide with 7-Eleven, and Wilfred’s Non-Alcoholic Aperitif launches in the U.S.
The coronavirus outbreak has come amidst a steadily increasing number of CBD and legal cannabis products and. Many brands from both the THC and CBD sides of the ledger quickly found sales growth as consumers rushed to stockpile goods from nearly all CPG sectors, but cannabis suppliers and entrepreneurs are now wondering what their industry will look like once the crisis passes.
VYBES, the premium CBD beverage leader, has announced the appointment of legendary mixologist Nick Meyer as the official Beverage Director for the company.
If it is passed and signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom, as is widely expected to happen within weeks, California Assembly Bill 228 will declare that foods, beverages and cosmetics made with industrial hemp should not be considered as adulterated. Until that occurs, however, brands and retailers in Southern California still face an uncertain existence from day to day.
In 2019, the beverage market saw a veritable flood of CBD-based beverage innovations. Although competition in the space may be tight, CBD beverage leaders are now looking to work together to take the category out of legal limbo and into the mainstream.
As startups race to seize shelf space in the emerging market for hemp-infused products, CBD beverage makers have witnessed an influx of competition using low grade ingredients and mislabeled doses. As the category faces increased scrutiny from not just state and federal regulators, but consumers who are inexperienced with or skeptical of hemp-based products, many beverage brands are prioritizing transparency and education.
VYBES Continues Expansion with Florida Partnership; Olipop Adds 41 SoCal Whole Foods; Cann Now Available Via Eaze; Richard’s Rainwater Adds Whole Foods, The Fresh Market; Elev8 Hemp Signs with Three Distributors
Sunshine State Distributing announces the launch of VYBES, an organic beverage made with Hemp CBD, throughout Central Florida.
The market is wide open for beverage entrepreneurs to jump in with innovative and engaging new CBD and hemp-based drinks. Yet established players are equally focused on the potential for CBD as an opportunity to extend existing product lines and inject new energy and dimension to their brands.
Having watched Los Angeles-area retailer interest in CBD and hemp-derived products rise over recent years, LA Distributing Company (LAD) is one the independent DSD wholesalers across the country seeking to establish their bonafides working within the category, even as the legal framework around such products remains in flux.
