BevNET Magazine May/June 2020 by BevNET.com

MAY-JUNE 2020

DISTRIBUTION DANCE: Rockstar and Bang Deals Shuffle the Deck for Energy Drinks

2020

SUPPLIER & SERVICES GUIDE

PROTEIN DRINKS

THE RESILIENCE OF MALTERNATIVES

EVENT COVERAGE

Contents / May – June 2020 / Volume 18 / No. 3

SUPPLIER & SERVICES GUIDE • 2020

COLUMNS

FEATURES

4 First Drop Essential Choices

26 Cover Story Play That Rockstar-Bang Shuffle: Transactions Shake Up Distribution, Strategy

6 Publisher’s Toast Barry’s Best Feeling 24 Gerry’s Insights Pondering Premium During a Homestay

32 Protein Drinks Meal Replacement, Even When the Kitchen’s the Office

DEPARTMENTS

38 FMBs The Surprising Resilience of Malternatives

8 Bevscape/NOSHscape/Brewscape Koia Gains, Dean Drains, Three Twins Folds, Krave’s Sold, Breweries on the Ropes, Cascade Sale 16 New Products Talking Rain Gets Caffeinated; Neuro’s Gut Check 20 Channel Check Bang on a Can 66 Promo Parade Donations for the Cause

SHOW COVERAGE 40 CBC, Expo West Cancelled 41 Fancy Food West The Last Gathering

SPECIAL SECTION 42 Suppliers and Services Guide

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THE FIRST DROP BY JEFFREY KLINEMAN

Essential Choices I held quite a few jobs when I was a teenager, but I didn’t keep any of them for very long: sandwich maker, convention assistant, sunglasses assembler, salesman for a cable company. None of them were as well-regarded, or as remunerative, as bagging groceries at Bruno’s. Those kids in my high school class who comprised the apron-wearing crew clocking in at the “nice” grocery store in my suburb of Sandy Springs-- many of them boy scouts, honor students, or otherwise running with a group that was generally better behaved and smarter than I -- made a nice pile of cash. There was a solid hourly base to begin with, and frequent tips from grateful upper-middle-class denizens who were happy to have someone young hoist their Cracklin’ Oat Bran and CranGrape into the minivan for them. I know of a couple of kids who padded out their college funds considerably through Bruno’s, and a couple more who paid for their fi rst cars through the same gig. As reliable and wholesome as these young folks were, it’s hard for me to imagine them as “essential” at that point in their lives. It was a job for nice, smart guys and they moved on to nice professional lives as well -- Brad became a lawyer, Jason an anesthesiologist. Russ is an accountant and Thadd fl ies planes, while one of the Poulakos twins is a town

4 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JANUARY/FEBRUARY MAY/JUNE 2020 2018

planner and the other works in insurance. But if Covid-19 had hit then, how would they have felt on the front lines? What would their parents have said? It’s a question I’ve been thinking about quite a bit lately as I watch so much of the industry we cover wrestle with safety concerns in the wake of our current pandemic. Every day, more vulnerabilities reveal themselves as processing plants, factories and stores become outbreak hotspots. The inability of meat processing facilities to function without putting the lives of workers at severe risk has led to mass tragedy. There is more pain to come in the summer, when picking season will mean a risky choice between needed seasonal employment and the potential for viral infection. Meanwhile, stores like Whole Foods, Walmart, and Giant are reporting their own clusters of infection and death. Delivery drivers -- the cavalry of the Direct to Consumer push -- face their own tense decision between expenses and exposure. These aren’t the decisions to open or close that people can make because they own the business -- those decisions are fraught with their own horrible mix of pain and loss -- but they are the special tragedy of workers who have to decide whether their jobs are, quite unexpectedly, worth dying for. That’s not to say that some of these

jobs didn’t hold risk before; certainly meat processing and other factory jobs feature the potential for injury every day. What the additional risk brought to the floor by COVID-19 has revealed, however, is just how important these jobs really are, and how we need to reconsider that importance as we rebalance our treatment of the workers in the food distribution equation. Grocery chains tried to step up to the plate early on, recognizing that the role of the supermarket worker was all of a sudden being saluted with the ferocity of ambulance drivers and other frontline workers; many quickly raised pay and offered bonuses. There’s a lot of talk of recovery from systemic disruption and a lot of discussion of pivots as necessary in the new normal of retailing. There are calls to review supply chains, to think more clearly about worker safety, to think more clearly about how to ensure a reliable food supply with less waste. But as we think about the future of retail, the future of supply chains, I think we need to be aware that the essential nature of these jobs, these workers, isn’t something we should be considering just as the result of a pandemic. When I think about the kids I knew who were bagging at Bruno’s, yes, the money helped them out, but when it came down to it, they always had a choice to keep the gig or not. That, to me, is the essential difference.

Photo by Samara Doole on Unsplash

PUBLISHER’S TOAST BY BARRY NATHANSON

www.bevnet.com/magazine Barry J. Nathanson PUBLISHER bnathanson@bevnet.com Jeffrey Klineman EDITOR-IN-CHIEF jklineman@bevnet.com Martín Caballero MANAGING EDITOR mcaballero@bevnet.com Ray Latif CONTRIBUTING EDITOR rlatif@bevnet.com Brad Avery REPORTER bavery@bevnet.com Beth Kaiserman REPORTER bkaiserman@bevnet.com Jessica Infante REPORTER jinfante@bevnet.com Justin Kendall EDITOR, BREWBOUND jkendall@bevnet.com Carol Ortenberg EDITOR, NOSH cortenberg@bevnet.com Erin Cabrey EDITORIAL ASSISTANT ecabrey@bevnet.com

SALES

Observations from the Homefront As I sit here at home for what has now become an eight week seige, I reflect on all that has transpired. Our world as we know it has changed forever. I have often stated that I am not tech savvy, so on the way out of the office I grabbed my 300-plus 5x8” index cards -- my contacts all -- to use to work from home. Yes, I’m from the old school. Little did I imagine that they were to be my lifeline to the beverage industry. I have now found immense respect for people who work at home. It isn’t easy. It’s hard to reach people by phone and await a return call after you’ve left a message. It’s just hard to wait. And I miss the face to face. I have sent out more emails in this isolated two months than I would in a year. It’s important to stay in touch and send messages of support and sympathy to those affected, but it’s frustrating not to be able to connect. It is disheartening to listen to the issues that most beverage marketers are going through. They have spent years building their brands and now are having to do all that they can to keep them solvent. I’ve heard more about PPP loans than I would ever want to. I hope that they all get these grants, but I know it will not be the case. Sadly, many terrific brands will not make it -- and for once, it will be through no fault of their own. 6 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MAY/JUNE 2020

My appreciation of the internet as a lifeline grows exponentially. Technology has kept our business chugging forward. My respect for our team at BevNET has grown with each passing day. They are an extraordinary group of workers. We have a mission to deliver news and insights and to keep people connected. We take that responsibility seriously. We continue to evolve, with new initiatives serving the marketplace. We appreciate your support. My physical environment has shrunk to 11 blocks. That’s 11 blocks to Whole Foods, 7 to Trader Joe’s and 11 to the Fairway Market. I’m grateful that they are open, stocked, and respectful of the crisis. I think they’re handling it well -- which is to say that they are handling it, which is no minor task. To all the retailers, small and large, thanks to you and to your employees. I also give kudos for the distribution channel getting the goods to market. Everyone in the process risks their health to make it happen. They are noble people indeed. Lastly, and most important of all is the personal aspect of the isolation. Yesterday was one of the best days of my life. My wife and I went downtown in Manhattan to see our darling 15-month-old granddaughter Isabel for the first time since this started. Nothing is better than that -and that part of the world won’t change.

John McKenna DIRECTOR OF SALES jmckenna@bevnet.com Adam Stern SENIOR ACCOUNT SPECIALIST astern@bevnet.com John Fischer ACCOUNT SPECIALIST jfischer@bevnet.com Jon Landis SENIOR BRAND SPECIALIST jlandis@bevnet.com Kwaku Adu-Gyamfi SALES & MARKETING ADMIN kadugyamfi@bevnet.com

ART & PRODUCTION

Aaron Willette DESIGN MANAGER Nathan Brescia PHOTOGRAPHER/DESIGNER

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BEVSCAPE

THE LATEST BEVERAGE BRAND NEWS

For more stories, including the latest on the COVID-19 Crisis, check out bevnet.com

Koia Lands Potential “Last Money” With CircleUp Investment Plant-based beverage brand Koia has completed a bridge funding round with investment platform CircleUp Growth Partners that could possibly represent “the last money into the company,” according to CEO Chris Hunter. Details of the transaction were not disclosed. Koia has been one of the standout performers among an emergent class of plant-based protein drinks; according to IRI data, sales of its core lineup are up 123.5% ($7.6 million) yearover-year through February 23. Sold refrigerated in 12 oz. PET bottles, the brand has since expanded to include other functional sub-lines, including keto and coffee, which launched exclusively at Whole Foods in January. Two new flavors, Protein Chocolate Peanut Butter and Keto Cookies ’n Cream, debuted last month. Koia joins a food and beverage portfolio at CircleUp that includes plant-based brands such as Nutpods, Barnana and Rhythm Superfoods. The company will not take a seat on the board. The San Francisco-based fi rm launched a $125 million venture capital fund in 2017 which uses its proprietary AI platform Helio to guide investment strategy. Koia CEO Chris Hunter said the company has kept an ongoing dialogue with CircleUp since around the time it entered the market in 2016; in a confi rmation of the brand’s mission to connect with mainstream consumers, Hunter noted how CircleUp shared data from Helio showing Koia’s broad appeal. He praised

the group for being “very, very patient” as he initially explored raising an internal round of bridge capital before eventually deciding to bring them on as a full partner. The company’s original plan, according to Hunter, was to “go out for a much larger round” to close in late Q2 or early Q3 that would be “the last money in to our company.” Yet despite taking a bridge round, Koia is still on track to both hit its targets and retain the flexibility to either pursue a future sale, further equity investment, or other outcomes, Hunter said. “We are actually in a position now where we will have a positive cash position through the end of the year and into early next year,” he said. “The reason why that’s important to us is because we expect some pretty big margin enhancement and being even potentially at break-even by the end of the year, so that could have theoretically been the last money into the company.” The new funding will go towards supporting retail execution and saturating existing channels, with Hunter noting the company is eager to apply learnings from successful launches at conventional grocers Albertsons/Safeway and Publix. The latter, the fi rst conventional outlet to stock Koia, now counts the core protein line as a top-10 best-selling refrigerated beverage, he said. Though in-store demos and activations are on-hold for the foreseeable future, the company has not made any staff cuts related to the COVID-19 outbreak as of April.

Jennifer Cue Steps Down as Jones Soda CEO Jones Soda Co. CEO Jennifer Cue has stepped down from her position, the company announced on April 7. Jamie Colbourne has been named interim CEO. Cue, who was appointed CEO in 2012, is the company’s second largest shareholder after cannabis investment firm SOL Global purchased a 9.8% stake last year. She will remain on the company’s board of directors. “I would also like to thank Jennifer Cue for her many years of service and dedication to Jones Soda,” said Michael Fleming, Jones Soda’s chairman of the board, in the release. “Her leadership played an integral role in evolving Jones and Lemoncocco into authentic and unique brands that resonate well with consumers.” Cue originally joined Seattle-based Jones Soda in 1995 and spent a decade at the company in various roles, including COO and CFO, before departing in 2005. She rejoined the company as CEO in 2012. Cue told BevNET she was enthusiastic about bringing in an experienced “fresh 8 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MAY/JUNE 2020

pair of eyes” in Colbourne to run the business. “We had a couple of challenging years, and I had the opportunity to meet Jamie, who is fantastic,” she said. “I’m going to be working hand-in-hand with him to assist through the process. I’m still very involved in wanting to see the success of this business.” Colbourne is a Seattle-based CPG executive with a broad range of food and beverage experience, having most recently served as CEO at holding company JGC Foods. His prior roles include CFO at Quaker Oats (PepsiCo), CEO and President of Tully’s Coffee and CEO at Harry’s Fresh Foods. He is also a member of the board at Ellenos Real Greek Yogurt, Bargreen Ellison and Harbor Wholesale Foods. “Jones Soda presents an exciting opportunity to significantly grow a brand that has developed a reputation for unique and great tasting craft soda within its current customer base,” he said in the release. “I look forward to leveraging my expertise

in growing CPG and food distribution companies as we implement the necessary strategies to execute on the Company’s initiatives and return Jones to profitable growth.”

BEVSCAPE Court Approves Sale of Dean Foods Assets, Including $433M DFA Deal In late March, a U.S. bankruptcy court approved the sale of all assets of dairy conglomerate Dean Foods, including a $433 million acquisition of properties by national cooperative Dairy Farmers of America (DFA). The decision comes roughly five months after Dean, at the time the largest dairy producer in the country, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. In February, DFA announced it had reached an agreement to acquire a substantial portion of Dean’s assets, including 44 of its 57 liquid and frozen facilities, real estate, inventory, equipment, parts of its direct store delivery system and other corporate assets, for a base sum of $425 million. However, the cooperative was dropped as the stalking horse bidder for Dean last month after a group of creditors filed opposition in court against the deal. In a statement sent to BevNET, DFA EVP and chief of staff Monica Massey said that the approval of the cooperative’s bid followed “many months of uncertainty regarding the future of Dean Foods” and that the final closing is contingent upon approval by the

10 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MAY/JUNE 2020

U.S. Department of Justice and the finalization of collective bargaining agreements with multiple unions. “Throughout this process, our main focus has always been, and continues to be, on maintaining milk markets and limiting disruption to the industry,” Massey said. “If approved, the purchase of these assets will be critical to our mission of delivering value to our family farm-owners, preserve nearly 12,000 jobs and ensure fresh dairy is available to consumers across the country.” In addition to the DFA agreement, the court also approved the sales of eight facilities and two distribution branches to Prairie Farms Dairy for $75 million and a facility in Miami, Florida to Mana Saves McArthur, LLC for $16.5 million. Californiabased Producers Dairy Foods was approved to purchase Dean’s Reno, Nevada facility for $3.7 million as well as the intellectual property rights to the Berkeley Farms brand for $3 million. Texas-based Industrial Realty Group, LLC was granted the right to acquire Dean’s Meadow Gold Hawaii business

-- which produces brands such as TruMoo, Dairy Pure and POG juice in the Aloha State -- for $25.5 million. As well, juice brand Uncle Matt’s Organics, which Dean acquired for an undisclosed sum in 2017, will be sold to Harmoni, Inc. for $7.25 million. According to IRI, the brand’s orange juice business reported over $12 million in retail dollar sales for the 52week period ending February 23, up 31.6%, making it one of only a handful of orange juice brands showing double digit growth. Its lemonade business reported an additional $2.7 million in dollar sales in the same period. “We are confident that, under these new owners, our customers can expect the same commitment to quality and service that Dean Foods has lived up to over the years,” said Dean Foods president and CEO Eric Beringause in a press release. “We will continue to provide an uninterrupted supply of high-quality dairy products as we work towards completing these transactions. We appreciate the continued hard work and commitment of our Dean Foods employees throughout this process.”

NOSHSCAPE

THE LATEST FOOD BRAND NEWS

Carla Vernón Departs General Mills Annie’s needs a new head bunny: senior executive Carla Vernón has left General Mills, where she led the organic brand and the rest of the company’s natural and organic division. In an email to NOSH, Vernón said that she will look back on her time at General Mills fondly. “I chose to leave General Mills because I am looking forward to trying some new things,” she said, calling her 22 years with the company “ a gift I treasure.” Vernón first joined the company in 1998 as an associate marketing manager for Honey Nut Cheerios. She also held lead roles at Yoplait before rising to become VP and business unit director for snacks from 2015 to 2016. In the snack unit she oversaw a $1.5 billion portfolio of “portable wellness snacks” including Nature Valley bars, Fiber One snacks, Larabar, Fruit Snacks, and Cascadian Farm bars. When longtime Annie’s CEO John Foraker left General Mills to run baby food startup Once Upon a Farm in summer 2017, Vernón was serving as VP of natural and organic growth acceleration, and

was promoted to president of Annie’s and president of General Mills’ natural & organic operating unit. In recent years, Vernón became an outspoken voice and champion for diversity within the food and beverage industry. In speaking engagements she routinely spoke to the need for a more diverse set of founders and leaders, both in order to reach a changing consumer base but also to inspire new patterns of thought. At times, Vernón even criticized the industry for engaging in unconscious bias, helping minority founders share their own stories of the microaggressions and stereotypes that they’ve faced. During her time as president of natural & organic, a spokesperson for General Mills said, the company became the second largest branded natural and organic food producer in the U.S.. In recent years the group has helped lead the company’s efforts to develop new programs around regenerative agriculture, working to advance the supply chain within the U.S. In 2019, General Mills committed to converting one million acres of farmland to regenerative agriculture practices.

Moving forward, Emily Thomas has been promoted to the new role of VP, managing director of natural and organic. The role of president will no longer exist. Thomas has been with General Mills since 2002, in recent years serving as business unit director for Pillsbury, as well as the business unit director for dry baking and meals, and as a brand manager for children’s cereals. Thomas will oversee the Annie’s, Cascadian Farm and Muir Glen businesses. Meanwhile, meat snack brand Epic, which General Mills acquired in 2016, will be moved from the natural and organic operating unit to the snacks operating unit, reporting to Jeff Caswell, president of U.S. Snacks for General Mills. Looking forward, Vernón said that she has “exciting new ventures” that she is working on, but for now, they remain confidential. “I am energized about the path ahead. And, I look forward to sharing more soon,” Vernón said. “I have been sharing my favorite Oprah quote because I hope it will inspire others as it inspires me for the road ahead: ‘When the time comes to bet on yourself, I hope you will double down.’”

Three Twins Founder on Closing: ‘We Made the Wrong Bet’ Over a decade after it opened, the founder of organic ice cream company Three Twins announced in April that it was closing. Neal Gottlieb attributed the difficult decision to financial hardships resulting from a lack of growth and poor product choices. Founded in 2005 as a single scoop shop in Northern California, Gottlieb -- well known in natural products circles for his ice cream-themed clothes and participation on the show “Survivor” -- began selling hand packed pints of ice cream into regional grocery stores the following year. In 2010 the company opened a factory in Petaluma and expanded distribution up and down the West Coast. A second factory in Wisconsin followed and the company grew into national distribution. At its peak, Gottlieb said, the company sold its products in roughly 5,000 stores, had over 40 employees and was doing just north of $13 million in net sales. But costs and scale remained problems. “Our margins were not high enough overall,” Gottlieb said. “Early on we grew very rapidly and the hope was that we would continue to grow to the point where those margins would make sense, cover overhead and make a fair amount of profit. But then we stopped growing and had increased margin pressures.” 12 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MAY/JUNE 2020

The price of Three Twins’ flagship line was an issue from the start, he said. Originally, the company’s pints were priced at $5, an unsustainable figure without sufficient efficiencies of scale -- which never came. However, Gottlieb noted, if moved any higher than that, the product would not have grown to the point it did. In addition to margin issues, Gottlieb also said the company made a series of poor product decisions. In 2017, chasing the success of low-calorie frozen dessert Halo Top, the company launched Slim Twin, an organic ice cream alternative with 24 grams of protein and 240-320 calories per pint, depending on the SKU. While Gottlieb hoped the new line, which was priced similarly to its core products, would bring higher turns, the result was just the opposite. Retailers not only took existing Three Twins shelf space away for Slim Twin, but the line actually saw slower turns than the company’s core offerings. In 2017, Three Twins also launched a second sub-brand, Maxines, consisting of larger 1.5 quart tubs of organic ice cream. Priced at $6.99 to $7.99, Maxine’s was designed to offer consumers a lower priced alternative, but Gottlieb said the turns and customer response weren’t as expected. “We ran into trouble with that because we thought it would be incremental volume, but it wound up being a lot of cannibalization,” Gottlieb said. “If we had known what the volume was going to be at, we would have launched it at a higher price point, but we made the wrong bet.”

For more stories, check out nosh.com

KRAVE Returns Home With Sale to Sebastiani’s Sonoma Brands Maybe the old saying is wrong:You can go home again. Sonoma Brands, the holding company and investment group for snack brands started by Jon Sebastiani, announced this month the acquisition of KRAVE, the artisanal jerky and meat snack brand Sebastiani built and subsequently sold to The Hershey Company in 2015. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Sebastiani said the purchase price was less than the $220 million he sold the company for five years ago. Moving forward, KRAVE will exist under a new holding company called Double Peak, with Sonoma Brands managing director Kevin Murphy serving as executive chairman. Sebastiani said he sees an opportunity to reinvigorate the brand, which has struggled under Hershey’s ownership, and eventually pursue a second sale. 2015 may have only been five years ago, but much has changed in that time -- especially in the meat snack set. At its launch, KRAVE was one of the first -- if not the first - premium jerky brands. But now store shelves, across retails channels, have been inundated with new meat snack brands. Many of these offerings, in part spurred by KRAVE’s own exit, are private equity backed. Meanwhile, legacy brands have also launched or acquired their own premium or better for you options. Sebastiani said he’s aware that the environment Sonoma Brands and KRAVE will face today has changed. Immediate plans include reducing sugar levels in some offerings, revising “stale” flavors to

“reflect modernity” and updating messaging. Although KRAVE has always had a focus on emphasizing its wine country heritage and culinary roots, Sebastiani also wants to create a greater link between the brand and fitness. But the competition element concerns him less. Sebastiani said he expects to see more consolidation in the category, with some brands folding. Under Double Peak, Sonoma may pursue the acquisition of other jerky bands with the goal of creating a stronger, larger supply chain that is more vertically integrated. And ultimately, he believes, the likely buyer for KRAVE will be an existing meat snacks producer who sees the value in increasing their own size and scale. Although Sebastiani expects to use a co-packer for KRAVE, rather than pursue building out a manufacturing facility as Country Archer has, he hinted that more robust “partnerships” may take the cost of production down, increasing margins. According to flavor company FONA, Nielsen says the US market for meat snacks is now a $2.8 billion category with predictions for 4.2% annualized growth through 2022. To capitalize on this, Sonoma Brands plans to first ramp up innovation. The most recent launch of plant-based jerky was a positive step in the right direction, Sebastiani said, with other plant-based options soon to follow. The ultimate goal is to have a protein-focused brand that moves beyond only animal-based items and can exist in multiple categories throughout the store.

BREWSCAPE

THE LATEST CRAFT BEER BRAND NEWS

Brewers Association Survey: 46% of Craft Breweries Say They May Be Forced to Close Within 3 Months The Brewers Association (BA) released the results of its second member survey on the effect of the coronavirus disease COVID-19 on the craft brewing industry, and the results paint a bleak picture for many small and independent craft brewers. The survey — taken by 455 respondents from 49 states and Washington, D.C., through April 6 — revealed “a sharp drop in craft category sales, massive furloughs or layoffs, and the high likelihood of large numbers of brewery closings without a swift end to social distance measures — which looks increasingly unlikely — or rapid government support for small brewers and hospitality more broadly,” according to an analysis published today by BA chief economist Bart Watson. Among the most jarring findings: a majority of respondents do not think their businesses can survive three months under the current conditions, which Watson said suggests thousands of potential closings. Among those surveyed, 46.4% said their businesses will likely only last between one and three months, while 12.7% of respondents said they could stay afloat for just another one to four weeks. A quarter of respondents said their businesses could survive between three and six months, while 8.3% said they

could hang on between six months and a year. Just 5.1% said they would be able to stay in business a year. The survey found that 2.5% of respondents said they were planning to close. Watson noted that there are currently around 8,150 active breweries in the U.S. “If 2.5% of those breweries close, that would mean about 200 closures, 12.7% about 1,035 closures, and 46.4% about 3,785,” he wrote. “Based on recent trends, it was likely that 4-5% of the breweries in the country would have closed in 2020 prior to this shock, so while some percentage of these closures and potential closures reflect business that were already struggling, most are brought on solely by this event.” As those breweries attempt to stay afloat, many have furloughed or laid off staff. The survey’s respondents employed a collective 13,454 workers prior to COVID-19, with 7,485 full-time and 5,969 part-time workers. The majority of those workers have been laid off, with 65.7% of respondents saying they had laid off staff. The survey also asked about sales trends, which found that the median respondent’s onsite sales declined 77%, with an average drop of 66% and an adjusted weighted average drop of 68%. According

to the survey, most breweries’ onsite sales declined more than 70%, with a smaller number of companies seeing either smaller declines or even positive growth, and “an even smaller number seeing large gains,” which likely came from direct-to-consumer, drive-thru and delivery sales. Those alternatives, Watson cautioned, aren’t feasible for every brewery and are not a replacement for the loss of draft sales. As Watson has previously noted, 40% of craft breweries’ volume flows through the on-premise channel, while roughly one out of every three beers sold onpremise is a craft offering. Of course, distributed draft beer sales declined the most with the majority of on-premise retail establishments closed in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Nielsen CGA Projects BA-Defined Craft to Lose 17.8 Million CEs If On-Premise Closed Through April Brewers Association-defined craft beer companies could lose nearly 18 million cases equivalents if the shutdown of nearly all U.S. on-premise outlets forced by COVID-19 lasts through April, Nielsen CGA client solutions director Matthew Crompton shared during a “Power Hour” webinar. “That’s a big gap in the market that has now been lost,” he said. Crompton and Nielsen CGA client solutions manager Matt Drummond shared the firm’s “COVID-19 “Impact Report,” which focuses on consumer attitudes toward takeout and delivery of food and alcoholic beverages. The firm shared the results of a survey of 1,200 consumers in New York, California, Illinois and Florida taken March 28-29, as well as trends from its RestauranTrak dataset — which tracks more than 10,000 transaction-level point-of-sale feeds from mostly independently owned restaurant concepts and smaller unbranded groups — for the weeks ending March 21 and March 28. The results were, as expected, grim. Overall dollar sales velocity 14 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MAY/JUNE 2020

for the week ending March 21 declined 73% compared to an average week, while dollar sales velocity declined 77% for the week ending March 28. In the pre-COVID-19 world, takeout/delivery accounted for just 11% of total on-premise sales in the U.S. Since then, takeout/ delivery sales have increased 110%. According to Nielsen CGA’s two week survey, 66% of respondents said they had ordered takeout or delivery over the twoweek period ending March 28, while 15% said they had ordered alcoholic beverages with that order. Meanwhile, one-third of the survey’s respondents said they ordered food from a venue where they have previously dined in or drank. More than half (58%) said they ordered alcohol to avoid going to the grocery store, while 24% said they purchased alcohol bundles offered. And 61% said they expected to pay more for takeout/delivery than at retail.

For more stories, including the latest on the COVID-19 Crisis, check out brewbound.com

Brewers Association Shares 2019 Rankings of Top 50 US Craft Breweries The Brewers Association (BA) revealed its annual ranking of the top 50 craft brewers based on sales volume. The top nine remain unchanged from last year’s ranking, but Artisanal Brewing Ventures — the parent company of Southern Tier, Victory and Sixpoint — overtook Deschutes Brewery for the tenth spot, knocking the Bend, Oregon-based brewer into eleventh place. “We didn’t see too many huge shifts this year, and I think that makes sense in a more mature industry where dynamic growth is more challenging,” BA chief economist Bart Watson said. The BA defi nes craft breweries as those making fewer than 6 million barrels annually and not more than 25% owned by a beverage alcohol that is not a craft brewery.

The top 10 craft breweries by sales volume in 2019, ranked in order, were: • D.G. Yuengling & Son • Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams, Coney Island Brewery, Concrete Beach Brewery, Angel City Brewery) • Sierra Nevada Brewing • New Belgium Brewing • Duvel Moortgat (Firestone Walker Brewing, Boulevard Brewing, Brewery Ommegang) • Gambrinus (Spoetzl Brewery, Trumer, Bridgeport) • Bell’s Brewery • CANarchy (Oskar Blues, Cigar City, Wasatch, Squatters, Perrin, Three Weavers, Deep Ellum) • Stone Brewing • Artisanal Brewing Ventures (Victory, Southern Tier, Sixpoint)

Portland, Oregon-Based Cascade Brewing Sells to Local Investor Group Portland, Oregon-based Cascade Brewing, known for its sour and barrel-aged beers, has been sold to an investor group with ties to other Oregon breweries. Cascade founder Art Larrance will remain in an advisory role as ownership transitions to Mark Becker, Ramie

Mount, Brian Kovach and Greg Laird. Financial details of the sale were not made available. “It’s time for me to retire and pass the brewery on to a team that’s fresh and full of energy and ideas,” Larrance said in a press release “I trust this group will do

Cascade Brewing proud.” Larrance founded Cascade in 1998. Cascade operates two taprooms, a production brewery and a barrel-aging warehouse. The company’s staff will remain in place, and its locations will remain open, according to the release.

NEW PRODUCTS

THE NEWEST BEVERAGE OPTIONS

SPORTS DRINKS Hydration company Nuun launched two new limited-edition fl avors in its Nuun Sport product family: Kona Cola and Kiwi Strawberry. The fl avors will be available nationwide in limited quantities and for a limited time at REI and other premium sports specialty retailers as well as on the brand’s website. For more information, please contact Nuun at (206) 219-9237. The latest launch from Sparkling Ice maker Talking Rain is Talking Rain Elevate (TRE), a non-carbonated, multifunctional performance water, formulated with 160 mg of caffeine, electrolytes, L-theanine and zero sugar. TRE is now available at retailers in Phoenix, Denver, Seattle and Portland in three fl avors: Mango Fusion, Mixed Berry and Power Punch. For more information, please contact Talking Rain at (800) 734-0748.

CSDs The latest release from MTN DEW is Frost Bite, an icy melon fl avor available exclusively at Walmart. Featuring a shark “breaking the ice” on its packaging, Frost Bite is available in 20 oz. bottles, 12-packs and 6-packs of 12 oz. cans as well as other single and multipack sizes. For more information, please contact (800) 433-2652. Ginger beer maker Reed’s launched Reed’s Real Ginger Ale, an all-natural ginger ale made with 2,000 mg of real ginger. Reed’s Real Ginger Ale is available in two varieties: Original and Zero Sugar Original, made with an allnatural proprietary sweetener blend. It is now sold online and at national retailers including Walmart, Food Lion and Giant Eagle, along with Amazon. For more information, please contact Reed’s at (800) 99-REEDS

FUNCTIONAL Functional beverage brand Neuro Brands debuted its new digestive health beverage, Probucha, with its name derived from its two main ingredients: probiotics and kombucha. Now available at Walmart and on Amazon, the lightly carbonated drink contains ginger, 16 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MAY/JUNE 2020

curcumin, apple cider vinegar, fermented kombucha tea and the shelf-stable live probiotic bacillus subtillus. For more information, please contact Neuro Brands at (855) MY-NEURO. Wellness beverage brand Rock Grace launched Ruby Reserve, a bottled crystal elixir infused with a variety of ruby crystals, botanicals and adaptogens along with lemon balm, dandelion and vanilla bean. Ruby Reserve is non-alcoholic as well as calorie and sugar free, with no artificial colors or fl avors. The product is available online for $22 per 750 ml bottle. For more information, please contact Rock Grace at anne@rockgrace.com.

COCONUT WATER Harmless Harvest announced the expansion of its coconut water line to include three new flavored varieties, made with a hint of organic juices and herbal teas. The three flavors -Watermelon, Cucumber Mint and Strawberry Rose -- are now available at Whole Foods Market for a suggested retail price of $3.99 per 12 oz. bottle. For more information, please contact Harmless Harvest at (347) 688-6286.

CBD Aprch, a new wellness beverage company, released a new CBD Sparkling Water line, combining 30 mg of broad spectrum hemp extract, L-Theanine, vitamin C and organic natural flavors. Aprch CBD Sparkling Water is available for a suggested retail price of $3.49 per 12. oz can and $12.99 per 4-pack across the Pacific Northwest in four flavors: Lemon and Lime, Mint and Cucumber, Watermelon and Cherry and Lime. For more information, please contact Aprch at (541) 799-3536. Functional beverage maker Tempo launched a new CBD-infused sparkling matcha beverage, which is naturally caffeinated and infused with 25 mg of CBD, while containing 15 calories and 2 grams of sugar. Tempo comes in a 4-pack ($19.99) or 12-pack ($49.99) of 12 oz. shelf-stable aluminum cans, available online and in select retail stores throughout Illinois and New England. For more information, please contact Tempo at info@tempobev.com.

NEW PRODUCTS CBD brand CBD Living released CBD Living Sparkling Water, featuring 25 mg of nanoCBD sourced from organic US-grown hemp and available in four fl avors: Orange Grapefruit, Peach Honey, Strawberry Lavender and Apple Ginger. CBD Living Sparkling Water is available in stores and online and is sold in single 12 oz. cans ($4.99), 12-packs ($57), 24-packs ($108) and a 4-can variety sample pack for $19.96. For more information, please contact CBD Living at (800) 940-3660. LaDiDa is a new ready-to-drink oat milk latte infused with full-spectrum hemp extract, available in two flavors, Matcha and Golden Turmeric, with Honey Lavender launching in May. LaDiDa ships directly to consumers in 41 states, with on-demand delivery (45-90 minutes) offered in select regions. Packs of six are sold for $60 for a one-time purchase or $45 for subscriptions. For more information, please contact LaDiDa at (518) 552-3432.

COFFEE Pursue Happiness released Cold Brew Cowffee, a blend of cold brew coffee with CLA PLUS whole milk. CLA is a naturally occurring fatty acid in milk that has several potential health benefits. Cold Brew Cowffee has 20 grams of protein and is lactosefriendly and shelf-stable, made with milk from cows at New York’s Spruce Haven Farm and Arabica coffee from Finca Dos Maria, a family-owned coffee farm in Guatemala. It is available online for $2.99 per 11 oz. single serve package or $24.99 per 12-pack. For more information, please contact Pursue Happiness at (315) 406-8017.

SPIRITS Grain & Barrel Spirits released its fi rst Rye in more than 70 years, Chicken Cock Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, made in partnership with the Bardstown Bourbon Company as part of its collaborative distilling program. Coming in at 45% ABV, Chicken Cock Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey is available for the suggested retail price of $69.99 per 750 ml bottle online and in Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee. For more information, please contact Grain & Barrel at info@grainandbarrel.com. 18 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MAY/JUNE 2020

New Riff Distilling announced the release of its Backsetter Bourbon and Rye duo. Both the New Riff Backsetter Bourbon and Rye are bottled-in-bond without chill fi ltration and aged at least four years. The Backsetter Bourbon is 65% corn, 30% rye and 5% malted barley, while the Backsetter Rye is 95% rye and 5% malted rye. The Backsetter Bourbon and Rye will be available at a suggested retail of $49.99 per 750 ml bottle in limited quantity throughout portions of New Riff’s distribution footprint and through New Riff’s Whiskey Club. For more information, please contact New Riff Distilling at (859) 261-7433 Los Angeles’ Greenbar Distillery has expanded on the company’s existing Spritz canned cocktails offering with the launch of a new line of organic canned cocktails, which includes three highballs and two non-alcoholic bitters & sodas. All are available now at retail stores in 20 states, with broader availability planned for late summer, in 12 oz. 4-packs with suggested retail prices of $14.99 for the highballs and $9.99 for the non-alcoholic bitters & sodas. For more information, please contact Greenbar Distillery at (213) 375-3668. Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum announced a new premium 8 Year Old Reserve from Master Blender Joy Spence, coinciding with a brand relaunch, featuring newly-designed packaging, including a reimagined bottle and label. Coming in at 43% ABV, 8 Year Old Reserve is available nationwide and online for a suggested retail price of $28.99. For more information, please contact Campari America at (212) 207-4350. Templeton Rye Whiskey has released the 2020 edition of its Barrel Strength Straight Rye Whiskey. This third rendition is sourced from Indiana (Midwest Grain Processors) with a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley and is bottled and non-chilled fi ltered at 113.1 proof (56.55% ABV). The expression is now available in limited quantities in the U.S. at a suggested retail price of $59.99 for a 750ml bottle. For more information, contact Templeton Rye at (712) 669-8793.

CHANNEL CHECK WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT

SPOTLIGHT CATEGORY ENERGY DRINKS

As our energy drink story makes clear, the emergence of Bang, VPX’s most successful product to date, has disrupted the energy drink category fiercely. It’s won a 9+ share of the $12.7 billion category, good for nearly $1.2 billion, in less than three years. Category leaders Red Bull and Monster have about 2/3 of the share. The emergence of a strong third player -- Rockstar has been fading for some time -- has also created a new market for innovation across established product portfolios. Look at the upswings behind Red Bull’s new editions and the $400 million of revenue for Monster’s new Reign brand, designed to chase Bang, and it’s clear the energy drink consumer has been waiting for some variety.

ENERGY DRINKS BRAND

DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

Red Bull

$2,853,152,622

-2.5%

Monster Energy

$1,831,370,753

-1.7%

VPX Bang

$1,181,976,073

144.5%

Red Bull Sugar Free

$790,311,437

0.7%

Monster Energy Zero Ultra

$677,844,539

-2.4%

NOS

$452,312,491

-1.1%

Monster Energy Lo Carb

$256,545,498

-9.5%

Red Bull The Summer Edition

$246,716,353

51.4%

Monster Mega Energy

$235,273,876

-1.1%

Red Bull The Blue Edition

$233,272,201

2.8%

Reign

$231,345,506

—

Red Bull The Yellow Edition

$231,168,065

11.4%

Rockstar

$200,072,355

-1.8%

Red Bull The Peach Edition

$190,793,398

428.3%

Reign Total Body Fuel

$169,767,822

—

Monster Energy Ultra Paradise

$166,289,418

—

Monster Juice

$162,023,934

-11.2%

Monster

$159,437,340

5.4%

Monster Energy Ultra Sunrise

$153,644,492

-6.6%

Rockstar Pure Zero

$150,672,068

-11.2%

TOPLINE CATEGORY VOLUME Sports Drinks

$7,240,074,683

9.0%

Energy Drinks

$13,889,579,260

9.5%

Bottled Juices

$6,990,557,541

-0.2%

Tea/Coffee

$6,876,867,986

1.5%

Bottled Water

$18,337,481,863

7.8%

Liquid Drink Enhancers

$369,003,423

10.0%

SOURCE: IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm-@iriworldwide% 52 Weeks through 3/22/20

20 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MAY/JUNE 2020

CHANNEL CHECK SPORTS DRINKS

BOTTLED WATER BRAND

DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

Private Label

$3,297,503,105

13.0%

Gatorade Perform

BRAND

$1,811,419,030

-2.7%

Aquafina

$1,115,492,396

5.6%

Gatorade

$1,036,744,878

9.0%

Dasani

$1,091,771,662

2.5%

Gatorade Frost

$779,830,876

-11.6% 368.7%

Glaceau Smart Water

$897,336,717

7.3%

G Zero

$685,803,528

Nestle Pure Life

$761,646,328

-6.4%

Powerade Ion4

$685,453,122

-9.5%

Bodyarmor Superdrink

$556,503,524

93.8%

Poland Spring

$721,580,167

0.7%

Glaceau Vitamin Water

$505,707,822

3.4%

Powerade Zero Ion4

$286,614,440

6.4%

$219,056,557

-2.7%

Deer Park

$440,728,334

3.6%

Gatorade Fierce

Fiji

$423,740,950

-2.2%

Gatorade G2 Perform

$188,285,960

-26.1%

Ozarka

$400,946,609

0.8%

Powerade

$158,435,312

-16.7%

SPARKLING WATER

CAPPUCCINO

DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

BRAND

DOLLAR SALES

Private Label

$603,655,052

7.9%

Starbucks Frappuccino

$1,180,432,523

8.0%

Sparkling Ice

$530,798,430

18.9%

Starbucks Doubleshot

$551,646,463

-12.6%

La Croix

$421,042,483

-7.3%

Java Monster

$500,930,124

4.5%

Perrier

$293,721,942

3.0%

Coca Cola Dunkin Donuts

$151,354,383

-3.7%

BRAND

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

Bubly

$279,568,230

94.6%

Starbucks Tripleshot

$121,044,049

—

Polar

$199,337,098

12.7%

Starbucks

$73,630,393

-18.5%

Topo Chico

$170,545,001

39.6%

Private Label

$46,181,480

-15.1%

San Pellegrino

$164,149,291

11.2%

Starbucks Cold Brew

$38,443,692

-10.5%

Canada Dry

$55,103,617

17.5%

VPX Bang

$33,075,277

371.0%

Sparkling Ice Lemonade

$53,461,777

6.0%

Starbucks Doubleshot Light

$29,841,592

-7.1%

SOURCE: IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm-@iriworldwide% 52 Weeks through 3/22/20

22 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MAY/JUNE 2020

ENERGY SHOTS BRAND 5 Hour Energy

DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

$893,908,932

-7.4%

Tweaker

$21,077,877

1.7%

Stacker 2 Xtra

$14,765,336

-6.0%

Stacker 2

$11,282,927

21.8%

Private Label

$10,693,644

-23.8%

Vpx Bang

$10,362,553

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

$7,667,353

16.7%

VPX Redline Xtreme

$7,301,631

11.2%

Stacker 2 Extreme

$4,590,024

-32.2%

Rhino Rush

$4,028,797

-50.5%T

TEA DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

Lipton Pure Leaf

BRAND

$794,934,010

9.5%

Arizona

$580,273,507

1.3%

Gold Peak

$425,438,766

4.7%

Lipton Brisk

$363,363,047

-0.9%

Lipton

$263,719,474

-7.0%

Monster Rehab

$240,820,941

-19.2%

Snapple

$203,276,537

-5.7%

Lipton Diet

$169,813,247

-0.6%

Diet Snapple

$154,805,312

1.1%

Arizona Arnold Palmer

$136,735,181

5.3%

DOMESTIC BEER BRAND

DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

Bud

$6,909,039,809

-4.0%

Michelob

$2,620,327,352

19.5%

Coors

$2,495,211,995

-0.2%

Miller Lite

$2,062,536,852

2.4%

Busch

$1,500,277,456

3.2%

Natural

$1,424,421,099

7.9%

Bud Specialty

$673,163,681

-3.8%

Keystone

$500,255,535

0.2%

Miller High Life

$447,238,573

-1.1%

Yuengling

$373,328,962

-3.8%

CRAFT BEER BRAND

DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER -1.4%

Blue Moon

$326,184,213

Sierra Nevada

$271,312,780

7.5%

New Belgium

$231,284,078

13.2%

Samuel Adams

$229,295,393

-8.0%

Lagunitas

$184,788,845

0.4%

Shiner

$128,247,660

-3.9%

Leinenkugel Specialty

$125,210,249

-14.9%

Founders

$109,518,917

2.3%

Elysian

$90,395,056

15.8%

Firestone

$88,598,631

21.6%

SOURCE: IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm-@iriworldwide% 52 Weeks through 3/22/20

GERRY’S INSIGHTS BY GERRY KHERMOUCH

Pondering Premium During My Homestay So now, thanks to the pandemic, many of us get to live the lifestyles of hip, innovative entrepreneurs. When the urge hits, we can take breaks to play foosball, or billiards, or checkers (or whatever we’ve got installed in the rec room). We can bring our dogs, or daughters, or husbands to work (or whoever happens to be sheltering alongside us). We can even pop open a beer at 10:30 in the morning, as long as it’s out of camera range on the company-wide Zoom call. (Or drink your imperial IPA out of a coffee mug with a muffin sitting next to it, like I do.) So, as far as the innovation lifestyle goes, this pandemic is golden, for those of us privileged to shuffle papers from the relative safety of our homes. (Those out in the trenches, totally another story, and they certainly have my admiration and gratitude.) But what does this crisis portend for real innovation as we crawl out of the devastation? Consumers’ frantic retreat to staples like Arrowhead Water, Frosted Flakes and Heinz Baked Beans during the pantryloading phase of the crisis has been viewed by some as a repudiation of the move toward natural, premium-priced items that’s developed in recent years. I find it hard to accept that. For one thing, sales of brands like Essentia Water and Vive Organic and OWYN shakes seem to be flying, too. It’s true that if the economic downturn lasts a long while, and continues to deplete incomes, sheer economic necessity may force shoppers to temporarily put those choices aside. But it’s hard to believe the trends underlying the shift away from assembly-line, lowestcommon-denominator, industrial food substances will just evaporate. There is a reason people having been making those choices: their fundamental health. In the same way that leading epidemiologists have been saying the economic carnage of the lockdown is a necessary tradeoff to protect health and save lives, nutrition advocates like Michael Pollan have long argued that paying an extra 10 or 15% for natural food is a small premium to pay for enduring health, especially in the context of the lavish amounts many devote to purchases like entertainment, cars, vacations and cell phones. Indeed, at Coca-Cola’s annual meeting in April, as I was writing this column, the proponent of one ballot proposal pointed out that many of the very things caused by drinking “liquid sugar” – obesity, hypertension, heart disease – have been identified as underlying conditions that exacerbate the toll of the novel coronavirus. If the crisis prompts a broader discussion of our healthcare system and economic inequality, as many think is inevitable, it’s hard to see how that will foster a pendulum swing back to the junk nutrition that the big CPG companies had been directing to us for all those decades. As I write this, it likely still is early days in the pandemic, disappointingly. Still, even this far into it, lots of innovative brands have been continuing to receive funding, enter new retail banners, launch innovations. So the strategics, and the venture funds that make investments with an eye to exiting to the strategics, are still prospecting for the gems out there. As I was writing this, Danone’s venture fund had just announced a $10 million investment in Laird Superfood, and my contacts have been reporting continued progress on their capital raises, a 24 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MAY/JUNE 2020

few of them for far higher amounts. Though its products for the most part don’t qualify as natural or healthy, Rockstar Energy was about to exit to PepsiCo for $3.95 billion, in part to clear the way for Pepsi to add other energy marques to its portfolio, presumably including healthier, plant-based ones. So Pepsi certainly is in the hunt. Meanwhile, the stay-at-home ethos is forcing many brands to accelerate their ecomm buildouts, and that seems to be a great equalizer versus dominant established brands, much as digital marketing and social media have leveled the playing field against the kinds of brands that tend to dominate TV advertising. So the COVID-19 crisis is forcing innovative brands to build new muscles that should allow them to punch above their weight once things come back. And what about the implications for that crucial brand-building channel, away-from-home? That’s largely shut down now, for what may be months more in some areas. Will our period of enforced nesting – and with it the return of archaic rituals like communal meals – reawaken in us a desire to spend more of our time at home, to reject the enticements of restaurants, bars, movie theaters and book stores? More likely, it will reinforce our appreciation for these so-called third places. (That phrase, of course, refers to places that command loyalty only behind our first place, home, and second place, work – though now that home and work are conflated for many of us, maybe third places are the new second places.) I’m steeling myself for the pain of seeing some of my favorite resorts – whether restaurants, craft beer taprooms or live music venues – not return once the Great Reopening arrives, but equally determined to do even more in the future to support these precious local institutions with my patronage. So my hunch is that the on-premise business will return stronger than ever, maybe with even more of a local twist as people reawaken to the rewards of community. How much of this is more than just a hunch, or wishful thinking? Back when I used to write about technology, some of the consultancies that analyzed the stuff would offer a rating for the degree of certainty behind their forecasts – say, rate it 70% likely that they were correct in predicting that IBM’s new mid-range computer would win a commanding share. In that spirit, I’ll say my ruminations that premium brands’ inroads won’t suffer more than a temporary hitch have a 60% chance of being on the money because – well, because who knows? We’re in uncharted waters, friend! Are you looking for a bit more certainty in a column that promises “insights”? I can offer you this: there’s a 90% chance I’ll be drinking a Big Alice Date Night Bro’ coffee donut stout out of my coffee mug on my company’s Zoom tomorrow morning, OK? It’s chilling in the fridge right now. And 99% certain there will be a raisin bran muffin sitting alongside it as cover.

Longtime beverage-watcher Gerry Khermouch is executive editor of Beverage Business Insights, a nearly daily e-newsletter covering the nonalcoholic beverage sector.

Let’s Play the

RockstarBang Shuffle by Brad Avery

Think icebergs. With Red Bull and Monster deeply entrenched for the past decade as the two leading energy drink brands, things haven’t visibly changed at the apex of the category. But beneath the waterline, the past two years have brought a sea change. It was towards the end of 2018 that Bang Energy -- the “performance” energy drink produced by Florida-based VPX Sports -- broke the surface into the mainstream on the backs of Anheuser-Busch DSD trucks, a network that brought the brand from $345 million in sales in the Spring of 2019 to $1.1 billion in the past year, according to market research firm IRI. Now with a little more than 9% market share of the total energy drink category as of the 52-week period ending March 22, Bang’s emergence hasn’t just had a ripple effect, it’s made waves. Though Bang’s growth has begun to slow (but still up 144.5% year-over-year) the brand is now firmly in the top three companies in the category, next to Red Bull and Monster Energy -- and despite their size, both of them have felt slight share declines as consumers migrate from traditional energy to functional, low sugar, BCAA-infused competitors. In true energy drink category fashion, as Bang has taken off, a host of new brands have emerged with similar characteristics, and the overall mix of faces underneath the top two or three brand families is starting to look different. Monster itself joined the performance energy party with Reign Total Body Fuel, which saw its strongest line extension launch to date in Q1 2019; meanwhile Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) has partnered with serial entrepreneur Lance Collins to launch Adrenaline Shoc (A-Shoc), and independent brands like Nutrabolt’s C4, CELSUS, 3D, and Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy have gained steam in retail as consumers sample different products. But, in the past several months, this new face of energy has seen the deck shuffled once again. In March, PepsiCo -- the only major non-alcoholic beverage strategic that had been without a stake in the performance space -- acquired Rockstar Energy, with which it had a longstanding distribution partnership, for $3.85 billion. The move ended the two companies’ non-compete agreement and paved the way for a new distribution partnership with Bang that would be announced just weeks later, during PepsiCo’s Q1 earnings call in late April. Though the deal with Bang lacks a path to ownership, it also isn’t subject to an exclusivity clause, which was a roadblock that eventually proved to be one of Rockstar’s greatest assets in its own distribution deal. Now PepsiCo has complete freedom to continue expanding in the space with new brands or extensions as it sees fit -- though there are currently no announced plans for further acquisitions.

26 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MAY/JUNE 2020

CLEAN ENERGY SHOTS BRING NEW CONSUMERS INTO THE CATEGORY by Erin Cabrey For over a decade, 5-hour Energy has maintained its momentum as the market leader in the $1 billion energy shot category, currently holding 89% market share according to research firm IRI. While many brands’ attempts to take on the energy shot giant have spiked and crashed, “clean” energy shots have emerged in recent years, offering a better-for-you, sustainable boost that’s bringing new consumers into the category. “You can’t talk about energy shots without talking about [5-hour Energy],” said Ethan Hirshberg, founder and CEO of organic shot brand Ethan’s, which launched in 2017 with apple cider vinegar shots before rolling out energy shots last summer. “For us, it’s about looking at and accessing the market they’re not.” The aim of Ethan’s energy shot launch was “to make a better-for-you version of a product and category that’s largely just been generic and ubiquitous,” said Hirshberg. Ethan’s produces a shot which offers sustained energy through caffeine from green tea and guayusa along with lower amounts of B vitamins than other energy shots to avoid crashes. Other clean energy shots have paired green tea-sourced caffeine with L-theanine and nootropics to offer increased focus. Better-for-you offerings appeal to demographics often neglected in the energy shots space, the marketing for which has traditionally been “very masculine,” said Vincent Bradley, co-founder and CEO of clean energy shot brand Proper Wild, which launched its shots in November with branding aimed at being “gender neutral.” Hirshberg also noted that energy shot packaging, often featuring intense colors and lightning bolt imagery, can be “intimidating” for consumers. Neutral packaging, along with clean ingredients and label transparency, has contributed to the entry of a larger female audience into the category, with Ethan’s and Proper Wild’s consumer bases made up of 75% and 50% women, respectively. “We don’t necessarily think we have to completely win the energy shot market to be successful because there is an opportunity to bring people in who haven’t tried one before,” Bradley said. Morning Recovery shot maker More Labs has also seen a new energy shot audience develop in the relatively untapped market of esports, when the brand launched its Liquid Focus energy shot offering early this year. The shot was produced after customers asked for “a safe alternative to prescription drugs like amphetamine” and the brand

According to Laurent Grandet, food and beverage analyst at investment firm Guggenheim Partners, PepsiCo’s recent moves now give it nearly 20% market share of the entire energy category to build from. But this shift in the category also leaves pressing questions about what the distribution landscape for energy will look like in the coming months: As Bang onboards into blue trucks, AB distributors will loset their top non-alcoholic brand. Meanwhile, with sales of performance energy brands continue to rise, independent companies are seeking to expand their own distribution. Beyond performance, Coke, which has a 1/7 stake in Monster, is testing the waters for soda-styled innovation with Coke Energy; PepsiCo, in addition to Rockstar and Bang, plans to increase its spend on Mountain Dew, kicking off an entirely new energy race. Red Bull, meanwhile, continues to cruise forward from its leading position, offering flavor variations. All of this is taking place as the energy drink space itself is facing a potential slowdown related to the COVID-19 pandemic: after all, with greater unemployment, and less nightlife, how necessary is a product that “gives you wings” to get through the day or night? PERFORMANCE PROVIDES A JOLT, BUT THE SPACE IS EVOLVING Pandemics aside, why is performance the subcategory of the moment? According to A-Shoc president and co-founder Scot De Lorme, who previously spent eight years helming innovation at Monster, “traditional” energy drinks have a household penetration of roughly 18-20%. The emergence of performance energy, however, has the potential to double that penetration within the next five to 10 years as health-conscious consumers are brought into the space. “I think any of the negative stigmatism that traditional energy might have had, I think that’s all changed now with performance,” De Lorme said. “I feel that we’re in the infancy stages, right now, of this category. And I think the natural evolution is just going to be massive.” Last year, Reign quickly made a mark on the category, driven by aggressive promotions that included buy one, get one free deals. That brought the brand attention, but it’s not clear whether that rapid growth will turn into continued loyalty without the promotional support.. Still, a lack of brand loyalty could indicate even more potency for the new performance energy space as a category. Ken Wrathall, manager of non-alcoholic beverages at AB distributor Nevada Beverage Company, contrasted fair-weather consumer behavior to the more consistent sales on flagship products of brands like Red Bull and Monster; Where traditional energy consumers tend to crave a specific flavor profile, performance consumers are more educated and more curious, “following the ingredients” and trying different brands, he said. Even within the Bang portfolio, he noted that consumers will jump around, choosing different flavors day-to-day. “I don’t know if there’s any street cred with [Reign] with all the health and fitness folks because it didn’t grow up in the gyms and nutrition chains,” Wrathall said of the brand’s slowdown. “When you look at Bang and all the others, they’re all flavordriven. So I don’t think consumers mind trying new flavors and if there’s a little change in the efficacy [between brands] then that’s just a bonus for them to sample.” So while there’s still a chance the omnivorous purchasing 27

behavior could be the temporary result of a new subcategory’s novelty before consumers settle into a favorite product, independent players competing for market share see this period as an opportunity to seize a chunk of the market before it gets completely taken over by the strategics. For A-Shoc, which despite strong expectations is still a smaller player in the category, De Lorme said the strategy has been to swiftly achieve a high convenience channel penetration and hone its marketing to younger consumers. Though many guerilla marketing initiatives are on hold due to COVID-19, as well as experiential partnerships with fitness brands like Spartan Race, he said the brand has also focused on social media, and has been working closely with retailers to drive trial during the pandemic, becoming an early adopter of chain-specific, consumer-facing apps that help advertise the brand. John Herman, EVP and general manager of North America at Nutrabolt, the maker of C4, said he believes there could be room for a “Top Four” in the performance space, with Bang, Reign and A-Shoc taking expected leadership roles but leaving enough room for an additional brand to take sizable share. While C4 will compete for that role, Wrathall, noted that brands such as Celsius and Optimum Nutrition’s Amino Energy are also well-positioned to capitalize on the trend, as well as recent entrants such as 3D. “They’re all the brands that are pecking away,” Wrathall said. “And so it’s not just a three horse race, but there are many horses in the race that are chopping up the pie.” AB DISTRIBUTORS’ BANG-SIZED VOID With Bang preparing to leave AB wholesalers by Q4, reports from industry newsletters like Beverage Business Insights have suggested that VPX Sports has sought, with little success, to get its current DSD houses to keep distributing its other brands, such as Redline and Meltdown. However, it remains unclear whether the distributors will choose to keep working with VPX once the transition to Pepsi is complete, seek out an alternative energy brand, or look outside the category. Wrathall, who could not comment on the specifics of arrangements with VPX, said that there will undoubtedly be a “big hole to fill” in distributors’ portfolios, but he noted it’s a key component of AB wholesalers business model to incubate and scale emerging brands before they eventually sell or partner with a larger distributor. That hole in place, in many ways, the race is now on among independent brands to be the one that could fill the void. At C4, John Herman said the company has been exploring ways to fill its own distribution gaps across the country and that the vacancy left by Bang poses an opportunity for the brand’s RTD line. C4 was expected to reach $100 million in retail sales this year, though Herman noted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic could push that threshold into next year depending on the timeline for category resets. “With a change of Bang moving from an AB house over to Pepsi trucks, if that allows for us to optimize a market or find a new partner where we’d really like to have a growth engine where we’re not currently covered, then we’re going to look to take advantage of that for sure,” Herman said.

28 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MAY/JUNE 2020

searched for ways to “mimic the positive effects of such drugs without the drawbacks,” said co-founder and CEO Sisun Lee. To double down on this new audience, More Labs announced a partnership with multinational esports organization Gen.G in April, where the two will collaborate on content across Gen.G’s social media channels to promote Liquid Focus. For Ethan’s, the energy shots category’s mainstream appeal (compared to its more “niche” ACV shot offering) offers the brand an opportunity to move into conventional retail, after first launching the line in Whole Foods last year with little energy shot competition beyond Whole Foods’ 365 branded shot. Last month, Ethan’s Pineapple Aloe energy shot SKU launched in 400 Walmart locations. While Ethan’s was able to secure some front end placement at Whole Foods, it is largely merchandised in the vitamins and supplements set or with other energy shots in conventional retail, such as 5-hour and Bang. However, as Walmart emerges as many consumers’ go-to retailer for organic and better-for-you options, Hirshberg believes that its customers who “don’t want Bang or 5-hour are going to pick ours up.” For Proper Wild, e-commerce provides the brand an opportunity to build a national customer base online, avoiding direct on-shelf competition with other brands and establishing a 40% repurchase rate and a growing number of monthly subscribers. Bradley, a former tech entrepreneur, said he “wouldn’t launch a beverage company in 2020 if it wasn’t digital first.” “There have been dozens of better energy shots that have tried to take on 5-hour Energy in the last 10 years,” said Bradley. “There are currently better options out there that will probably fail. In my opinion, it’s because they’re trying to go head to head with 5-hour Energy in their arena: traditional retail.” Proper Wild will begin rolling into retail stores this month, and Bradley said he feels more confident doing so knowing that a consumer base has been established nationwide and many customers won’t be seeing the product for the first time when they spot it on shelves.

“We really understand customer acquisition online and that’s actually why we’re going to be the guys to take down the king of the castle,” said Bradley. More Labs is taking a similar e-commerce approach, launching Liquid Focus online before it follows in the footsteps of Morning Recovery at convenience stores and drug retailers. In addition to its own website, Liquid Focus is also available in the Health and Wellness section of clothing retailer Urban Outfitters’ online store. Lee said More Labs aims to create “commonality” among its products, creating functional shots with similar packaging, which is “intended to make it easier to get them all into the same retail channels.” After launching Liquid Focus earlier this year, More Labs released sleep solution shot Dream Well, and a Lifehack Pack including all three of its shot products and also sells two functional hydration mixes. According to Lee, the goal for More Labs is to become a lifestyle brand focused on productivity, and when considering future launches, the brand will be following a “fast, iterative process of gathering feedback to determine what is the highest impact work we could be doing to serve our community the best,” said Lee. Both Hirshberg and Bradley have their sights set solely on shots for the near future. While Hirshberg said that he’s open to expanding into additional functionalities, he’s “passionate about the format” of shots. “It’s convenient, it’s portable and it’s concentrated,” said Hirshberg. “It allows us to do what we really set out to do which is to create a quick and easy but highly functional dose of X, Y, Z.” While Proper Wild plans to expand its offerings with additional flavors, Bradley is going all in on energy and in the immediate future doesn’t see the brand expanding into different functions. “We’re going to really stay focused on energy,” said Bradley. “And I think that’s something that 5-hour has done really well: know who they are and keep it simple.”

THE TOTAL BEVERAGE ENERGY PLAY In PepsiCo’s Q1 earnings call in April, CEO Ramon Laguarta said the PepsiCo strategy is three-pronged; the conglomerate will invest in Rockstar to turn around declining sales and expand the brand internationally, Bang will be supported with strong “distribution muscle” to place it into new channels, and further innovation on Mountain Dew will serve as a third pillar in the category via sublines like Game Fuel, which has built an entrenched subcultural consumer base in the gaming community. The Coca-Cola Company, meanwhile, is remaining competitive in the category with its stake in Monster and Reign, and now the cola-styled Coke Energy, which launched in the U.S. in November. According to Laurent Grandet, with Guggenheim Partners, PepsiCo’s back-to-back deals with Rockstar and Bang may now put pressure on Coke, as the revised marketplace comes into view throughout the rest of the year, to purchase Monster outright -- though the conglomerate currently has no plans to do so. Like Pepsi and Rockstar’s prior agreement, Coke has a non-compete clause with Monster and entered arbitration with the company last year to settle a dispute over the Coke Energy launch; still, a potential acquisition could allow the company the necessary flexibility to compete head-on with Pepsi. “[Coke CEO] James Quincey and his team want to build a ‘Total Beverage Company,’ that is what they are claiming,” Grandet said. “So right now, the only space where they have any limitation in the non-alcoholic beverage space is actually energy because of their contract with Monster…. They’re very limited, so if Coke really wants to become a Total Beverage Company the best way to own that space would be to own Monster ultimately.” Grandet noted that Coke Energy “has not been a great success” to date, though the brand still has potential to improve. A report by Skupos analyzing the independent convenience channel showed that the line launched in November with a velocity of about 1 unit per store per day, but that has since declined to a 0.6 average. Part of the slow start in the U.S., Grandet said, could be due to category confusion. In Europe, the line was packaged in 8 oz. slim cans -- similar to Red Bull -- whereas in the U.S. the pack size is larger and feels more reminiscent of traditional CSDs. As well, the impact of COVID-19 on convenience channel foot traffic may have stunted the line’s rollout. Meanwhile, Pepsi is now tasked with reversing years of sliding Rockstar sales. Speaking to investors, Laguarta said the Rockstar strategy will be a matter of investment and the conglomerate may also look towards international markets as an opportunity to achieve growth. With Bang filling the performance energy role, Grandet said Rockstar is likely to remain a “pure energy” player going forward to compete with Red Bull and Monster. As for Red Bull, the independent has tended to stay in its own lane -- one that consists of more than a third of the market share for the category. Will it move toward performance? Keep an eye out, says Wrathall, who warns that a recent slip in sales may be because some consumers have dropped the brand for Bang. If that’s the case, “it would not be a surprise” if Red Bull made its own moves toward performance, he said.

BRAND NEWS ENERGY

Monster added two new flavors to its zero sugar Ultra line: Ultra Fiesta and Ultra Rosá. Monster’s Absolute Zero is now known as Zero Sugar, with a refreshed look to match consistency with reduced calorie beverages. Sunshine has expanded to Publix, Harris Teeter, Giant and Weis Markets, along with Enmarket and two divisions of 7-Eleven (Florida and Patriot), with an upcoming launch into the Southeast division of Circle K. Sunshine also launched zero sugar, zero calorie sparkling energy waters in three flavors, now available at Lowes Foods, Food Lion, Giant Foods and QuikTrip in the Carolinas. The brand has grown its DSD network, composed mostly of Anheuser Busch wholesalers.

to better represent its organic and plantbased products. FEEL introduced a new packaging design, along with a zero sugar reformulation of its sparkling energy drinks, which are formulated with 120 mg of caffeine from green coffee beans and 100 mg of L-theanine. Soda Bossa announced a new Yerba Mate flavor, made with Argentinian yerba mate extract, which contains 35 calories and 80 mg of caffeine per 12 oz. can. Andale announced its relaunch with Mango, Tamarindo and Jamaica varieties available at select retailers and on Amazon in 12 oz. sleek cans and shots.

Red Bull launched Red Bull Summer Edition Watermelon, available at retailers nationwide throughout the summer.

In response to COVID-19, Champ Energy has donated 5,000 cases of product to healthcare facilities within the United States.

Texas-based energy drink maker Blumania Energy donated $50,000 of its energy drinks to Dallas’ Parkland Hospital and the UT Southwestern Organization.

In June, Nomad Trading Co. is launching its reformulated flagship line Nomad Energy, brewed from direct trade Costa Rican cascara with two new SKUs. Nomad received investment from Spiral Sun Ventures, enabling it to partner with Revolution Brands and a national broker. Nomad continues to grow its wholesale business in direct trade Costa Rican cascara to large and small food and beverage brands.

Plant-based beverage brand Mamma Chia announced that its Organic Chia Energy Beverages are now keto-friendly, while total sugars have been reduced to 3 grams per bottle. VitaminEnergy expanded its functional energy shot line with the launch of its Workout+ shot, with 260 mg of caffeine and no added sugar. UPTIME has introduced two new flavors: Blueberry Pomegranate and Mango Pineapple. Both contain natural caffeine and flavors, no sodium or added sugar and are keto-friendly. Viso launched two new flavors: SURF is a cold pressed Pineapple and Mint creation containing 300 mg of caffeine, while VISO JET is a juice made with cold pressed cucumber, ginger and a bit of lime, containing 300 mg of caffeine. GURU Organic Energy released a new matcha flavor, containing organic panax ginseng, concentrated monk fruit juice and organic green tea. The brand also revealed a new look 30 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MAY/JUNE 2020

CRUNK!!! Energy introduced a new flavor, Sour Apple, to its lineup of drinks made with natural flavors and real cane sugar. BAWLS Guarana announced the newest flavor addition to its lineup of highly caffeinated premium sodas: Cherry Cola, available in a 10 oz. glass bottle. Clean energy brand RUNA unveiled its revamped low-calorie beverage lineup made with plant-based ingredients. Brewed from the natural guayusa leaf, the new RUNA lineup — which includes six enhanced flavors — will be available for consumers in June 2020 in select retailers nationwide, including Kroger, Target, Ralphs, Safeway, Albertsons and more. 28 BLACK launched a new variety in the U.S. market: 28 BLACK Classic Zero, containing zero sugar and no taurine. Clas-

sic Zero is low calorie, vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free. The product is available in 8.45 oz. cans from mid-May via Rock Solid Distribution Inc. Zest Tea expanded its line of RTD energy teas with the launch of its first zero calorie and zero sugar flavor, Blackberry Lime. The brand has added over 1,000 new retail placements, with new retail partners including Giant Landover, Harris Teeter, Stop & Shop, Shawâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and Whole Foods Mid Atlantic. In April, energy seltzer brand Hiball launched a Watermelon Mint flavor, currently available at Whole Foods. Multi-functional botanical infusion beverage kanguru is launching in South Korea in May, and will be available in over 20,000 CVS stores in South Korea. Kanguru is also now available in new Mixed Berry and Pomegranate flavor. Bulletproof, a vehicle to support American

military veterans, launched a new cola energy drink, along with a sleek can design for all of its flavors. XL AFTER is the newest addition to the XL portfolio designed to quench thirst after an eventful night. The product, which contains ginseng and aloe vera extracts, is now available in the U.S. nationwide. BRWD is now distributed through UNFI NEXT and has updated its packaging to display its vegan certification. The brand also partnered with #FoundersGive to donate beverages for New York City hospital staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Set to launch in May, Go Fastâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest SKU, High Octane, contains 300 mg of all natural caffeine, with zero sugar or artificial sweeteners and zero calories. CELSIUS launched a new limited edition flavor, Peach Vibe, now available on Amazon and select retailers nationwide.

Meal Replacement, Even When the Kitchen’s the Off ice In a COVID-19 ravaged world, protein drinks and meal replacement beverages are feeling their way forward By Martin Caballero At a time of supply chain disruptions, distribution bottlenecks and deep uncertainty about the economy, it’s comforting to know that, these days, you can still get a meal in a bottle. There hasn’t been a single industry or area of the economy that’s been unaffected by the coronavirus crisis, but not all have been impacted in the same way. Though already a long-standing part of the packaged beverage landscape, the general category of “meal replacement” drinks, which includes many protein-centric products, is uniquely positioned to adapt to the current conditions, in which thousands of Americans are sheltering at home and coping with the ensuing nutrition challenges that come with limited movement and access to grocery. Whether serving as a bridge between meals or as an outright alternative to eating, either in ready-to-drink or powdered format, many products in the general meal replacement category deliver nutritionally complex sustenance that can be easily transported and distributed; within the context of a global pandemic, those attributes are taking on greater dimension. While the market conditions may have changed drastically in just a matter of weeks, the onset of COVID-19 has also accelerated certain existing trends within meal replacement — such as the rise of e32 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MAY/JUNE 2020

commerce and lifestyle-driven marketing — while suddenly making other attributes, like convenience and shelf-stability, more prominent. According to market research group IRI, shelf-stable “weight control” beverages, including liquid and powdered products, grew 4.8% last year to over $4 billion. Meanwhile, sales for refrigerated products in the category fell 8.9% to $110.3 million. As brands in the space mobilize to respond to the humanitarian crisis, shifting consumer behaviors, changing retail sets and new health concerns have the potential to reshape the category for years to come. Meal replacement and protein drinks haven’t undergone a wave of disruptive innovation in recent months, even stretching back into last year. Yet in the midst of a global pandemic, products in the category have taken on a new role within people’s consumption and shopping routines. For single-serving protein and meal replacement drinks merchandised in coolers, the challenge is clear: without foot traffic and frequent shopping trips, velocities in those areas of the store will suffer. In the convenience channel alone, trips are down -21.3% for the year as of the week ended April 26. According to IRI and the Boston Consulting Group’s (BCG) Product Trip Index, which tracks trip frequency rates

based on certain categories, beverages are the lowest ranking segment for which data is available. Even as the overall dollar value of consumer baskets continues to climb, the buying habits and use occasions that typically made those products attractive — such as grabbing a protein smoothie for breakfast on the way to work or as an accompaniment to prepared grab-and-go food at grocery — have been upended, at least temporarily, as retailers prioritize shelf space for staples like milk and eggs. The impact on a brand like refrigerated plant-based protein drink maker Koia, which is merchandised near dairy and produce, is real. “If somebody spends $500 a week at Whole Foods, if they go there once a week or they go there five times a week, it doesn’t matter to Whole Foods numbers, but it matters to the single-serve beverage section,” said company CEO Chris Hunter. Though brands are marketing a wide variety of ingredients and applications under the umbrella of protein/meal replacement, the category overall is generally associated with nutrition, exercise and a healthy lifestyle. But the unpredictable, widespread infection rate for COVID-19 has added an extra wrinkle to the narrative, possibly signaling greater recognition for the importance of holistic, preventive medical treat-

ments. Considering the specific, single-use driven ways in which most consumers use these products, a change in how they perceive these products could help push them into new demographics and use occasions. “This idea that you could drink soda and eat unhealthy food all year and then take some vitamin C during the cold season and be OK has kind of gone out the window,” Hunter said. “People are accelerating this understanding that a healthier lifestyle and diet is more important not only to address something that happens to you but to boost your immunity.” With trips to the grocery store falling, consumers are increasingly going online to get their favorite food and beverage products. According to a survey by market research group Blue Chip, safety, convenience and reduced stress are each key factors spurring the move to e-commerce. Though brands are marketing a wide variety of ingredients and applications under the umbrella of protein/meal replacement, the overall category is associated with nutrition, exercise and a healthy lifestyle. However, how closely those companies should craft their messaging around potential health claims or callouts is up for debate, with the risk of coming off insensitive to a public health crisis that has claimed tens of thousands of American lives. Though nearly 32% of Americans may be working or attending school remotely for the moment, that doesn’t negate the benefits of an on-the-go drink. According to statistics from Datassential, 22% of Americans surveyed listed lack of variety as the most annoying aspect of eating and getting food while under social distancing rules, while 19% said cooking at home. The shift to remote work has forced businesses and employees to quickly adapt to new routines and workflows, a process that can be both time consuming and disorienting. Against that background, the value of giving users one less thing to worry about is considerable. “We’ve gotten messages from our customers saying, ‘Thank you, I’m sick of cooking another meal,’” said Lauren Benbassat, co-founder and CMO of plantbased meal replacement shake Mele (pronounced “meal”). “Everybody is stuck on back-to-back Zoom calls these days, so it’s not like you can be sitting and eating while

34 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MAY/JUNE 2020

you are on camera. So having something quick and nutritious that is going to keep you fueled is important.” Mele, launched roughly a year ago, exemplifies both the advantages and obstacles of working in the category in the age of COVID-19. Like Huel, Soylent and other players in the space, it has been built primarily as a direct-to-consumer brand, developing a limited but dedicated audience of loyal customers. Online, the company is growing 20% each month, according to co-founder and CEO Elise Tresley, and it also closed part of an investment round shortly before the pandemic hit, securing crucial funds to help weather the coming economic headwinds. At the same time, Mele has been forced to rethink its approach to consumer messaging. The brand paused its digital marketing until it “really had a well-thought out process of how to transition into the environment,” Tresley said. While being careful not to stray from its sense of authenticity, key points for consumers -- including product safety and supply chain integrity -were emphasized, even as other potentially valuable callouts, like immunity benefits, were handled carefully. “Now you see certain things in wellness that become buzzwords, and now I think immunity is. I’m getting bombarded with emails from products pushing that,” Tresley said. “We are very careful of that, but we communicate things like we don’t have added sugar, which can curb your immune system. We like to be subtle about it because we don’t want to get away from how we normally market our products.” Against the backdrop of all this turmoil, more economic woe seems likely in the months ahead. What remains to be seen is if financial pressures felt by consumers will translate into a contraction in sales, particularly for brands on the premium end of the spectrum. With the coronavirus providing a fresh perspective on how protein and meal replacement drinks can fit in a modern CPG landscape, it has also provided brands with an opportunity to show how their products can make a direct and positive impact on public health and safety. Rapper Cardi B generated millions of social media impressions for OWYN in April when she donated 20,000 bottles of its plant-based

protein drinks to New York City health care workers. After enjoying its biggest ever month in terms of bottles sampled in March, by April Koia had pivoted to giving out donations to essential workers and health care professionals, giving out nearly 25,000 bottles to 62 hospitals, fire stations, and relief centers in New York City and Southern California. Though the motivation is altruistic, the product proposition has some inherent appeal for people employed in high-pressure, time-sensitive fields like emergency medicine. “If you look at what’s going on, some of these people are working 12 to 18hour shifts and they need some sustained energy,” said Hunter, noting that Koia’s coffee line made up a large portion of its donations. “It really made sense for us to do it all the way around, from the perspective of supporting the people who are supporting us, from the perspective of getting product into people’s hands, and just doing the right thing.” Along with working with the #Founders Give initiative in New York, Mele is also running its own support program for health care workers that encourages customers to sponsor a doctor, nurse or first responder by covering the cost of a $5 shake, with the brand offering to match the first 100 meals donated. Though Tresley said the brand had been in exploratory conversations with hospitals previously, the conditions on the ground highlighted the unique value of a product like mele. At medical facilities that are running near capacity, where staff cafeterias are shut down and vending machines are often the only food option for hungry, stressed workers on late shifts, the value of a shelf-stable, nutritionally potent shake is particularly felt. “One thing that I don’t think a lot of people realize is that when these hospitals are getting donations, sometimes it is fresh food, so a lot of the late night or overnight shift is getting almost nothing,” said Benbassat. “Not to mention when you are covered head to toe in PPE, it’s not necessarily easy to disrobe to take a break to eat. So having something that is nutritionally dense, that can be made at any point in the day and doesn’t need to be refrigerated and reheated is critical.”

BRAND NEWS Protein

ICONIC Protein introduced its kids line in three flavors – Chocolate Carnival, Vanilla Vacay and Fruity Fiesta – all of which have zero sugar, 8 grams protein and a full serving of organic vegetables.

plant-based with superfoods, ayurvedics, botanical herbs and probiotics with functional benefits. The Cold Brew KETO SKU was the recent recipient of the OnTrend Innovation Award from KeHe.

Harmless Harvest’s line of protein beverages, which launched in Fall 2019, has a new name and a new look. Rebranded as Plant-Based Protein Smoothie, it features 12 grams of protein from a blend of pea, sunflower and pumpkin proteins and is available in Chocolate and Toasted Coconut flavors, with Coffee launching in June.

Splendid Spoon launched a new smoothie for spring: Mint Chip. The new smoothie has 7 grams of protein and 7 grams of fiber per serving, made with cacao nibs, baobab powder and Swiss chard juice, which contains biotin to support healthy skin and hair. The brand also launched Stock Up Boxes to deliver its product in bulk with no subscription required.

Under the leadership of new CEO Demir Vangelov, Soylent has dropped the price of its powder products to $1.50 per meal (with a subscription) in the U.S. and relaunched five products in Canada. Huel announced the latest addition to its core powder range: Huel Black Edition, containing 40 grams of 100% plantbased protein, zero artificial sweeteners and half the level of carbohydrates as Huel Powder. The vegan formula contains all 27 essential vitamins and minerals, along with protein, carbohydrates, fiber, omega-3 and 6 fats. Available in vanilla and chocolate flavors, Huel Black Edition Powder is sold exclusively on the brand’s website for $37.50 per bag. Protein2o launched its new Protein Water + Electrolytes in Costco’s 543 Clubs. The new flavor is formulated with 20 grams of premium whey protein isolate, an electrolyte blend of potassium and sodium and 90 calories per bottle. Strawberry-Watermelon is being sold in 12-packs of 16.9 oz. bottles in Cotsco’s health and nutrition section and was created in partnership with the retailer. Protein2o will launch its fi rst plant-based protein offering this summer in three flavors: Blackberry-Basil, LemongrassChamomile and Key Lime-Coconut. Each 11 oz. can contains 15 grams of vegan non-GMO pea protein isolate and under 80 calories. Remedy Organics launched its new KETO line in February, containing less than 2 grams of sugar and 100% 36 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MAY/JUNE 2020

Apres launched new branding with upgraded packaging and formulations in the fourth quarter of last year. The brand also closed another bridge round of fi nancing in the fi rst quarter of this year, fi lled by existing members of its cap table, including returning VCs Rocana Ventures, Stray Dog Capital, Semillero Ventures and Black Jays Investments. Apres has been partnering with its fitness studio partners to livestream workouts on its Instagram, and has instituted other solutions to help them cover costs including revshare agreements and creative marketing initiatives. India-style drinkable yogurt brand DAHlicious Organic appointed Pamela Goldberg as its CEO in April. Goldberg previously served as Senior Director, Biscuits, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa for Mondelez International. The brand also announced supermodel, yogi and meditation enthusiast Rachel Hunter as an official brand partner. OWYN has secured new DSD distribution at Albertsons SoCal, Tom Thumb and Randalls, and has expanded at Target via DSD. The brand also now has two facings in CVS coolers nationally. Chimp Food founder and CEO Scott Joseph recently teamed up with marketing guru Kyle Michaud to fi nish rebranding Chimp Food to LovePlantz and is now focused on regaining distribution at retail.

the SURPRISING

RESILIENCE of MALTERNATIVES by Beth Demmon

The mere mention of malternatives, also known as flavored malt beverages (FMBs), can conjure up certain images in the minds of consumers. But despite some outdated stereotypes of spritzy “alcopops” exclusively enjoyed by women, FMBs have doggedly remained a steadfast and growing segment in the alcohol beverage space. “People are surprised when they 38 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MAY/JUNE 2020

understand how big and how relevant [the FMB segment] is to consumers,” explains Mary Jo Hardy, AVP of Commercial Insights & Strategy for FIFCO USA, a brewing conglomerate based in New York. “It’s a very relevant segment, tons of momentum, tons of innovation, and excitement.” Flavored malt beverages are considered beer products by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), but few consumers — or brewers, for that matter — would likely categorize them as such. Popularized by early brands like Zima and Smirnoff Ice, the category now encompasses brands like Twisted Tea, Mike’s Hard (and Mike’s Harder) Lemonade, and Four Loko. For now, hard seltzers make up a large chunk of the FMB space, but their astronomical boom in popularity has already led some data research firms like Nielsen to create a standalone category. Hardy has watched FMBs evolve throughout her eleven year tenure at FIFCO USA, which counts flavored malt beverage brand Seagram’s Escapes as part of its portfolio. She claims there are two big reasons these malt-based alternatives

to spirits, wine, and beer have persisted: continuously improving quality products and a new consumer base with a more open-minded affinity for sweeter flavors. “[Those] two things combined have created a really strong environment for flavored malt beverages to see really, really nice growth,” says Hardy. Thanks to COVID-19, growth in all non-essential consumer segments has been threatened. But due at least in part to their long-standing reliance on off-premise sales, FMBs seem to be in a strong position to weather the pandemic. IRI data puts FMBs at a 52.2 percent increase in dollar sales from last year, with the top ten brands each exceeding $100 million in current sales as of March 2020. Nielsen also reports seeing off-premise sales increase by double digits from the same period in 2019, hitting $3.4 billion since March 9. Drizly, an ecommerce platform for the alcohol industry, calls the surge in demand “unprecedented”, with a spike in new users as high as 42 percent as opposed to the previous average of 15 percent. And despite a slight decrease over the past eight weeks (0.05 percent), Drizly’s head of consumer insights Liz Paquette says sales of FMBs on the platform stayed relatively consistent compared to the last 12 months. Hardy anticipates this shift will stick for at least the near future. “I think offpremise, for the short term, is going to be really big,” she explains. “FMBs are in a good position.” She goes on to list strong repeat buying rates as well as the concept of responsibly treating oneself during this time of crisis. “This is really scary, and

MALTERNATIVES BRAND

DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

White Claw Hard Seltzer

$1,048,005,917

329.8%

Truly

$438,410,679

182.8%

Twisted

$395,884,639

19.6%

Smirnoff

$370,319,276

16.2%

Mikes Harder

$345,024,070

11.8%

Mikes Hard

$268,981,688

1.7%

Bud Light Lime Rita

$203,236,026

-18.2% -13.2%

Redds

$192,359,738

Seagrams Escapes

$148,292,128

9.5%

Four Loko

$140,570,972

-1.7%

Clubtails

$84,029,103

29.8%

Bon & Viv Spiked Seltzer

$82,760,793

44.6%

Steel Reserve Fmb

$77,863,628

9.8%

Smirnoff Seltzer

$56,045,937

79.6%

Corona Refresca

$52,318,616

—

Johny Bootlegger

$48,167,461

23.5%

Bud Light Seltzer

$44,499,239

—

Cayman Jack

$42,090,085

44.9%

Natural Light Seltzer

$41,430,801

—

Cape Line Sparkling Cocktails

$33,043,257

—

SOURCE: IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm-@iriworldwide% 52 Weeks through 3/22/20

one of the main drivers of Seagram’s Escapes consumption, for example, is the need state of ‘I want to treat or reward myself.’.. and the low ABV is also an added benefit.” COVID-19 may have helped flavored malt beverages enjoy a wider resurgence, but it’s far from the only factor that’s kept this category alive. Last year, BevNet reported the segment has grown more than 13 percent since 2017. Goldman Sachs predicted FMBs’ share of the overall beer category would increase from 5 percent to over 11 percent by 2020. Hardy echoes this optimistic view, claiming FMBs have outpaced total beer growth over the last four years. Boston Beer CEO Dave Burwick told BevNET he foresees hard seltzer becoming a billion dollar business in the next year. The March 2020 NBWA Beer Purchasers’ Index places FMB/seltzers as the highest expanding segment in the entire category, with the next closest segment (imports) barely breaking even. As seen in the craft beer space, this type of accelerated growth is unsustainable in the long-term. Nielsen’s vice president of beverage alcohol Danelle Kosmal told the drinks business she expects the initial spike of “consumer pantry-loading time” to evolve into the “new normal”, which will still likely outpace preCOVID-19 projections. FMBs are also typically more popular in summer months, according to IRI, a claim confirmed by year-over-year sales. This seasonality stands to buoy the segment over the next few months as consumers continue to seek lighter alternatives to beer. Still, as younger generations begin to hit drinking age, they continue to provide inevitable and widespread shifts in FMB demand. Men have historically dominated as the main craft beer consumer, but flavored malt beverages tend to be more gender neutral, according to Hardy. “It’s a really interesting segment, because to look at the data at the segment level for demographics, it would be a little bit misleading to say they skew female,” says

Hardy, although she says overall the category does lean slightly more towards women as consumers. She uses examples like Mike’s Hard Lemonade or higher ABV products like Four Loko as the balance towards more male-oriented marketing. The demographic breakdown within FMB consumers may shift more dramatically brand to brand than in other segments of the alcohol beverage industry. For instance, Seagram’s Escapes appeals to women in their mid-forties, according to Hardy, while most of the FMB segment tends to lean more in the 21-34 range. It’s that sweet spot between bubbly offerings like hard seltzer and traditionally male-skewing beer options that has historically been filled by wine or spirits. Now, innovative alternatives within the FMB space are competing for market share — and seem to be succeeding. Despite the TTB’s categorization of flavored malt beverages as beer, FMBs consistent dependency on off-premise sales will likely shield them from the decimation faced by the craft beer industry. The Brewers Association chief economist Bart Watson gauges nearly half of craft beer’s volume comes from on-premise sales, leaving them poised for a cataclysmic fallout over the next few months. But perceptive brewers who previously diversified their output into the flavored malt beverage space — like Deschutes Brewery’s “Modified Theory” line of FMBs — may be able to supplant those lost on-premise sales with these additional products. Hardy remains confident in FMBs’ ability to withstand COVID-19’s impact, shrugging off the perceived intrusion from canned cocktails as an interloper to the space. “I’ve not seen any data that would indicate there’s a change in consumer preference from a liquid standpoint,” she says. Jaisen Freeman, co-founder of Phusion Projects (the company who launched Four Loko Hemp in 2019) agrees the adjacent category will remain a compliment to FMBs, rather than a competitor. Rather, it’s the threat of an economic recession similar to 2008 that has Hardy feeling a little apprehensive. “I think the economic recession that’s likely to happen is going to create some segment shifts within our total overall category. But I haven’t seen any signals of long term challenges to the FMB space,” claims Hardy. But even long-term, it’s hard to predict what the new on-premise landscape will look like. “Consumers are looking for either their state or city, or the country, having no new cases of COVID-19 before they’ll feel comfortable eating in a restaurant again. That’s a really high bar,” she says. “We have to understand how those occasions [will] change.” But as the world slowly but surely adjusts to the unknown future, it’s likely this resilient category will remain as solid as ever.

SHOW REVIEW BY BEVNET MAGAZINE STAFF

Craft Brewers Conference Goes Virtual; Craft Volume Growth Steady at 4% A month after the novel coronavirus forced the cancellation of the 2020 edition of the Craft Brewers Conference, the Brewers Association (BA) resurrected the craft brewing industry’s largest annual event through a month-long series of virtual presentations. From April 13 through May 15, the trade group representing small and independent craft brewers hosted around 40 free presentations on a variety of educational topics, from equality and social justice, to the changes in laws being forced by COVID-19, to post-pandemic selling strategies in on-premise retailers. Before the BA canceled the event on March 12, CBC,as well as the corresponding Brew Expo and the World Beer Cup competition, were slated to bring 13,000 attendees to San Antonio, Texas, from April 19-22. CBC kicked off with long-time BA counsel Marc Sorini’s presentation: “From Seltzer and State Laws to Pandemics: Legislative and Government Affairs Update for Small Brewers.” Sorini discussed the emergency relief provided by alcoholic beverage control agencies to allow some small brewers to ship, deliver and sell beer-to-go, as well as permit restaurants and bars to sell beer and other alcoholic beverages with delivery and takeout orders. Nevertheless, Sorini acknowledged that these loosened restrictions are meant to be temporary, but they could be hard to pull back. “We’re going to be in an era of the new normal for at least another year and at least until there’s a vaccine for this dreaded virus,” he said. “So when is this going to end? And when it does finally come to an end, it’s going to be very, very hard to put the genie back in the bottle.” Meanwhile, BA chief economist Bart Watson shared the annual “State of the Craft Brewing Industry” address. According to Watson, volume growth for BA-defined craft breweries held steady at nearly 4% in 2019, despite overall beer industry volume declining 2%. “Obviously, 2019 stats may feel somewhat out of touch in a world where things have shifted rapidly,” Watson acknowledged. “But, I think publishing this data set will allow us a good foundation to understand some of the changes that we’re experiencing in 2020, and understand really where craft brewing was in a solid foundation at the end of 2019, as we begin to evaluate some of the changes that have occurred to the industry and society more broadly this year.” In 2019, craft brewers — those who produce fewer than 6 million barrels annually and less than 25% owned by a noncraft brewer — produced 26.3 million barrels, up from 25.5 million barrels produced in 2018. Total beer volume in the U.S. reached 191.2 million barrels in 2019, down from 194.3 million barrels the previous year (which does not include FMBs/FSBs). Those numbers are likely to decline, as Nielsen CGA esti40 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MAY/JUNE 2020

mated that around 1.3 million barrels of BA-defined craft beer could be lost during April’s shutdown of U.S. on-premise outlets. Should those measures continue into May, an additional 1.5 million barrels could be lost, Watson estimated. “Generally, I think we can expect that 25% to 30% drop [in craft sales] to be fairly consistent until the beer business returns to some normalcy,” he said. In 2019, 8,275 craft breweries operated at some point during the year, which breaks down to: • 2,058 microbreweries, which produce fewer than 15,000 barrels annually and produce packaged beer for distribution; • 3,011 brewpubs, which produce beer primarily for consumption on their own premises and operate onsite restaurants; • 2,966 taproom breweries, which produce beer for consumption on their own premises and package beer for to-go sales, but don’t have restaurants, and; • 240 regional craft breweries, those producing between 15,000 and 6 million barrels of beer annually. In 2019, 942 breweries opened their doors, while 294 closed. The number of closures was an expected uptick from recent years, as Watson had projected around 300 closures in 2019. As the majority of states have shutdown on-premise sales in response to COVID-19, there is concern that thousands of craft breweries may shutter. Asked which breweries might be most at-risk of closing, Watson said the smallest breweries are the most at-risk due to relying on onsite sales and draft production. “The smallest breweries are getting a vast, vast majority of their revenue from onsite sales,” he said. “And even if the declines aren’t as steep as draft distribution, the revenue declines are in absolute terms typically much larger for the smallest breweries.” Another number that is likely to fall in 2020 is the number of jobs, as many breweries have been forced to either layoff or furlough their workforces. Nevertheless, in 2019, craft breweries provided 161,007 direct jobs, an increase of 7% over 2018.

Pandemic Forces Conference Cancellations With the outbreak of the novel coronavirus paralyzing the global economy, two of the food and beverage industry’s major annual trade shows, Natural Products Expo West and Summer Fancy Food Show, were forced to announce the cancellation of their respective 2020 events this spring. For Expo West, scheduled for March 4-8 in Anaheim, California, event organizer New Hope Network attempted to address attendee concerns regarding safety and hygiene in the weeks ahead of the show. Reaction was mixed, however, and a significant number of attendees and exhibitors began to voluntarily pull out of the event in the days leading up to its opening. The four day trade show was expected to attract over 85,000 people. On March 2, less than 48 hours before opening, New Hope Network announced Expo West 2020 was officially postponed. “It is now clear, despite continued advice from local government and health authorities that the City of Anaheim remains open, that the majority of our Community want the show, but they do not want it now,” the company wrote in an email statement to attendees and exhibitors. At the time, New Hope stated its intention to find a rescheduled date, set for sometime “before the summer,” for Expo West 2020 by mid-April. However, in a March 13 email to attendees, the organized said it was cancelling the trade show in order to focus on Expo East 2020, scheduled for September 23-24 in Philadelphia. “2020 will be the first time in 40 years that we will not host an annual natural & organic products show in Anaheim,” New

Hope wrote. “We’re disappointed, and we know many of you will be as well.” In that email, New Hope also announced the creation of a $5 million fund to “support emerging brands significantly affected by the Expo West 2020 disruption,” and, to be supported by an advisory board of industry leaders. In April, based on guidance from the board, the group stated a majority of the fund will go towards small and emerging brands primarily defined as first- or second-year exhibitors in 2020 with annual net revenues of less than $2 million in 2019. Other factors, including product certifications (such as organic or non-GMO) and non-refunded event-related costs, will also be taken into consideration for awarding funds. Applicants were to be notified of their funding allotment by May 18. Roughly a month after Expo West was postponed, the Specialty Food Association (SFA) announced on April 13 that this season’s other major trade show, the 2020 Summer Fancy Food Show, slated to run June 28-30 in New York City, had been cancelled. The fate of the trade show had been in question since March, when Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the tradeshow’s venue, the Jacob K Javits Convention Center, would be appropriated as a temporary field hospital for 2,500 overflow patients from inundated New York City hospitals. In a statement at the time, the SFA noted that alongside potential travel issues “ the Javits Center’s critical service in fighting the pandemic… impacts the facility’s availability.”’ On April 6th, Cuomo extended the city’s PAUSE order, along with school

closures, through April 29; at the time of this writing, the order has been extended to at least May 16, 2020. The city has issued fines to residents who violate social distancing guidelines. In a video message and through and online updates, SFA president Phil Kafarakis explained that the delays were due to state and city regulations but promised to maintain transparency. “It’s important to understand that we have some nuances that we have to work through with Javits,” he told viewers. “Stay focused on your family. Stay focused on your immediate business priorities… we’re going to stand up and make you a promise that we’re going to take care of you and we’re going to do the right thing… as soon we know what’s going to happen and have formal decisions, we’ll communicate them to you immediately.” While the organization didn’t list exact plans for registration fees, both the online press release and an email directed attendees and exhibitors to a “Summer Fancy Food Show Refund Center.” That website indicates that exhibitors can choose between a refund or credit, while attendees will receive a refund. Refunds are expected to take between two to four weeks to process. “As the leader in the future of food movement, our responsibility is to serve our members through good times and bad,” SFA President Phil Kafarakis said in a release. “Our legacy is one of connecting the global specialty food industry – makers, buyers and distributors – and we’re assessing ways to create an engaging environment for that, outside of the Fancy Food Show.”

SUPPLIER & SERVICES GUIDE â&#x20AC;¢ 2020

Tea, Coffee & Specialty items A. Holliday & Company Inc.

Nondestructive Testing by ACM ACM Beverage Process Instrumts

For over 45 years, we've traveled the world to connect people with the finest products. At A. Holliday & Company, we source, test, and ship every product we carry. We supply bulk tea variety’s (extracts & leaf), coffees (extracts), antioxidants, herbal & superfruit extracts, natural caffeine, polyphenols, EGCG, Rooibos, coconut water powder, and our newest product, oil soluble tea polyphenols.

ACM, pioneers in laser technology measurements and automatic controls for the beverage industry, now offers nondestructive instruments to test CO2, N2 and O2 in closed bottles, very accurately and fast. As samples don’t go to waste anymore, their sale help with a quick return on the investment, while supporting sustainability goals. Check our LAB.CO, LAB.N2 and OX.PEN videos on YouTube.

3PL - BEVERAGE SPECIALISTS Alta Warehousing & Logistics

Create Your Craft ABS Commercial

ABS Commercial was begun by brewers, but brew is not all we do: Our carbonation stones, mixing tanks, carbonating vessels, glycol chillers and small parts are used to mix CBD infusions, sodas and more unique craft products across the country. We consistently stock 3 to 90 barrel (BBL) vessels in our East Coast warehouse, and our standard designed tanks are in constant production. This means quick turnaround & short lead times, no matter your need. Tanks can also be customized, in some cases. Chillers, cleaning kegs, touchscreen control panels and monitoring systems, transfer hoses, pumps, fittings and small parts, filtration and carbonation equipment are also available. Everything for the production side of your business, all in one place.

Organic Functional Ingredients Applied Food Sciences

ABS Commercial gets constant feedback on design and performance, and can offer firsthand knowledge, industry insight and guidance to our customers through our home base in Raleigh, NC, or our Denver, CO, field office. All large-scale purchases include free technical advice. We also offer installation and expanded consultation services, including expert welding, pipefitting and system adjustment by sister company, Atlantic Processing Solutions. Got packaging and chilling needs? We have plenty of industry contacts to help you match your new ABS Commercial system to their equipment. Most equipment can be ASME, CE, or UL certified, as needed. Flavor Manufacturer Abelei Flavors

Scientific & Regulatory AIBMR Life Sciences, Inc.

As a flavor manufacturer abelei creates delicious, application-specific flavors assisting our clients in getting to market faster with flavorings that fit their product requirements. abelei specializes in creating great-tasting sweet brown, citrus fruit, soft fruit and other top-note flavors perfect for beverages, dairy, confectionery, bakery, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceutical applications.

AIBMR is an industry-leading scientific and regulatory consulting firm, founded in 1978. AIBMR offers key services specifically tailored to the natural products marketplace, including toxicology studies, GRAS Independent Conclusions, FDA GRAS & NDI Notifications, label reviews, claims substantiation, FDA & FTC compliance, and manuscript preparation & publication.

44 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MAY/JUNE 2020

Enzymes for Beverages Amano Enzyme USA

America's maple supplier Bascom Maple Farms

Amano Enzyme, a worldwide manufacturer of specialty enzymes, recently introduced several new enzymes designed to improve the quality and production of coffee and tea. With over 120 years of experience, Amano develops enzymes for a variety of food and beverages including dairy and meat; baked goods, and seasonings; vegetables and protein products; coffee, tea, protein and alcoholic beverages.

Bascom Maple Farms is America's leading maple supplier of pure and organic maple syrup and maple sugar. Eight generations of experience providing consistent quality maple to manufacturers of quality beverage and food items. Clean label maple is nature's most sustainably produced sweetener. Contact us today to discover how you can use America's sweetener in your products.

Defining Specialty Ingredients Artiste

Labels and Flex Packs Bay Tech Label, Inc.

Artiste is an established global flavor and fragrance specialty ingredient company serving customers world-wide. Through its network of partnerships, Artiste offers the world’s finest quality health, wellness and functional ingredients, citrus, mint, extracts, oils and much more. For more information, visit www.artiste. us.com

We are a Flexographic and Digital manufacturer of Labels, Tags and Flex Packs. We offer materials such as Direct Food Contact, Coupons, Tamper Evident, Peel n' Seal and finishes like Foils, Embossing and Soft Feel. We can assist you with construction and design as well. We produce small quantities to millions. Short lead times. We are an SGP Certified facility producing award winning products.

Contract Manufacturing

E-Commerce Packaging Solutions Berkley International

Connecting Nutrition & Health BENEO Inc.

Bev-Hub Co Packing Bev-Hub

From isotonic sports drinks to fizzy water and soft drinks,… Palatinose™ (isomaltulose) opens the door to nutritionally optimised and highly stable beverages. It has a low hygroscopicity and high acid and process stability. From a health perspective, it supports blood sugar management and keeps you going thanks to being a fully digestible and more slowly released source of carbohydrates.

Relentlessly driven to provide valued partnerships with those we serve. An innovative co-packing company dedicated to providing beverage packing services. We specialize in canned beverages, including widgets and Aluminum bottles. Our capabilities include homogenization, retort and tunnel pasteurization. Bev-Hub is an accredited SQF facility that focuses on a safe food environment for our clients.

BOTTLES, CAPS & PACKAGING Berlin Packaging

Beverage Industry Navigators BevSource

Berlin Packaging supplies glass, plastic, and metal containers and closures of all types to companies of all size. We offer a wide array of packaging for beverage companies along with design, financing, and warehousing services. From cans to closures to glass bottles sourced from four continents and much more.Visit BerlinPackaging.com to see our large in-stock offering for a pallet to a truckload

Beverage challenges? Partner with BevSource. Since 2002, we’ve been making your beverage dreams a reality. Whether it’s developing or testing your formula, sourcing ingredients & packaging, finding the best production partners, or managing your operations, we give your brand a competitive edge. Visit our website to learn more & check out The Lab, a pilot & QA facility Powered by BevSource.

Azpack

Azpack is one of the fastest growing co-packers in the country. We offer services in copacking carbonated or nitrogen filled beverages in cans, including alcoholic beverages. Our team of dedicated & professional staff are focused on delivering the highest quality products to our customers. Capable of producing cold fill preserved and tunnel pasteurized products with onsite lab services. Visit our website to find out what we can do for you.

Functional Branded Ingredients Bioenergy Life Science (BLS)

BLS creates innovative, scientific based ingredients for healthier living. We sell in bulk to businesses who manufacture or formulate functional foods & beverages, supplements, sports nutrition products, cosmetics, and animal nutrition. We are best known for the only patented & FDA GRAS-certified D-Ribose: Bioenergy Ribose®. Bioenergy Ribose is the true source of sustainable, cellular energy and is crucial to the production of ATP. Bioenergy Ribose increases energy for Endurance, Performance & A Healthier You. Our newest ingredient, RiaGev™, is a proprietary ingredient formulation that uniquely combines Bioenergy Ribose and Nicotinamide. The pharmacodynamics of RiaGev demonstrate it to be more efficient than NR at increasing NAD+ throughout the body, including muscle and brain, because of the direct pathway it utilizes. RiaGev helps slow the aging process, reduce agerelated cognitive decline, and prevent cellular damage from free radicals. RiaGev helps Repair, Rejuvenate and Defy Aging.

Flavor With IMPACT Blue Pacific Flavors

46 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MAY/JUNE 2020

Beyond Packaging BPM Packaging

Precision One shot depositing Chewters Chocolates

Let us help you launch your pursuit. BPM Packaging (Beats Per Minute) represents a one stop emporium for your packaging needs. We provide innovative solutions that helps our customers sell and market their products. Everything we do supports this goal! With 20+ years in outstanding services in design, manufacturing and fullfillment; we've collaborated with Funko, Nimble Nectar, Mobot, etc.

Since 2015 Chewters has commissioned over 12 million US dollars in state of the art European Chocolate equipment including one-shot precision depositors. Chewters can flow wrap up to 1500 pieces per minute per line across two lines and can bag as much as 150 bags per minute across both lines with fully automatic case packing.The factory is certified Organic, Kosher, Gluten Free and SQF Level 3.

Water Soluble CBD Solutions Caliper

Flavor The Possibilities Citromax Group

Caliper Commercial Ingredients offers an array of water-soluble, hemp derived cannabinoid products for food, beverage, and dietary supplement applications. All of our products are emulsified and homogenized to create a water compatible cannabinoid product base. Our proprietary emulsification technology ensures that cannabinoids are evenly dispersed and stable in a variety of final applications.

Citromax Group, the largest organic lemon and 3rd largest lemon processor in the world, offers organic and conventional lemon products. Citromax Flavors, under Citromax Group, formulates and manufactures always on-trend Natural, Organic, NOP compliant, and Non-GMO flavors, extracts and emulsions suitable for a variety of applications in its state-of-the-art laboratories and plant in Carlstadt, NJ.

Real People. True Flavor. Callisons

The Clear Advantage Clear Can Company

Since 1903, Callisons has created authentic flavors using the highest quality, natural extracts directly from nature. Known as the leader in mint, Callisons develops a diverse portfolio of true flavors with a passion for the Beverage, Confection & Oral Care industries. As tastes change and the market expands, we evolve and innovate to always remain on the forefront of the next flavor revolution.

CLEAR BEVERAGE CANS Now available in Sleek 12 oz size. Hybrid PET/Aluminum beverage cans. Great for New Product introductions & promotions. Low minimum order quantity. 100% recyclable materials. Designed for Cold fill, carbonated and non-carbonated beverages, energy drinks, seltzers, functional/CBD, waters, alcohol and non-alcohol drinks. Virtual Drop-in for existing can filling lines. Made in USA

Expert Service and Parts Centrifuge Parts and Repair

Can Co-Packer - Low MOQ's CMC Beverage Solutions

As a Trucent company, we provide a wide range of services and have a stock of thousands of both OEM and Aftermarket centrifuge parts available for immediate use or shipping. We know the brewery and beer industry requires fast action and reliable service, and CPR is known for our expertise and responsiveness, which allows customers to focus on their core business, rather than maintaining machinery.

Do you need line-time and low MOQ's? Whether you are a new beverage needing to can your first test run, or an established brand looking to try a new SKU or expand your production capabilities, CMC Beverage Solution is here to help you get your beverage to market. CMC is conveniently located in the Southeast. Can sizes: 12 oz sleek, 12 and 16 oz standard, 10 and 8 oz sleek. Get your quote today!

We Make Your Packaging Work Closure Systems International

Closure Systems International, Inc. (CSI) is a global leader in plastic closure design, manufacturing and high speed capping equipment/application systems. Approximately 75+ billion closures are produced annually in CSI’s 15+ manufacturing sites, strategically located in 10+ countries throughout the globe. CSI integrates innovative closure technology, high-performance capping equipment and expert technical services and training support to help customers all over the world maximize their profits. These integrated closure and capping solutions deliver a total system of unsurpassed customer value and reliability.

Coffee, Tea & Craft Beverages Common Collabs

Speciality Hydrocolloids CP Kelco

Whether you are developing a beverage for the first time, or you already have national distribution, Common Collabs is a partner that you can grow with. From our proprietary extraction technology, to our vertically integrated coffee program with sourcing and roasting included, we pride ourselves in making the highest quality coffee and tea. But fear not, we can do much, much more. Drop us a line!

At CP Kelco, we unlock nature-powered success by applying ingredient innovation and problemsolving for food and beverage manufacturers around the world. With nature-based ingredients like pectin, carrageenan, xanthan gum, gellan gum, cellulose gum and now citrus fiber, we help you create products that engage, delight and reassure your customers.

Global Food Ingredients Corbion

Co-Packing & Co-Manufacturing Craftpack Beverage, LLC

Master beverage fortification challenges with Corbion. Consumers keep looking for ways to create a healthier diet. You can respond quickly with innovative, quality products by partnering with Corbion. Our solutions, expertise and advanced tools speed formulation and prevent sensory and solubility issues.

CraftPack is a co-packaging and comanufacturing facility in Baltimore, MD for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, ready-to-drink, artisanal beverages. We offer pasteurization, cold storage, in-line carbonation, and cold-fill canning in a variety of can sizes and formats. We are a licensed distillery, winery and brewery that is Organic and Kosher certified. Minimum run volume of 1,000 gallons.

Custom Bottled Water Co-Packer Creekside Springs, LLC

Vegan Kosher Marshmallows Dandies Marshmallows

Full-line supplier of bottled water products for a variety of brands. Bottle purified, spring, flavored & enhanced products in 12 oz. to 1.5 Liter unit sizes in ribbed and cylinder bottles. PA & OH facilities certified SQF Level 3. Permitted in all states. Primary focus is on product quality and packaging for established and emerging brands, serving as eastern and mid-western production source.

We manufacture a clean label, plant based, kosher marshmallow made with Non-GMO Project Verified ingredients. Our products are manufactured in a dedicated facility free from most common allergens (nuts, dairy, egg, wheat, fish). Dandies are made with high quality ingredients. We use no artificial flavors or colors, no corn syrup, no gelatin, and no gluten. Available in small to large quantities.

Contract Manufacturing Crystal Geyser Water Company

Labels & Sleeved Cans DWS Printing Associates, Inc.

Crystal Geyser Water Company has produced quality beverages since 1977. We have two production facilities; Calistoga, CA which is capable of carbonated sparkling water and Bakersfield, CA which produces hot-fill PET and glass bottles with multi-pack capabilities. Onsite lab and full product development services are available.

Established in 1865, DWS is a 5th-generation family-owned label printing and can-sleeving operation. Capabilities include Shrink Sleeves, PSL, Cut-&-Stack and Roll-Fed labels, and in-house Can-Sleeving. If you’re looking for a typical “label factory,” we’re probably not your best bet, but if you’re interested in connecting with thoughtful partners, you should think about giving us a call.

Probiotic Ingredients Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes

Your Experts in Date Codes Domino Amjet, Inc.

Domino understands the challenges of the Beverage industry, and has designed a turnkey solution specifically for your beverage production environment: The Beverage Can Coding System – Domino’s newest Coding & marking innovation. The Beverage Can Coding system offers clean and clear indelible marking, ideal for compliance purposes and brand protection on aluminum cans. Further, Domino’s system can achieve codes on concave surfaces with high quality and a high speed– one system can mark up to 100,000 cans per hour, with over 20 characters per can. The code quality is consistently excellent even with condensation present on the can. Since 1978, Domino has been the chosen coding supplier, by the most significant brands in beverage. In fact, our approach and philosophy has resulted in us supplying 8 out of 10 of the top Beverage producers globally. Partnerships are paramount within the industry, and Domino is fully committed to ensuring compatibility and seamless integration of our equipment to your production lines. We supply, and have valued relationships on a global scale with many of the leading global Beverage OEMs including Tetra Pak, Sidel, and Krones, to name a few. The ease of use of the products, our expertise in the Beverage sector, combined with Domino’s total cost effectiveness ensures productivity, value and convenience – allowing you to do more. Flexible Packaging Made Simple ePac Flexible Packaging

48 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MAY/JUNE 2020

The Super Hero of Hang Tags ElastiTag® - Bedford Ind.

Custom Flavor Development Flavor Dynamics, Inc.

Experience the creativity ElastiTag® brings to your promotion or packaging! Add value with exclusive information, a promotion or attentiongrabbing graphics. The colorful elastomer loop grips bottles and cans. Even in refrigeration, this durable tag keeps its cool and stays put. Versatile and easy to apply, this over-achiever is the Super Hero of Hang Tags.

We are the perfect choice for your beverage flavors. Our experienced team is guided by a commitment to creating innovative, superior quality products. Our "AA" BRC audit grade represents our commitment to food safety and quality assurance. Ask us for your clean label requirements, including Organic, Non GMO, Natural, Gluten free and Vegan. Our team is up to the challenge. Call us today.

Comprehensive ERP Software Encompass Technologies

Beverage Development Services Flavorman

Encompass Technologies’ cloud-based ERP software helps over 600 beverage distribution warehouses increase operational efficiency and manage growth effectively. The customizable system is specifically built for the distribution industry and functions to fit your unique business needs with products like WMS, sales execution, logistics, warehouse automation, retailer ordering tools, and more.

Creating beverages in every drink category is what we do – but it’s not all we do. Drawing on our almost 30 years of expertise, Flavorman offers a wide range of professional services: from R&D to shelf life testing, pre-production planning, low-volume bottling, production support, value engineering, consulting, and much more. Partner with Flavorman and change what the world is drinking!

Certify Sustainable Sourcing Fair Trade USA

FONA Flavor & Taste Solutions FONA International

1,200+ brands certify with Fair Trade USA to earn the trust of highly valued, conscious consumers with our recognizable seal. We work across dozens of categories and certify 350+ responsibly sourced ingredients, such as tea, coffee, cocoa, coconut, sugar, juice, and herbs. Learn how certification can help you meet sustainability goals, increase brand value, and reach more shoppers on our website.

Consumers today want it all. You’re balancing the demands of great taste, regulatory hurdles and consumer acceptance. The experts at FONA can help. From ideation to launch, we can create a seamless, winning path for you. Design, develop and scale up using our Beverage Innovation Studios in Geneva, IL and Irvine, CA. We are FONA. Let us bring the best taste solutions to the table for you.

Clean Label Ingredients Farbest Brands

Flavor Designers Foodarom

Farbest Brands can help you meet the demand for clean-label ingredients with a full range of high-quality dairy and plant proteins, gum acacia, vitamins, sweeteners, natural colors, as well as USDA-certified organic, and NON-GMO Project Verified ingredients. Our extensive market knowledge and personalized customer service, help our customers make better purchasing decisions at competitive prices.

We personalize flavors to meet your needs and create flavor profiles that help your products to stand out above the rest. Our experienced team knows the functional beverage market well and understands the impact your active ingredients have on taste. Our flavor development capabilities will help you stay ahead of the competition. WE CREATE FLAVORS THAT MAKE YOUR BRAND UNFORGETTABLE.

Water Soluble Hemp Extract

Functional Ingredients

Farmington Research

FutureCeuticals

FutureCeuticals’ mission is to deliver the highest quality fruit, vegetable, grain-based, and clinically researched solutions to our partners, making it easy for them to deliver on the consumer promise of healthy products—whole food nutrition for human health. Whether backed by science or 160 years of agricultural experience, we provide clean label transparency and highly marketable claims.

Decorative Labels & Packaging Fort Dearborn Company

Mergers & Acquisitions Glover Capital, Inc.

We’ve got you covered. Fort Dearborn Company offers shrink sleeve, stretch sleeve, pressure sensitive, roll-fed, in-mold and cut & stack labels, flexible packaging and promotional printing in a variety of substrates, inks and finishing options to support your beverage brand building objectives. We service brands large and small. Contact us today to discuss your application.

Glover Capital, Inc., negotiates the purchase, sale, merger or restructuring of industry-specific assignments that are national and international in scope. The company also advises owners and senior management on a wide spectrum of corporate financial issues.

Coconut Ingredient Products Franklin Baker, Inc.

Natural Color Solutions GNT USA Inc.

Franklin Baker, Inc. is the largest processor of coconut ingredients in the Philippines and the premier supplier to the global beverage & food market. Franklin Baker offers an extensive portfolio of coconut products including Coconut Water, Coconut Milk/Cream, Coconut Concentrate, Creamed Coconut. Our extensive third-party certifications are unrivaled to the highest product standards.

EXBERRY® by GNT is the leading brand of natural food coloring for the food and beverage industry. EXBERRY® colors are derived solely from fruits, vegetables, and edible plants through a process of chopping, pressing, filtering and blending. EXBERRY® products can be applied to a range of beverage categories including enhanced waters, carbonated soft drinks, dairy, and plant-based milks.

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Innovative Packaging Solutions Graham Packaging Company

Aseptic Packaging Solutions GoodWest Industries, LLC

Your Packaging Solution Hammer Packaging

iKey Rugged, Sealed Keyboards iKey, LTD

Mobile Canning Solutions Iron Heart Canning Co

GoodWest offers a complete aseptic packaging solution for your bag-in-box beverages and mixes. We specialize in UHT low-acid dairy, cold brew, flavorings and coffee- based shelf stable products. Organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, nut free and Kosher options are also available. BIB selections include bag sizes from 2 to 20 liters. A wide variety of bag and dispensing fitments are offered.

Hammer Packaging offers full in-house packaging solutions including pouch printing and converting, fitment insertion, and label printing for shrink sleeves, pressure sensitive, cut & stack, roll-fed, foam, IML, and much more. We have fleets of flexo presses and offset presses as well as digital solutions to handle any project from concept volumes to mature markets.

iKey is a manufacturer of rugged, sealed keyboards for food & beverage manufacturing and cold storage companies. Assembled in USA, made to order, we have mobile solutions for keyboards, flat-panel displays, and pointing devices for forklift, industrial automation, manufacturing, warehousing, fleet trucks and more. Built to IP68 standards. Ideal for beer makers and any beverage companies.

IHC is your solution to guide you through the canning process! With over 175 MILLION cans filled to date, IHC offers unmatched Experience and Expertise. We service the Eastern US and deliver Quality you can count on – Guaranteed seams, All beverage types, All can sizes, Materials sourcing, & Co-Packaging Partners – whatever your situation we can get your product canned. IHC is your one stop shop!

We Power Great Packaging Inland

Non-detect THC - CBD Extracts Klersun Hemp Extracts

Inland works collaboratively with brand owners and industry partners to advance innovative, best-in-class solutions for food, beverage, and consumer products packaging. Products offerings include Cut & Stack, Pressure Sensitive, Shrink Sleeve and In-Mold Labels – along with Flexible Packaging options.

Klersun is a producer of high quality hemp extracts. We specialize in broad spectrum Non Detectable THC Extracts. Our NDT™ extracts are self affirmed GRAS. We sell our products by active ingredient and are capable of consistently providing large-scale quantities of extracts derived from industrial hemp that is grown and cultivated in accordance with the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018.

Real Coffee in your Products Incasa Coffee

Culinary Bulk Matcha ITO EN (North America) INC.

Nut Butter (bev grade), & Nuts Grower Direct Nut Co., Inc.

HPP for Clean-Label Beverages Hiperbaric

MATCHA, the finely milled green tea powder revered for its antioxidants & natural energy boost, is a trend forward ingredient for healthy beverages, baking and cooking products. 100% Authentic Matcha from Japan is meticulously made to preserve the full benefits and vitality of the entire green tea leaf. Matcha offers EGCG polyphenols, amino acid L-Theanine and a multitude of vitamins and minerals. Grower Direct Nut is a family owned California grower, processor and leading global supplier of walnuts and value-added walnut, almond, pecan, pistachio (and more) ingredients including Beverage-grade nut butters for the alternative dairy industry.

High Pressure Processing is a non-thermal, environmentally friendly process that allows the development of beverages with freshlike organoleptic quality and nutrition, while extending the shelf life of the product. Beverages include juices and smoothies, fruit-based waters, vegetable soups, energy drinks, probiotic enhanced and fermented beverages, non-dairy milks, and cold-brew coffee and tea.

Cold-Brew Master Extractors

Sustainable Solutions

Javo Beverage Company

Klean Kanteen

At Javo, we use our cold brew extraction process to deliver innovative and custom solutions for coffees, teas and botanicals. We have the ability to provide our clean label extracts on a large-scale commercial level. We are passionate about our process and the premium products we produce for coffee, tea and botanical ingredient needs. We provide clean label ingredients to manufacture on-trend quality products for global and emerging brands. In addition to Javo-branded products, we offer private-label offerings for retail beverage applications, restaurants, convenience stores, gaming, coffee roasters, and others. Our ingredients serve markets such as ready to drink beverages, cold-brew, nitro coffee, ice cream and novelties, dairy, energy drinks, energy bars, functional beverages, plant-based food and beverages, sauces, bakery items and much more. Contact us today for any of your coffee, tea and botanical projects. ingredient-sales@javobeverage.com www.javobeverage.com

Crafting Quality Labels Labeltronix

Supply Chain Advisor LogiChain Solutions

Clean & Natural Protection Lanxess Corporation

We provide customers with ‘best in the world’ premium craft labeling solutions to meet today’s ever-expanding requirements. Our labeling experts translate clients' brands and business processes into manageable, high-quality, and efficient labeling programs. We continue to lead through innovation, use of technology, our lean labeling process, and a seasoned perspective on all aspects of labeling.

Rene, an advisor and the founder of LogiChain Solutions, enables food and beverage startups to scale operations, strengthen the supply chain for future challenges and increase profit margins. Working hands-on from strategy to implementation, Rene focuses on the company's operations and business goals while driving change that has both immediate and lasting impact.

NW Copacker LineTime Available LDB Beverage

Shrink Sleeved Cans Lucky Clover Packaging

Looking to safeguard the quality and shelf-life of your beverage? LANXESS Corporation offers two unique and innovative technologies, Velcorin® and Nagardo™, that provide microbiological protection in a wide variety of beverages. Velcorin® (Dimethyl Dicarbonate) is a cold sterilization agent that kills microorganisms during production, resulting in cleaner and more stable beverages. Benefits of Velcorin® include: • No impact on sensory profile • Clean label solution • Compatibility with all types of common packaging • Cost-effective • Application-specific advice and services from Velcorin® team Nagardo™ (Dacryopinax Spathularia) is a natural guardian that protects against beverage spoilage to secure and prolong shelf life.

Non-Alcohol and Alcohol beverage manufacturing and packaging. Cold fill carbonate with tunnel pasteurization. Organic Certified, GlutenFree, NonGMO. Can capabilities: 12oz standard and sleek, 16oz and 19.2oz sizes. Bottle capabilities: longneck 12oz, 500ml and 22oz sizes. MOQ 2100 24 pack cases. Pack out can be 4/6/24 or 12pks w/ shrink tray bundling. Development and compliance services available.

Lucky Clover Packaging is a one-stop shop for shrink sleeved aluminum cans and other packaging materials such as crowlers, Paktech handles, brite cans, and ends in all sizes. With locations in Baltimore and Sacramento, we allow beverage producers across North America to avoid large order minimums from the manufacturers and package their beverage for retail in the most cost-effective way.

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Benefits of Nagardo™ include: • Natural labels and claims • Efficient control of a broad range of spoilage organisms • No impact on sensory profile • Broad application in a variety of beverages • Easy integration into the production process • Application-specific advice and services from Nagardo™ team For more information on Velcorin®, please visit https://velcorin.com/. For more information on Nagardo™, please visit https://www.nagardo.com/.

F&B Accountants & Advisors

Natural Functional Ingredients

Marcum LLP

Mibelle AG Biochemistry

Branding & Packaging Design McLean Design

Fruit & Vegetable Solutions Milne

We Build Powerful Brands — Brands are built on consumer engagement, meaning that a successful brand has captivated the consumer and enriched their life in some unexpected and enduring way. At McLean we use every tool at our disposal to reveal the core meaning of a brand and enhance the consumer's experience beyond the utility of a product or service. Realize the full value of your brand at McLean.

Since 1956, Milne has been producing industryleading fruit and vegetable juices, concentrates, purees, and custom solutions. With a team of dedicated product developers, Milne has the experience, expertise and creativity to craft new product ideas and solutions to help your business stand out in the fast-paced food and beverage market.

Start Up Specialists Let's Go! Millennial Brands Consulting

Trust the monk.™ MONK FRUIT CORP.

Don't waste time starting/scaling your dreams! Hire a group of seasoned CPG executives for everything from "CPG Business Strategy" to get "Set Up for Success" or "Execute with Excellence". Our carefully crafted Module Series outlines your assessments and deliverables in checklist form. Move your idea or brand forward today. Contact us: info@millennialbrands.us to fill out your intake form.

Monk fruit allows you to create great tasting, innovative products with significantly less sugar and calories - all from the goodness of fruit! Monk Fruit Corp is the recognized industry leader, with the best quality and widest variety of monk fruit products and the majority share of the global monk fruit market (more than 3X our nearest competitor). Looking for monk fruit? Trust the monk.™

Shelf Stable Probiotic Strains Microbiome Labs

MIURA: THE WORLD LEADER IN STEAM BOILER SYSTEMS

K2- the missing ingredient

MIURA AMERICA CO., LTD.

NuScience Trading

Celebrating over 60 years in business, and 10+ years in their Made in the USA manufacturing facility in Rockmart, Georgia, Miura has become the world leader in steam boiler innovation and technology and a favorite of the Beverage and Food industry. Miura’s once-through watertube boilers are exceptionally reliable, efficient, safe, and feature a range of impressive benefits including: Cold start to full steam in less than 5 minutes, which allows users to turn units on/off quickly depending on load requirements, while conserving resources and reducing energy costs; enhanced operational reliability; modular, space-saving design; advanced controls and remote monitoring; and a best-inindustry safety record with zero catastrophic vessel failures resulting in casualty. In 2020, Miura, along with Hartford Steam Boiler and Armstrong Services introduced Steam as a Service (SaaS), a turnkey, fully-financed solution that meets the steam requirements of a range of users by designing, building, operating, maintaining, and continuously optimizing their steam generation onsite. Miura boilers are available in two series:The LX Gas/Low NOx Series, Low and High Pressure Steam Boiler (from 50 -300HP) uses natural gas or propane and are compactly-designed. The EX Gas/Oil Series High Pressure Steam Boilers (from 100HP and 50HP increments up to 300HP) are the most versatile boilers in the world. ENHANCE & FORTIFY MORRE-TEC Industries, Inc.

Nature's Power Nutraceuticals NP Nutra

Vitacyclix , a division of MORRE-TEC Industries Inc. is an ingredient supplier to the Dairy, Food, Functional Beverage & Nutritional Industries. We manufacture Clear, colorless water soluble vitamins, as well as oil soluble vitamins, bioflavonoids, natural colors, pectin and stabilizers. Our facility in Union, NJ also produces proprietary blends of vitamins and nutriceutical blends in its modern FDA Registered Plant.

For over twenty years NP Nutra® has been supplying customers with the finest nutraceutical ingredients produced at approved partner facilities around the world. Our ongoing commitment to purity, quality and reliability have earned the trust of a growing clientele, including the world's leading functional food and beverage, dietary supplement, cosmetic and pet food manufacturers.

Flavor Manufacturer Mother Murphy's Flavors

Natural, Clean Label Flavors Omega Ingredients Ltd

Mother Murphy's is a full service flavor manufacturer dedicated to supporting customer needs through quality and flavor innovation. At Mother Murphy's we specialize in flavor and prototype development for the beverage and snack industries and have over 60,000 flavors in our portfolio. We make the world taste better!

We are Omega Ingredients, Award Winning Creators of Natural Flavors & Clean Label Ingredients for Manufacturers of Food, Flavor & Beverage Products Worldwide. Our focus is on 100% Pure & Natural ingredients, helping to create your next beverage from ‘Source to Sip.’ We specialize in the innovative fusion of biochemistry & natural materials to provide the finest extracts & natural flavor.

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Sustainable Packaging Handles PakTech

Perishable E-Com Fulffillment PERISHABLE SHIPPING SOLUTIONS

Packaged Chiller Systems Pro Chiller Systems, Inc.

Specializing in frozen & refrigerated pick & pack eCommerce order fulfillment. With warehouses in Ohio and Reno, we ship to 93% of the US with 2 Day Ground FedEx. Shipping D2C and small batch B2B (e.g 3-6 cases), we can help you reach your customers economically and eco-friendly.

Pro Chiller Systems has been disrupting some of the coolest industries for over 30 years. We have the largest range of Packaged Air Cooled Chiller systems in the industry ranging from 3/4 hp up to 220 hp. Our Sales Team will work with you from sizing to installation and our Technical Service Team is available 24/7.

Ideal Flax for Beverages Pizzey Ingredients

Beverage & Food Development PTM Food

Route Accounting Software Prism Visual Software, Inc

Prism Visual Software specializes in route accounting technological solutions that generate operational efficiencies and cut costs in a distributor’s supply chain. Prism Software is sold with an ERP accounting system and as an “all in one” DSD solution. Additionally, Prism Software Suite can extend your existing accounting system including QuickBooks, Microsoft Dynamics, Sage, AccountMate, or SAP Business One with specific software automation addons. Prism Software tools and automation will enable your DSD company to exceed customer expectations, achieve better margins, and improve productivity with real time updates. Prism software suite is feature rich and includes modules and apps including but not limited to • Mobile Sales App • Email / Text Campaign Communication Module • Mobile Route Sales & Proof of Delivery App • Route Optimization and Tracking System

Pizzey Ingredients’ BevPur™ Flax enhances beverages with the nutritional benefits of flaxseed while providing a smooth and rich texture. BevPur™ has a guaranteed shelf life of two years and is available in organic and conventional varieties (both are non-GMO, pesticide-free and gluten-free). BevPur™ is ideal for a variety of ready to mix and ready to drink beverages.

PTM Food is your premier product development & manufacturing support firm. Our wide range of expertise, development, and creativity achieves an exciting point of difference between your product and competitors. We work hard to uncover key industry insights, developing products that have a competitive edge. Whether your project is simple or a complex one, we’re your team!

Filling and Closing Solutions Pneumatic Scale Angelus

Food safety and sanitation Rochester Midland Corporation

Since 1895, Pneumatic Scale Angelus has designed and manufactured packaging equipment for filling, seaming, capping, and labeling applications. Our solutions set the standard for bottling and canning machines, scaled for the specific needs of a wide range of Beverage, Craft Beverage, Dairy, Food, and Pharmaceutical applications, and are fully supported by a global Service and Aftermarket network.

RMC's BrandGuard is a comprehensive HACCPbased food safety program that supports GFSI standards. We specialize in sustainable solutions through process improvements, multi-location standardization of food safety programs, products, high intensity training, and protection against recalls and failed audits.

100% Sustainable Packaging Pratt Industries, Inc.

We package customers dreams Saxco International

Pratt Industries is America's 5th largest corrugated packaging company and the world's largest, privately-held, 100% recycled paper and packaging company. Our 9000 highly-skilled, green-collar employees are dedicated to the environment and sustainability. The cornerstone of Pratt's mission is to protect and nurture the planet's resources while helping our customers meet their sustainability goals.

One supplier, limitless solutions. Saxco makes it easy for food and beverage companies to package products and focus on what really matters, realizing their dreams. With an 80-year legacy of packaging expertise we know what it takes to help differentiate your brand. OneStop-Shop- Glass, Aluminum, Plastic containers, closures, corrugated containers. You name it, we can get it.

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• Real Time Dispatch Dashboard • Promotion & Pricing Management • Inventory Control and WMS • Web Ordering and Online Bill Pay • Equipment Asset Management Solution • Inbound & Outbound Call Centers • Collection Management Automation Pyure Ingredients Promotion Pyure Brands LLC

Beverage Co-pack Bottling Stapleton's/California Copack

Fruit & Vegetable Ingredients Stiebs

Stapleton-Spence processes a variety of products including tea brewed from leaf, concentrates, juices, vinegars, functional beverages, sports beverages, syrups, edible oils, and more. 12 oz. – 64 oz. PET or Glass Containers. Shrink, C&S, and PS labels. Additional options may be available upon request. Certifications include BRC, FDA, USDA, Kosher, Organic, and USDA "Excellent" Rating.

Stiebs, since 2005, has been devoted to sourcing, processing & delivering the world's finest plantbased products. We offer a full line of fruit & vegetable based ingredients as single strength juice, juice concentrate, purees, extracts & powders. From the beginning stages of product development to delivering an on-going supply of premium natural products, our team is here to help you succeed.

Bigger Better Smarter Southeast Bottling & Beverage

Ready-to-Drink Beverages & Liquid Dietary Supplements Organic & Kosher certified • NSA

Craft Packaging Line Experts

• Europhins

Ska Fabricating

• More Capacity • More Packaging Options (Registered Film & Carton Packaging) • New registered film capability. tray, supported & non-supported. • SQF FSC for manufacturing & FSC for Quality (SQF Level III) • 150,000sf • Built to cGMP Specifications • Filling rooms individually temperature & humidity controlled & HEPA Filters • Now offering finished goods storage

Ingredients for Innovation STAUBER

Inline Blending Leader Statco-DSI Process Systems

Sweet Taste Solutions SweeGen

Statco-DSI is the leader in continuous inline blending in the beverage industry. From parts to process systems, Statco-DSI is the nations largest independent supplier and systems integrator to the food, dairy, beverage, brewing and life science processing industries. Our broad knowledge base brings a plethora of knowledge to your process. We are your Partner in Process.

SweeGen brings you Bestevia Taste Solutions, a full taste experience for sugar reduced foods and beverages delivering the sweetness profile and mouthfeel of full sugar. Our sugar-reduction portfolio combines next generation stevia sweeteners with modulation and mouthfeel building blocks. All components are non-GMO, label friendly and nature-based.

Ingredients for Innovation

Just Fruit and Nothing Else

STAUBER

Sunrise Fresh Dried Fruit Co.

Premium Nutritional Ingredient

Sweet Taste Solutions

Sunland Nutrition, Inc.

Sweegen

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Inspiring Taste Solutions Synergy Flavors, Inc

We Design to Taste Takasago International Corp

A New Name in Tasteworthiness Tastepoint by IFF

Organic Bulk Ingredients Tradin Organic USA

Synergy Flavors is a leading manufacturer and supplier of flavorings, extracts and essences for the global food, beverage, and nutrition industries. With over 130 years of expertise, we combine a long heritage of flavor development with modern extraction technology, blending art, science, and market insights to create an exceptional array of profiles that inspire taste and drive innovation.

Built on technology, Takasago has an extensive innovation platform including true to nature VIVID® Natural Flavors, taste modulating INTENSATES® Flavors, Consumer Insights and Market Research, etc. Vertically integrated in citrus, coffee, tea, mint, and vanilla to drive quality and sustainable raw materials for flavor creations, we promise to deliver impactful flavors for your product development.

Great taste takes more than great ingredients. That's why we go above and beyond, every day. Our purpose is to be the spark that advances our customers. We're an agile, energetic product development partner with a fresh perspective. We capture the essence of your ideas and the imagination of your customers. Together, we'll create a fresh take on taste.

Tradin is a leading manufacturer of certified organic ingredients. Some of our ingredients include organic: fruit & vegetable (IQF, purees, JC & NFC), cacao & coconut products, honey, nuts/seeds/grains, dried fruits, alternative sweeteners,oils, cane sugar, beverage-grade nut/ seed butters, superfood powders, seed proteins & more. Additionally we have extensive global sourcing & supply capabilities

We Make Life Taste Better T. Hasegawa USA Inc.

POS / POP Purchasing TAP PRODUCTIONS

Beverage Premix Solutions The Wright Group

Connect with the team of experts at The Wright Group to learn more about turnkey beverage solutions to add to your product portfolio. T. Hasegawa continues to pioneer the flavor industry with a customer experience that is optimized to rapidly respond with technical expertise. We deliver superior products that meet all your requirements no matter how complex the demand. Recognizing that the food industry needs flexibility, we proactively listen to our customers’ needs in an effort to develop better ways of delivering formulation Sucralose/Nutraceutical Mfg TECHNO FOOD INGREDIENTS USA

Established in 1999 as a National Sales Promotion and Branding Company, TAP Productions produces custom decorated goods and collateral for a wide range of companies and non profits. We know production! With resources around the USA and Overseas to fit your budgets and branding needs. We have you covered for field marketing, outdoor events or corporate programs. Print, Display, Premium & Wearables.

Beverages create ideal systems for functional ingredients since flavoring / sweetening systems can often mask unpleasant tastes from functional ingredients. Microemulsion value-added ingredients often perform better in beverage delivery systems since they are not subject to the same cooking or mechanical stresses as in food production. Value-added premix solutions deliver performance and stability to your products...often at a cost savings! Custom nutrient premixes have been shown to work well in a variety of products such as extruded bars, breakfast cereals and viscous, opaque beverages. SuperBlend© custom nutrient premixes are designed to include our SuperCoat© Micro-encapsulation SMART™ process. These premixes are also engineered to perform at high temperatures and shear processes. The Wright Group delivers custom nutritional blends, vitamins/mineral premixes and microencapsulated ingredients for the functional food and nutritional supplement markets. Our 100+ years of innovative expertise, accomplished R&D team, and comprehensive production capabilities allow us to provide faster lead times to successfully bring your products to market. Superior service and printing. TLC Label Company

Shrink Labeling Experts TRIPACK

TLC Label Company has always put the “Custom” in custom printing. Our focus is to provide you with quality printed products/labels the way you want them, when you need them. We have the ability to offer options that fit your custom needs. We strive to stay ahead of the curve with our constant R&D advancements to push the envelope . If you can think it, we will always find a way to print it!

Tripack is an industry leader in shrink sleeve packaging technology. Consisting of two divisions: manufacturing shrink sleeve labeling systems and contract packaging services, Tripack delivers turnkey solutions to the beverage market. Solutions include bottle or can decorating/labeling, multi packing and variety (rainbow) packing. Located in the heart of the country, we offer excellent positioning for freight and distribution lanes. Try us out!

Plant-Based Proteins & More!

Quality Used Equipment

Top Health Ingredients, Inc.

United Food and Beverage, LLC

The North American plant-based market topped $5 billion USD this year, and that number is only projected to multiply exponentially. As a result of this unprecedented growth, the food & beverage industries have seen major players pivot to incorporate plant-based products into their lineups. Milk alternatives now account for over 14% of the entire milk category, and plant-based meat sales have grown by over 18% in the past year. For over 10 years, Top Health Ingredients has been a trusted supplier of plant-based proteins, prebiotics, fibers and natural sweeteners, to brands developing some of the most innovative and functional food products on the market. From plant proteins developed specifically to improve texture and taste in dairy and meat analog applications, like our AdvantaFava™ 90% fava bean protein, to our water-soluble prebiotics meant for easy immune system support, Top Health is the ideal ingredient solution partner for all plant-based food and beverage formulas. For industry updates, follow our social profiles on Twitter & Facebook and be sure to visit our website for more product information!

Craft Beer Centrifuges Trucent

Displays & Packaging U.S. Display Group, Inc.

United Food and Beverage specializes in buying and selling used processing, packaging, bottling and canning machinery for the Food and Beverage Industry. Our 22+ years of experience propels United to be a worldwide leader in used equipment. Our focus is providing late model high quality machinery to meet our client’s short lead times while satisfying budget requirements. Our 80,000 square foot warehouse is based in the Charlotte, North Carolina region. Other services include auctions, plant liquidations, rigging and certified appraisals. Industries we serve include bottled water, soft drink, dairy, co-packers, tea, breweries and food production plants and much more!

Your Partner in Fermentation White Labs Inc.

Think a centrifuge is out of reach? Think again. Trucent’s CentraSep centrifuges are purposefully designed for craft beer, come in 10 different sizes, and can assist you in multiple locations within your operation. Our centrifuges enable you to eliminate oxygen pickup, increase fermenter yield, increase batch production, protect flavor and aromas, and increase your beer quality & consistency.

U.S. Display Group, Inc. is a leading independent designer and domestic manufacturer of custom point-of-purchase displays and retail packaging. Our high speed, single pass, 6 color digital printer allows us to produce stunning graphics while increasing the speed to market. With over three decades of experience, you can trust us to provide structural design, manufacturing, and fulfillment services.

Warehouse Planning/Integration Twinlode Automation

Beverage Can Solutions West Coast Container, Inc.

Twinlode Automation is the leading integrator of high-density and automated storage systems in the beverage industry and beyond. With more than 30 years' experience and deep industry knowledge, Twinlode Automation has helped execute complex storage and warehouse environments for the largest beverage companies in the world. From simple rack to complex, 24/7 operations, Twinlode Automation delivers.

For 25 years, WCC has been delivering competitively priced packaging solutions to customers large and small, while providing exceptional customer service. We have printed or brite aluminum cans, along with glass, plastic and closure solutions to meet your packaging needs. Delivery options include full truckloads or purchasing pallet quantities from our convenient warehouse network. Call us, today.

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White Labs Inc. provides liquid yeast, fermentation products, services, analysis and education to brewers, winemakers, distillers, kombucha and other fermentation professionals. We are committed to giving you the highest quality liquid yeast cultures and being your partner in creating the best products possible. White Labs has production facilities in premier beer regions in the U.S. and Europe and is dedicated to making yeast cultures accessible to all in the fermentation industry. White Labs offers instant ordering through the White Labs app, online at yeastman.com or through our Customer Service Representatives. Visit whitelabs.com for more information.

Premier Packaging and Printing

BOTTLES & CANS

Zion Pack

ZUCKERMAN HONICKMAN, INC.

Zuckerman Honickman is a full service packaging company specializing in supplying glass and plastic bottles and aluminum beverage cans. With more than 100 years of experience our fourth generation family owned company prides itself in being experts in the supply side of the beverage industry. Our strengths are in our ability to provide beverage brand owners with many unparalleled advantages, such as volume buying, preferred production scheduling, custom packaging design, supply side networking, logistical planning, and much more. Our market expertise lies within our ability to supply a full spectrum of glass, plastic and metal containers to companies of all sizes. Our knowledge base gives us the unique opportunity to enable beverage brand owners to take their ideas from inception to reality to success. With hundreds of manufacturer supplier partners Zuckerman Honickman prides itself in being able to supply custom packaging, hard to find packaging, as well as stock packaging...all at a competitive price. Our National footprint enables us to supply packaging to all corners of the US and beyond. Zuckerman Honickman provides bottles and cans to all beverage verticals, including sports drinks, sparkling beverages, craft beer, craft soda, bottled water, tea, coffee, enhanced beverages, wine, spirits, and many more! Reach out to us and letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s see how Zuckerman Honickman can help!

COMPANY CONTACT INFORMATION

COMPANY

CONTACT NAME

CITY

STATE

PHONE NUMBER

WEB SITE

A. Holliday & Company Inc.

Christine Renken

Toronto

—

(416) 225-2217

teacoff.com

Abelei Flavors

Shelley Henderson

—

(630) 859-1410

abelei.com

ABS Commercial

Michael McAdoo

Raleigh

(919) 400-9087

abs-commercial.com

ACM Beverage Process Instrumts

Marcio Amazonas

Atlanta

(404) 513-6506

acm.co.at/en

Jared Brodin

Seattle

(253) 286-2888

aibmr.com

AIBMR Life Sciences, Inc. Alta

—

Redlands

(909) 307-1777

altamarketingco.com

Sam Lazar

Elgin

(847) 649-0101

amano-enzyme.com

Applied Food Sciences

Jackson Zapp

Austin

(512) 732-8300

appliedfoods.com

Artiste

Joe Raimondo

Glen Rock

(201) 447-1311

artiste.us.com

Azpack

—

Tempe

(480) 449-7770

azpack.com

Amano Enzyme USA

Bascom Maple Farms

Arnold Coombs

Alstead

(802) 257-8100

maplesource.com

Bay Tech Label, Inc.

Marilyn Sullivan

Saint Petersburg

(727) 333-3122

baytechlabel.com

BENEO Inc.

Sofie Colombeen

Mannheim

—

003216801372

beneo.com

Jeff Herrell

Carson

(714) 606-1602

goberkley.com

Julie Saltzman

Chicago

(312) 607-6642

BerlinPackaging.com

Berkley International Berlin Packaging Bev-Hub BevSource Bioenergy Life Science (BLS) Blue Pacific Flavors BPM Packaging Caliper

Customer Service

—

(316) 339-0360

bev-hub.com

Dan Macri

Saint Paul

(866) 956-4608

bevsource.com

Penny Portner

Ham Lake

(763) 746-3926

bioenergylifescience.com

—

Los Angeles

(626) 934-0099

bluepacificflavors.com

Tena Gooden

San Diego

(619) 787-5345

—

Ben Addington

Commerce City

(269) 225-4737

caliperingredients.life

Callisons

Justin Biza

Lacey

(360) 412-3340

callisons.com

Centrifuge Parts and Repair

Mark Nigh

Noblesville

(317) 288-8700

centrifugepartsandrepair.com

Chewters Chocolates

Wade Pugh

Delta

—

(604) 515-7117

chewters.com

Citromax Group

Zeynep Taskin

Carlstadt

(201) 933-8405

citromax.com

Clear Can Company

Martin Brown

Colorado Springs

(714) 271-8727

clearcancompany.com

Clint Rush

Indianapolis

(800) 311-2740

csiclosures.com

CMC Beverage Solutions

Closure Systems International

Drew Brantley

Athens

(762) 234-1781

cmcbev.com

Common Collabs

Scott Grimes

Los Angeles

(623) 217-3377

commoncollabs.com

Corbion

—

(913) 890-5500

corbion.com

CP Kelco

—

Atlanta

(678) 247-7300

cpkelco.com

Craftpack Beverage, LLC

Ashley Sebastionelli

Baltimore

(443) 873-0103

craftpackbev.com

Creekside Springs, LLC

Dave Carlson

Ambridge

(724) 266-9000

creeksidesprings.com

Crystal Geyser Water Company

Steve Weller

Glendora

(909) 226-4422

crystalgeyserwatercompany.com

Dandies Marshmallows

Dan Ziegler

Addison

(630) 629-9667

dandies.com

Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes

Tod Burgess

Kennesaw

(800) 697-8179

deerland.com

Domino Amjet, Inc.

Tara Abbott

Chicago

(905) 901-1621

domino-printing.com/en-ca/industries/ beverage.aspx

DWS Printing Associates, Inc.

ANDY STAIB

Deer Park

(516) 769-1907

dwsprinting.com

ElastiTag® - Bedford Ind.

Patsy Youngblom

Worthington

(507) 376-4136

elastitag.com

Encompass Technologies

Jake Sampson

Fort Collins

(970) 449-8000

encompass8.com

ePac Flexible Packaging

Jeff Jacobs

Austin

(844) 623-8603

epacflexibles.com

Fair Trade USA

Heather Walker

Oakland

(510) 844-1680

fairtradecertified.org

Farbest Brands

Cheryl Pasiut

Park Ridge

(201) 573-4900

farbest.com

Farmington Research

Cameron Meshell

Shreveport

(318) 464-0487

Flavor Dynamics, Inc.

Colleen Roberts

—

(908) 822-8855 x221

Phil Icsman

Louisville

(502) 301-8132

Flavorman 62 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MAY/JUNE 2020

farmingtonresearch.com FlavorDynamics.com flavorman.com

COMPANY

CONTACT NAME

CITY

STATE

PHONE NUMBER

WEB SITE

Cara Newkirk

Geneva

(630) 578-8600

fona.com

John Murphy

Salt Lake City

(801) 975-2604

foodarom.com

Gwen Chapdelaine

—

(847) 427-5405

fortdearborn.com

John Slade

—

(901) 881-6681

franklinbaker.com

—

Momence

(888) 452-6853

futureceuticals.com

Glover Capital, Inc.

Marion B. Glover

Atlanta

(404) 523-2921

—

GNT USA Inc.

Stephanie Ferretti

Tarrytown

(914) 524-0600

exberry.com

John Ludwig

Douglassville

(800) 948-1922

goodwest.com

Michele Loeper

Lancaster

(717) 849-1826

grahampackaging.com

Tony Varni

Hughson

(209) 448-6105

growerdirect.co/

Kim Flynn

Rochester

(585) 424-3880

hammerpackaging.com

Anthony Zapata

Miami

(305) 607-4538

hiperbaric.com

FONA International Foodarom Fort Dearborn Company Franklin Baker, Inc. FutureCeuticals

GoodWest Industries, LLC Graham Packaging Company Grower Direct Nut Co., Inc. Hammer Packaging Hiperbaric iKey, LTD

Ashley Mittag

Austin

(512) 837-0283

ikey.com

Incasa Coffee

John Hornung

Berkeley

(510) 414-4644

incasacoffee.com

Nic Hill

La Crosse

(608) 788-5800

buyinland.inlandpackaging.com/ BevNet2020

Roger Kissling - VP Sales

—

(908) 619-5449

ironheartcanning.com

Rona Tison

New York

(718) 250-4000

itoen.com

Joanne Sheean

Vista

(760) 330-1141

javobeverage.com

Inland Iron Heart Canning Co ITO EN (North America) INC. Javo Beverage Company Klean Kanteen

Tyler Barker

Chico

(530) 592-4552

Kleankanteen.com/custom

Klersun Hemp Extracts

Carl Jonsson

Portland

(877) 767-4367

klersun.com

Jill Sambol

Anaheim

(714) 363-4137

labeltronix.com

Lanxess Corporation

Labeltronix

Michael Turpin

Pittsburgh

(817) 357-5851

lanxess.com

LDB Beverage

Christina Shinn

Stevenson

(509) 651-0381

ldbbeverage.com

Rene Jacquat

San Francisco

(415) 795-2269

logichainsolutions.com

Ashley Sebastionelli

Baltimore

(443) 873-0103

luckycloverpackaging.com

LogiChain Solutions Lucky Clover Packaging Marcum LLP

Flo Federman

—

(631) 414-4299

marcumllp.com

McLean Design

Caryn Javinsky

Walnut Creek

(925) 944-9500

McLean-Design.com

Alice Olufeso

Buchs

—

Alisa Ries

St. Augustine

(801) 201-8839

vanessa walker

Hollywood

(404) 822-8294

MillennialBrands.us

Clint Janson

Spokane

(509) 710-4276

Mojo-Lab.com

Andrew Eklind

Rockmart

(888) 309-5574

miuraboiler.com

MONK FRUIT CORP.

Paul Paslaski

Libertyville

(847) 367-6665

monkfruitcorp.com

MORRE-TEC Industries, Inc.

Michael Fuchs

Union

(908) 688-9009

morretec.com

Michael Oden

Greensboro

(336) 273-1737

mothermurphys.com

Eric Guggenheim

Gardena

(310) 694-3031

npnutra.com

Mibelle AG Biochemistry Microbiome Labs Millennial Brands Consulting Milne MIURA AMERICA CO., LTD.

Mother Murphy’s Flavors NP Nutra NuScience Trading

mibellebiochemistry.com NuScienceTrading.com

Alisa Ries

Phoenix

(801) 201-8839

NuScienceTrading.com

Jim Kavanaugh

Philadelphia

(441) 473-8364

omegaingredients.com

—

(541) 461-5000

PakTech-opi.com

PERISHABLE SHIPPING SOLUTIONS

Mark Nelson

Youngstown

(866) 399-8457

GoPerishable.com

Pizzey Ingredients

Mary Ekman

Rockford

(651) 797-3168

pizzeyingredients.com

Omega Ingredients Ltd PakTech

Pneumatic Scale Angelus

Gigi Lorence

—

(330) 923-0491

psangelus.com

Pratt Industries, Inc.

Doug Thiesse

Conyers

(615) 692-9869

prattindustries.com

Prism Visual Software, Inc Pro Chiller Systems, Inc. PTM Food

Andrew Kuneth

Roslyn

(516) 944-5920

prismvs.com

Jim VanderGiessen

Auburn

(800) 845-7781

prochiller.com

Don Rodgers

Wall Township

(888) 736-6339

ptmfood.com 63

COMPANY CONTACT INFORMATION COMPANY

CONTACT NAME

CITY

Pyure Brands LLC

Philip Coggins

Naples

(305) 509-5096

pyureingredients.com

Rochester Midland Corporation

Lauri Calarco

—

(585) 336-2200

rochestermidland.com

Saxco International

STATE

PHONE NUMBER

WEB SITE

Saxco

—

(877) 641-4003

saxco.com

Ska Fabricating

Sonia Vincent

—

(970) 403-8562

skafabricating.com

Southeast Bottling & Beverage

Alisa Cessna

Dade City

(352) 567-2200

southeast-bottling.com

Stapleton’s/California Copack

Victor Hong

Gridley

(408) 297-8815

californiacopackers.com

Statco-DSI Process Systems

Randy Smith

Huntington Beach

(714) 375-6300

statco-dsi.com

STAUBER

Sheri Esswein

Fullerton

(714) 441-3900

stauberusa.com

Brian Nova

Madera

(559) 455-8606

stiebs.com

Stiebs Sunland Nutrition, Inc.

—

Anaheim

(714) 575-8998

sunlandnutrition.com

Case Samuel

linden

(209) 932-0192

sunrisefresh.com

Sweegen

Katharina Pueller

Rancho Santa Margarita

(949) 709-0583

sweegen.com

SweeGen

Katharina Pueller

Rancho Santa Margarita

(949) 709-0587

sweegen.com

Synergy Flavors, Inc

Patrick Lawson

Wauconda

(847) 487-1011

synergytaste.com

T. Hasegawa USA Inc.

Mark Webster

Cerritos

(714) 522-1900

thasegawa.com

Takasago International Corp

Walter Crawley

Rockleigh

(201) 767-9001

takasago.com

TAP PRODUCTIONS

Terry Peterson

—

(718) 441-0382

flickr.com/gp/tapproductions/7n87u1

Sunrise Fresh Dried Fruit Co.

Tastepoint by IFF TECHNO FOOD INGREDIENTS USA The Wright Group TLC Label Company Top Health Ingredients, Inc. Tradin Organic USA

—

Philadelphia

(215) 365-7800

tastepoint.com

MU PENGFEI

San Gabriel

(626) 288-8478

techno-fi.com

Customer Service Team

Lafayette

—

(337) 783-3096

thewrightgroup.net

Brian Hannes

Gilbert

(440) 263-0160

tlclabel.com

Brittany DeMarco

Edmonton

—

(780) 439-1425

tophealthingredients.com

—

Scotts Valley

(831) 685-6565

tradinorganic.com

TRIPACK

Nick Linz

Milford

(513) 248-1255

nlinz@tripack.net

Trucent

Chris Clausen

Dexter

(734) 649-9418

trucent.com/craft-beer-clarification

Twinlode Automation

Doug Hayden

South Bend

(800) 535-6719

twinlodeautomation.com

—

Tullahoma

(931) 455-9585

usdisplaygroup.com

Jeremy Sanders

Hickory

(843) 622-8434

unitedfoodandbeverage.com

U.S. Display Group, Inc. United Food and Beverage, LLC West Coast Container, Inc. White Labs Inc. Zion Pack ZUCKERMAN HONICKMAN, INC.

64 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MAY/JUNE 2020

Kevin McInerney

Dublin

(614) 420-1830

westcoastcontainer.com

JoAnne Carilli-Stevenson

San Diego

(858) 693-3441

whitelabs.com

Brad Martin

Corona

(951) 335-4600

zionpack.com

Jon Zuckerman

King Of Prussia

(610) 962-0100

zh-inc.com

PROMO PARADE

INDUSTRY PROMOTIONS & EVENTS

PepsiCo Pledges $1 Million to No Kid Hungry, Encourages People to #GiveMealsGiveHope With the global health crisis driving school closures across the country, kids who rely on school for food have missed nearly 608 million meals to date. Because students urgently need support to meet their nutrition needs during this time of crisis, PepsiCo and the company’s philanthropic arm The PepsiCo Foundation announced the launch of Give Meals, Give Hope. It’s an initiative to help connect kids in need with critical food through a fundraising campaign with No Kid Hungry, a national campaign working to ensure every kid gets three meals a day during the pandemic and after, especially those in the hardest-hit communities. Despite nationwide efforts to help feed children during this emergency, significant hurdles remain including increased demand for rapid supply of nutritious food and beverages, low awareness of meal availability, and distribution barriers to bring meals “the last mile” to children and families. PepsiCo enlisted athletes including New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley, New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge and WNBA All-Star A’ja Wilson to rally communities to contribute to No Kid Hungry and spread the word about this important issue using #GiveMealsGiveHope. To double the support, PepsiCo matched $1 million in donations made at NoKidHungry. org/PepsiCoGives from April 13 through April 30, 2020. “We’re thankful for partners like PepsiCo who are leveraging their capabilities and assets -- like a roster of star athletes -- to help get the word out and ensure all kids have access to nutritious food during this challenging time and beyond,” said Jill Davis, Chief Revenue Officer for No Kid Hungry.

Give Meals, Give Hope is one part of PepsiCo’s more than $45 million effort to fight hunger and distribute 50 million meals globally amid the health crisis. In the U.S., PepsiCo is providing 20 million nutritious meals to communities in need through The PepsiCo Foundation’s Food for Good program, the No Kid Hungry partnership and a partnership with the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty and USDA to reach rural students. In addition, PepsiCo has committed $3 million to support Team Rubicon’s food delivery operations for partners Feeding America, Meals on Wheels, and others in 100 locations across the U.S. With extensive knowledge of kindergarten through 12th grade nutrition guidelines, the PepsiCo Foodservice team is also donating products to schools. PepsiCo is utilizing its portfolio of healthier brands, like Quaker, Tropicana, Smartfood, Sun Chips and Rold Gold, while helping fi ll the need for nutritious shelf-stable meals that can travel “the last mile.”

CELSIUS Launches Virtual Workout Program “SWEAT WITH CELSIUS.” Partners with Barry’s Celsius Holdings, Inc., maker of global fitness drink, CELSIUS announced the launch of “SWEAT WITH CELSIUS,” a virtual workout platform that is live streamed on the brand’s Instagram account. “With gyms and fitness studios shut down across the county, the fitness community is experiencing extreme hardships,” said John Fieldly, CEO of CELSIUS. “From business owners and instructors, to gym goers and fitness enthusiasts, everyone has had to adapt. We wanted to create a way to help everyone stay connected through fitness and health, and ‘SWEAT WITH CELSIUS’ is our way to help facilitate that.” “SWEAT WITH CELSIUS” con66 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MAY/JUNE 2020

sists of three weekly workouts hosted by well-known fitness trainers located throughout the country and takes place every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 12PM ET/9AM PT. Each day they offer a different type of workout and target a different muscle group. The workouts stream live on CELSIUS’s Instagram page, @ celsiusofficial, and are designed to offer followers from around the world a chance to try new workouts, release stress and maintain a sense of normalcy in an uncer-

tain time. The workouts require minimal to no equipment and can be modified for all fitness levels. To further engage with consumers, CELSIUS has partnered nationally with Barry’s and their “AT HOME LIVE Instagram Series” where CELSIUS will be profiled as the official energy drink powering Barry’s At Home Streaming Workouts. CELSIUS will have product prominently featured on Barry’s Live Stream Instagram accounts and in placements on various photos and blog posts. Their partnership with Barry’s, a leader in the fitness space, will deepen their positioning as a premier partner in helping communities come together and continue to Live Fit even outside of the gym.