JULY - AUGUST 2022
LIFE AFTER HONEST Iced Tea Gets a Refresh
2022
NATURAL BEVERAGE GUIDE SPORTS DRINKS OFF TO THE RACES
RTD COCKTAILS CONTINUE TO CLIMB
BEVNET LIVE RETURNS TO NYC
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Contents / July – August 2022 / Volume 20 / No. 4
NATURAL BEVERAGE GUIDE • 2022
44
50
56
61
COLUMNS
EVENT COVERAGE
6 First Drop Aftershocks of The Bang Breakup
38 BevNET Live Returns to NYC, NOSH Live Summer’s Back, Summer Fancy Food Recap
8 Publisher’s Toast Summer Breezes 36 Gerry’s Insights Staying Optimistic Amidst Inflation
FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
44 Iced Tea Honest’s End Opens Doors (with Brand News)
12 Bevscape/NOSHscape/Brewscape Coca-Cola, Jack Daniel’s Set to Launch RTD Cocktail; Mondeléz To Acquire Clif Bar For $2.9 Billion; Stone Sold 26 New Products Califia Farms, LavAzza & GHOST 30 Channel Check Oat Milk Outpacing Almond 98 Promo Parade Essentia Vows to “Stop for Nothing”
50 Sports Drinks Competition Keeps Innovation Flowing (with Brand News) 56 Spirits RTDs Keep Rising
SPECIAL SECTION 61 Natural Beverage Guide
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BevNET Magazine (ISSN 2165-6061, USPS 24-552) is published bi-monthly by BevNET.com, Inc. 65 Chapel Street Newton, MA 02458. Periodicals postage paid at Boston, MA and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to BevNET Magazine, Subscriber Services, 65 Chapel Street Newton, MA 02458
5
THE FIRST DROP BY JEFFREY KLINEMAN
Florida Man: Better Off Alone? As with most hot-and-heavy star-crossed celebrity romances that quickly turn into public breakups, there were rumors, shouts, recriminations, lawyers. It’s America, after all, and since our commerce and attention helps build these things, we’re all entitled to our own little piece. But also, as with many breakups, no matter how painful, the cover line from both parties is a variation on a theme: “It’s all for the best.” By that I mean the tale of Bang Energy and PepsiCo, a brand and distributor that equalled to be less than the sum of their union almost from the start. Observers will remember that PepsiCo’s brass had such a crush on Jack Owoc’s meteoric energy/fitness brand that it spent billions to buy out its previous partner, Rockstar Energy Drink, in order to bring Bang onto its trucks. Sadly, Owoc, the bombastic Florida Man, wasn’t a fan of the way PepsiCo handled his precious cargo and sued to get out of the deal almost as quickly as he’d found it. After an arbitrator ruled against him when he alleged poor performance on the part of the Blue system, Owoc nevertheless has now negotiated his way out of the deal and is returning to the complicated world of independent wholesalers that helped to build the brand in the fi rst place. Given PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta’s recent earnings call comments that partnered distribution brands had a tiny overall impact on the company’s fi nancial plans, and Owoc’s overall dissatisfaction, one could assume that the breakup is indeed “all for the best.” I’m not so sure, though. Like many successful brands, Bang grew via a network of independents. But with regard to the product type it pioneered, the feathers are out of the pillow, and they’re landing everywhere. Competitors like C4, Ghost (aligned with Anheuser-Busch houses), Celsius, Zoa (Molson Coors) and more have similar products and have grabbed Bang’s momentum -- which built, after all, at least partially because of those same independents’ ability to execute. While some independents will undoubtedly carry Owoc’s portfolio – they need the volume – he’s already on the record as saying he’s not the easiest fellow to work with. Still, Owoc did build the brand in the independent web before moving it to PepsiCo, and maybe it’s clear that the Pepsi system truly had little motivation to “Bring the Bang,” a characteristic he values vociferously. Owoc’s is also not the only brand to back out of a supposedly stronger system and go back to the independents; High Brew Coffee, for example, found itself trapped between the KDP coffee portfolio and that system’s own lack of concern about a relatively small brand before it went back to the independents, where it’s found steadier ground. History nevertheless shows it’s hard to get bigger by getting smaller. Just ask Evian and Fiji, two pioneering premium water brands that have suffered mightily since they threw over their DSD partners. 6 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 2018
Bang was way out in front when it struck a deal with PepsiCo, and now it’s getting reeled back in. Certainly, Owoc is no stranger to overestimating the interest in his products, either within the industry or with consumers. That’s not the view he expressed back in June, prior to the settlement announcement. During our interview at BevNET Live, Owoc – blingy Bang necklace gleaming, microphone brandishing, voice unmodulated – kept shouting about an industry that was set up to drown him, either by lawsuit or by some nefarious plot. Given the brashness with which it was delivered, Owoc’s complaint may have come off as tough to swallow. But inside that anger-management worthy madness, there’s a real point: most brands aren’t ready to work in bigger systems, even if they’re at a billion bucks in revenue. Calling the deal off might have been his only way to stop a slow bleed. Still, I think a little patience might have been better, both for the industry, and for Owoc himself. First, it’s concerning that these large distributors might be even more gun shy now when it comes to identifying other rising companies that might be a better fit. If you look at Pepsi, it stumbled in both of its energy drink deals, getting cornered into buying one brand so that it could try to build up another. But it’s not just them: at the time of their respective acquisitions by KDP, both Bai and Core Water had become so entrenched in the conglomerate’s network that losing them would have cost real revenue. So maybe Pepsi ultimately didn’t want to fi nd itself over a barrel with Owoc, throwing good money after a bad relationship. On the other hand, while the ultimate cost of the Bai and Core deals might have left KDP with a bitter taste, it knew what it was buying and had the partnerships in place. Same with PepsiCo and Rockstar: after all, despite the slow fray of their relationship – it took 11 years from when they fi rst signed a distribution agreement until the fi nal sale – it still put nearly $4 billion into its founders’ pockets when the deal fi nally happened. Did Owoc overplay his hand by suing so early in the process? It’s hard to tell, but it’s certainly in character for him to want to walk and fume, rather than sit still and talk it out. We can only wish him luck as he seeks a bigger Bang. Photo by Samara Doole on Unsplash
PUBLISHER’S TOAST BY BARRY NATHANSON
The Highs and Lows of an Eventful June As our lives seem to be rolling back to where we were before the start of COVID-19, it’s time to take stock of the present, because business isn’t the same. First, while the pandemic seems to be receding in so many eyes, it is important to remember that it’s still affecting the country’s health, and in the impact it has had on us emotionally and fi nancially is profound and lingering. There are still many factors affecting the beverage industry. We’re looking for normalcy, but it didn’t come fast enough for many brands that left us the past two years. Many more still struggle with a shortage of drivers, stockers and production workers to bring them all the way back. That qualifies as a defi nite low. We’re clearly not back yet. So, I look for some highs -- and not the same kind I used to chase in my wilder days. First, my 3 ½ year old granddaughter just got her fi rst shot, and knowing she is starting to be protected warms my heart. (I don’t understand why so many people are reticent or skeptical of science. Sadly, we are a country of disinformation and that has affected our return to normalcy. That is obviously a low.) More good news: Watching Mike Repole win and place in the Belmont Stakes was a joyous event. Mike epitomizes all that is good about our
industry. His honesty, work ethic and leadership in everything he gets involved in sets a standard for success and integrity. I’m happy to call him a friend. The next high was our BevNET Live conference. We had over 600 of our compatriots in New York. June is always a great time to be in the city and a splendid time was had by all. It was a high energy event, and the excitement was palpable. Watching the interaction of attendees, networking to the fullest, made all the countless hours putting it together worthwhile. We are prideful in our work. The content was terrific as we put together a stellar cast of speakers to share insights on every aspect of our business. I’ve spent 32 years involved in beverages yet I still pick up nuggets listening to our speakers impart their knowledge. You’re never too young or old to learn. Hosting this event is a labor of love. Sadly, the lows in the month of June have impacted our lives. While they are not beverage centric, I use my bully pulpit to share what is so important to me. The senseless mass shootings are a blight on our lives. I am so tired of watching the carnage and seeing the right allow and justify it under the banner of the second amendment rights. Killing innocent people with assault weapons is not a right. My other grievance is the assault on women by the Supreme Court. The overturning of Roe vs. Wade is the greatest travesty in my lifetime. I cry for the millions of women who have lost the right to control their bodies. This is nonsense, and it must be addressed and rectified. I look for a brighter second half of the year.
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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 Justin Kendall NEWS EDITOR, BREWBOUND jkendall@bevnet.com Carol Ortenberg EDITOR, NOSH cortenberg@bevnet.com Adrianne DeLuca REPORTER adeluca@bevnet.com Lukas Southard REPORTER lsouthard@bevnet.com
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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 MANAGER OF BRAND RELATIONS jlandis@bevnet.com
ART & PRODUCTION
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8 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST 2022
BEVSCAPE
THE LATEST BEVERAGE BRAND NEWS
Coca-Cola, Jack Daniel’s Set to Launch RTD Cocktail The Coca-Cola Company is accelerating its push into beverage alcohol with the announcement of a new global partnership with Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey to release a ready-to-drink cocktail. Jack Daniel’s & Coca-Cola RTD, as the product was dubbed in a press release, will launch initially in Mexico in late 2022 before continuing a global rollout. The product, made with Coca-Cola and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, contains 5% ABV in each 12 oz. can, and will also be available in a zero-sugar version. “The relationship brings together two classic American icons to deliver consumers a taste experience they love in a way that is consistent, convenient and portable,” said Lawson Whiting, CEO and president of Brown-Forman Corporation, the parent company of Jack Daniel’s. “Brown-Forman has been a leader in the readyto-drink category since we launched our first Jack Daniel’s RTD offerings, enabling us to accelerate expansion and continue to grow our business around the world.” “We keep consumers at the center of everything we do as we continue to develop our portfolio as a total beverage company, and that includes new products with our iconic Coca-Cola brand,” said Coca-Cola chairman and CEO James Quincey. “We are excited about our new relationship with Brown-Forman and look forward to the introduction of Jack Daniel’s & Coca-Cola.” Though the company has dabbled in beverage alcohol in the past, Coca-Cola’s interest in the segment has picked up momentum in recent years. Within the U.S., the soda giant has licensed its brands to third parties for use in alcoholic drinks; Topo Chico Hard Seltzer and Simply Spiked Lemonade are produced via partnership with beer giant Molson Coors, while Constellation Brands makes Fresca Mixed. Jack Daniel’s & Coca-Cola RTD will be the first alcoholic drink to carry Coke’s official branding and packaging. In contrast, Jack Daniel’s has multiple RTD products on the market across a range of ABV levels and formats. Brown Forman announced a partnership with Pabst Brewing to produce, sell and distribute Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails, the whiskey brand’s line of flavored malt beverages, beginning in April 2021. While Brown-Forman retained full ownership of Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails’ trademarks and other assets, Pabst’s national accounts and field sales teams took over sales to distributors and retailers in the U.S. and domestic military markets. Via the Pabst partnership, Brown Forman has landed on market research firm IRI’s list of top 25 beer category vendors in off-premise retailers with sales up 20%, to $24.4 million, year12 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST 2022
to-date through May 15. Along with Jack Daniel’s & Coca-Cola RTD, Coke’s products reflect its focus on three segments of RTD flavored beverage alcohol: hard seltzers, hard alternatives and pre-mixed cocktails. In a separate statement, Khalil Younes, who leads Coke’s alcoholic beverage division, said the company was “strategically experimenting and learning in alcohol,” a mission that “will require effort and patience.” “Our ambition is to grow our brands in a responsible and sustainable way to those who choose to consume and are over the legal purchase and drinking age,” Younes said. Buoyed by continued growth from its flagship soda — CocaCola (+6%), Coca-Cola Zero Sugar (+14%) both expanded in Q1 this year — the Atlanta-based corporation has leaned into its trademark as of late, launching Coca-Cola With Coffee and now-defunct Coca-Cola Energy while unveiling Coca-Cola Creations, a “global innovation platform” that has released several LTO products so far this year. Outside of CSDs, it has recalibrated strategies around key segments like tea, coffee and juice, efforts which have seen brands Odwalla and most recently Honest Tea be discontinued. In April, Coca-Cola Company announced net revenue was up 16% in Q1, to $10.5 billion, despite seeing its cost of goods rise 17%, to nearly $4 billion.
Chameleon Coffee and REBBL Acquired By SYSTM Foods SYSTM Foods, the strategic partnership of private equity firm SYSTM Brands and venture capital fund PowerPlant Partners, staked its first claims on the impact-focused food and beverage category by announcing it has acquired Chameleon Coffee from Nestlé USA, along with independent functional beverage brand REBBL. “I couldn’t think of two better brands to combine,” said Andy Fathollahi, CEO of SYSTM Foods. “We look for great brands, great products and this acquisition was phenomenal.” Through SYSTM Foods, which is focused on socially conscious food and beverage products, both brands will be operated by SYSTM Brands with PowerPlant serving as lead investor in the partnership. The deals were both closed in May but were officially announced in June. Although the details of the partnership were undisclosed, the launch of SYSTM Foods allows SYSTM Brands to use its expertise in consumer product acquisitions and move into the food and beverage space where PowerPlant has invested heavily, Julian Cheng, chief strategy and investment officer for SYSTM Brands, told BevNET. Based in Austin, Chameleon started as an organic cold brew concentrate business in 2010 and was acquired by Nestlé in 2017. Under the leadership of one of the world’s largest coffee companies, Chameleon rounded out Nestlé’s offerings with at-home pod-based products, packaged coffee and single-serve RTD coffee drinks. Nestlé’s decision comes as oversaturation in the RTD coffee category and increased competition in the market has led to shakeout in the category. There were 326 active coffee brands (excluding private label) in the market in December 2021, down from 350 in 2020 and a peak of 357 in 2019, according to SPINS data for MULO and convenience. California-based REBBL makes plant-based elixirs and protein beverages and most recently launched its own functional RTD coffee line called Stacked, as well as prebiotic soda REBBL POP. REBBL frames itself with a conscious capitalism business by using recyclable materials and supporting social justice and human rights organizations through a portion of its sales. REBBL’s acquisition continues the company’s relationship with PowerPlant Partners who invested in the brand in 2018. The venture capital firm has invested extensively in the food and beverage space helping fund companies like Beyond Meat, Thrive Market, Liquid Death, and Vive Organic. Chameleon and REBBL will continue to be run as two separate businesses with SYSTM operating the finances and sales on the backend. SYSTM Foods reported that the strategies for the new companies would “stay fairly in line with what both brands have been doing with some refinements to growth strategies.” In establishing a natural beverage portfolio, the company sees these two brands as an opportunity to invest beyond consumer products like mobile phone cases that have populated its portfolio until now, Cheng said. “From a consumer product standpoint, managing multi brands and delivering really high-quality products is something that we’re very comfortable doing. The only thing that’s really different is ingredient mix and supply chain,” Fathollahi said. “We have the good fortune of having a largely domestic-based supply chain here. We co-man(ufacture) and distribute everything domestically within REBBL and Chameleon.” At this point, SYSTM Foods is solely focused on the integration of the two new brands and does not have future acquisitions planned, Cheng said. “We’re obviously gonna leave our options open, but if an opportunity pops up, we’re going to be looking at it closely.” 13
BEVSCAPE Super Coffee Tests ‘ENRGY’ Line Kitu Life Super Coffee pilot-launched its first non-coffee innovation in Texas: a three-SKU, zero-sugar energy drink line enhanced with collagen and probiotics called Super ENRGY. Much like Super Coffee presenting itself as a better-for-you alternative to Starbucks’ Frappuccino drinks, Super ENRGY is positioned as an extra-functional, all-natural choice within the traditional energy drink space. Boasting the tagline “the healthiest energy on earth,” the product has launched in three initial fl avors — Mango Peachpop, Strawberry Lemonspark and Mixed Berryburst — in 12 oz. slim cans containing 200 mg of caffeine each. “Super ENRGY is focused on delivering great tasting, greatfor-you, everyday energy that provides consumers with something that is much better for them while being fun, flavorful and relevant,” said Kitu Life founder and COO Jordan DeCicco in an email. “The brand will speak to the next generation of Energy Drinkers who want something that’s great for them, tastes great and has a clear purpose.” All three flavors debuted in June at “roughly 200” Texas locations of grocery chain H-E-B, where they are being sold in single cans from the cooler. According to DeCicco, Super ENRGY is off to a fast start, scanning 20,000 in the first two days, “an early sign that the brand and product is resonating.” Super Coffee has emerged as one of the major entrepreneurial success stories in beverage over the past half-decade: since Jordan and brothers Jimmy and Jake DeCicco launched the protein-boosted RTD coffee brand in 2015, it has rapidly expanded across channels and product formats, including multi-serve coffee, creamers and K-Cups. A landmark investment and distribution deal with beer giant Anheuser-Busch InBev in 2020 marked a further turning point, allowing it to build awareness (see its Super Bowl ad with ’90’s rapper Vanilla Ice) and adjusting the company sales targets to over $100 million annually. But with “positive energy” already one of its core principles, why jump into the fraught energy drink market? According to Jordan DeCicco, the category allows Super Coffee to extend its zero-sugar brand platform to reach more consumers with a value-added product that meets a different use occasion and day part. “Based on the consumer and category data it will absolutely be incremental to Super Coffee,” said DeCicco. “We know we
14 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST 2022
have a lot of our current consumers who will drink their Super Coffee in the morning and Super ENRGY in the afternoon and evenings instead of trading to another energy drink which is happening very often today. It’s also going to introduce our brand to Non-Coffee drinkers for the fi rst time which is an exciting opportunity that we’ve looked forward to for several years.” Kitu Life is entering energy drinks at a precipitous time, with major operators like Molson Coors (ZOA), Vita Coco (Runa), PepsiCo (Starbucks BAYA) and others showing increasing potential for disrupting the category with zero-sugar, naturally caffeinated energy drinks. On the independent side, brands with differentiated products for specific demographics, such as CLEAN Cause, Alani Nu, C4 and Celsius, have enjoyed the growth wave. According to Nielsen data for the two-week period ended on June 4, the category has grown upwards of 30% on a three-year stacked basis. In terms of how the product may potentially fit within ABInBev’s current network — which includes energy drinks from GHOST and Hiball, Super ENRGY’s role is not yet clear. “We love our wholesaler partners and hope they will all be as excited as we are for Super ENRGY once we prove the product and brand positioning the same way we did with Super Coffee,” DeCicco said. “We won’t ask them to carry it until it’s performing well and we are confident about its future and committed to supporting it with the necessary resources it will need to scale. We are starting with a very disciplined launch at HEB in Texas and then based on performance will start exploring new opportunities with wholesalers and retailers who believe in the brand and want to get behind it through a meaningful partnership and launch plan.” But for the next three to six months, DeCicco emphasized that Kitu Life plans to be “hyper critical” in analyzing Super ENRGY’s performance at H-E-B, measuring weekly velocities and dollar growth against the category’s top 10 brands — without leaning on promotional pricing. “We want to ensure we focus on a healthy gross profit for the wholesalers and retailers as we do not want to infl ate sales out of the gate with heavy promotions but focus on full price velocities which is a true sign of product and brand strength.”
BEVSCAPE
For more stories, check out bevnet.com
Bang Announces Split from PepsiCo After a year-and-a-half of high tension and muted sales, Bang Energy said it had officially ended its distribution partnership with PepsiCo. The Florida-based brand, a subsidiary of VPX Pharmaceuticals, announced in a brief press release in late June that “all disputes with PepsiCo have been fully settled and resolved” effective immediately and that the brand will return to DSD distribution through a number of new partnerships. “Our primary objective is to effectuate a smooth transition that best serves both Bang Energy’s and PepsiCo’s highly valued retail customers,” Bang Energy CEO Jack Owoc said in the release. PepsiCo has not yet confirmed the termination of the agreement.
PepsiCo first announced its exclusive distribution partnership with Bang in April 2020 at a time when the brand was reporting triple-digit year-over-year growth and had recently surpassed $1 billion in annual retail sales. The deal was contracted to last through October 2023; however, the relationship soon went sour as Bang’s transition from DSD (including within Anheuser-Busch InBev’s network) to Pepsi’s blue trucks when sales fell off and in October 2020 Owoc began attempting to exit the agreement prematurely. Bang publicly announced its intention to terminate the agreement in November 2020, citing “multiple issues and concerns regarding PepsiCo’s performance since the parties’ distribution partnership began.” However, PepsiCo sued Bang that month and an arbitrator later ruled that Bang must honor the contract. Since then, Bang has continued to face slow and, at times, declining sales growth within the PepsiCo system. According to NielsenIQ, the brand’s sales fell 20.5% in the two-week period ending June 4, 2022 and were down 19.5% in the 52-week period on a two-year stack basis. Volume sales in that time fell 23.5% for the two-weeks and were down 24% for the 52-weeks on a two-year stack basis. Speaking at BevNET Live Summer 2022 in New York City in June, Owoc declined to say that he regretted taking the deal with PepsiCo calling it a “learning experience” and suggesting that he had distributors lined up for when Bang eventually departed.
Bolthouse Farms To Acquire Juice Brand Evolution Fresh From Starbucks
Starbucks Coffee has agreed terms with Bolthouse Farms for the sale of its cold-pressed juice brand and business Evolution Fresh, the two companies announced. Financial details of the transaction, expected to close later this year, were not released. By joining Bolthouse Farms, itself owned by private equity group Butterfly, Evolution Fresh “will have the opportunity to accelerate its growth trajectory” while Starbucks “focuses its efforts on the growth of the core Starbucks business and its partner and customer experience,” read a press release. “Evolution Fresh is a natural extension of the Bolthouse Farms portfolio and we look forward to welcoming the team,” said Jeff Dunn, chairman and chief executive officer of Bolthouse Farms. “At Bolthouse Farms, with the support of Butterfly, we strive to ensure that the acres we grow and beverages we make have a positive impact on the land, on the people who make up our company, and on all people. By bringing Evolution Fresh into our portfolio, we will extend our spirit of ingenuity and innovation, sharing resources and passion for high-quality, nutrient-dense juices to pioneer solutions for today’s food system.” “Evolution Fresh has grown steadily over the last several years as a result of our partners’ hard work and commitment to the brand. We feel there is a great runway and opportunity to take Evolution Fresh to the next level, and Bolthouse Farms’ 16 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST 2022
considerable experience and success in the premium beverage category will allow the brand to continue growing,” said Hans Melotte, Starbucks executive vice president Global Channel Development. “Bolthouse Farms shares the same values and commitment to putting people fi rst in everything they do, which affi rms for us that we have found the right opportunity for Evolution Fresh.” Based in California, Bolthouse Farms produces plant-based milks, juices, protein drinks, salad dressings, and baby carrots. The company was acquired by Butterfly from The Campbell Soup Company in a $510 million transaction in 2019. The group’s portfolio also includes Chosen Foods, MaryRuth Organics, Orgain, and Pete and Gerry’s Organics. Starbucks announced its $30 million purchase of Evolution Juice in November 2011, with former chairman Howard Schultz framing the brand as a way into the “$50 billion health and wellness sector.” Founded by Jimmy Rosenberg, the Californiabased brand was an early adopter of high-pressure processing (HPP) technology to preserve freshness and extend shelf-life for its juices and smoothies. “We have long admired the Evolution Fresh brand and see tremendous untapped potential in the premium beverage category. By bringing these powerhouse brands together — Bolthouse Farms and Evolution Fresh — we will deliver a robust, highgrowth, and consumer-preferred portfolio of juices to market,” said Bill Levisay, president, Consumer Brands, Bolthouse Farms. The sale marks another shakeup in the premium juice category, which has seen market momentum slow over the past decade. Over the past two years, major brands including Naked, Tropicana, Odwalla and Suja have all either been discontinued or sold to private equity groups, similar to Bolthouse’s current setup.
NOSHSCAPE
THE LATEST FOOD BRAND NEWS
UNSTUCK Launches New Products, Celebrates ‘Friction-less’ Model Success
After a successful first year of operation, refugee-employment initiative UNSTUCK has announced a slew of new partnerships and co-branded SKUs to support its growing supplier network which is composed of companies committed to hiring refugees, helping them economically integrate into their new host community. With six brands now on board, UNSTUCK is now supported by seven new products: Chobani Vanilla Greek Yogurt with Tropical Fruit, That’s it. Mango Probiotic Fruit Bar, La Colombe Monaco Medium Roast Coffee, GoodPop Mango Chile popsicle, Petit Pot Dark Chocolate Organic French Dessert, Pitaya Foods Natural Passion Fruit Pieces and Organic Avocado Pieces. These new products are proof that the nonprofit model works, said Nick O’Flaherty, Director of UNSTUCK at The Tent Partnership. He said one of the main challenges to expanding the program was getting brands and suppliers to understand that the model is easy to integrate and, rather than a one-off cash injection, it can generate systemic change in regions with large refugee populations. “You can imagine in the last year, having any conversation that involves the word supply chain or suppliers was a difficult hurdle to cross,” said O’Flaherty. “But the brand partners [soon] saw that this wasn’t going to be disruptive, that the model was frictionless and that we provided any additional support that was required.” “It’s almost like we needed to create a new category [of nonprofits] where, this is business as usual and brands aren’t sacrificing anything” he continued. Launched last June, UNSTUCK is a consumer-facing initiative developed by the Tent Partnership for Refugees, a non-profit organization co-founded by Chobani CEO, Hamdi Ulukaya, that mentors and supports displaced people. UNSTUCK works directly with brand partners to identify a potential SKU, either existing or new, and determine what ingredients can be sourced from refugee-hosting regions to make a co-branded product. Next, the organization matches the brand with potential suppliers in its network or works with new suppliers and local NGOs to implement refugee hiring programs. Once the SKU has been developed, UNSTUCK provides branding guidelines but otherwise lets the brand “do what they do best, which is creating these amazing products,” according to O’Flaherty. “We provide any additional resources or technical expertise that they may not have in order to successfully hire and integrate refugee talent [into their supply chain] without much of an additional lift,” he said. This initial brand cohort sources UNSTUCK ingredients from suppliers in Colombia and Peru. O’Flaherty noted that while the program has the strongest supplier relationships in Latin America due to its past work in the region, it intends to help support refugees through this program across the globe. UNSTUCK’s debut co-branded SKU with Chobani, a Mango & Cream Greek yogurt, established a proof of concept for the initiative, said O’Flaherty and gave it something to 18 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST 2022
point to when it began working with new potential partner brands. The first year also allowed UNSTUCK “to be confident in the business model and operating model overall,” he said. Although the debut SKU had limited distribution, it was successful in the markets it was available in and allowed them to “kick the tires” on the program before deploying it on a larger scale. UNSTUCK is now working toward its three-year goal of helping existing suppliers expand their workforce to be made up of 20% refugees. The program is also in talks with a few other brand partners including Tony’s Chocolonely and aims to continue bringing more brands, products and suppliers on board. Although not every ingredient in an UNSTUCK product comes from a refugee supporting supplier, O’Flaherty said this new cohort has taken some matters into their own hands, creating an unintended but positive ripple effect of refugee hiring outside of the program. A heightened interest in supply chain functions has also been gaining traction among consumers due to the disruptions of the past year. O’Flaherty said the consumer demand for more transparency throughout the value chain has been an unanticipated, positive outcome of the otherwise negative situation. He said UNSTUCK wants to ensure these long term partnerships and each SKU are successful and the program has recently launched its first awareness campaign. As it looks to its next stage of growth O’Flaherty emphasized that the impetus behind the mission is to continue to cultivate and expand its supplier network with a focus on emerging economies hosting large numbers of refugees. Over the next five years, UNSTUCK also aims to reach beyond food and into apparel, personal care and home goods, among other sectors. By expanding its presence, it aims to help the increasing number of refugees economically integrate into their new host country. O’Flaherty highlighted the urgency of this issue, noting that since the initiative launched last year, the number of refugees has also increased, from approximately 30 million to 36 million, due to humanitarian and political crises in countries like Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Myanmar.
NOSHSCAPE Mondelēz To Acquire Clif Bar For $2.9 Billion Food conglomerate Mondeléz International has agreed to pay $2.9 billion, with additional contingent earn out consideration, to acquire organic snack bar maker Clif Bar & Company. Founded in 1992, Emeryville, California-based Clif is the leading protein and energy bar brand in the U.S., according to data cited by the company. Clif generated over $800 million in sales across products from its eponymous brand, as well as female-focused LUNA and Clif Kids. Under CEO Sally Grimes, the brand has begun moving outside of bars with products like CLIF Bar Thins, an exclusive with Walmart, and CLIF Pop’n Crunch with the aim of becoming a $2 billion business. “Mondeléz International is the right partner at the right time to support Clif in our next chapter of growth,” said Grimes. “Our purposes and cultures are aligned and being part of a global snacking company with broad product offerings can help us accelerate our growth while staying true to our deeply ingrained Five Aspirations - sustaining our people, planet, community, business, and brands - five bottom lines that have grounded our company since its founding and will remain our North Star going forward.”
Magic Spoon Raises $85 Million And Hits Target Shelves Nationwide After three years in ecommerce, Magic Spoons grain-free, lowsugar cereals are spilling into retail. The company announced its top three SKUs – Fruity, Cocoa and Peanut Butter – are rolling out exclusively to Target stores nationwide following the close of a star-studded, $85 million capital raise. The round was led by HighPost Capital with participation from Siddhi Capital, Coefficient Capital, Constellation Capital, Carter Comstock, and more. The brand also secured investment from a group of celebrities including Shakira, Russell Westbrook, Halsey, The Chainsmokers, Amy Schumer, Odell Beckham Jr. and Nasir “Nas” Jones. “We’ve been getting to know HighPost for well over a year now, and beyond getting along well with them on a personal level, they share our vision for what success looks like, and are fully aligned with our chosen path to get there over the coming years,” said Gabi Lewis, co-founder of Magic Spoon. “The celebrity investors are all true consumers of the brand - so we’re excited to have such amazing and well-known individuals as genuine ambassadors and fans.” In 2019, Magic Spoon closed a $5 million round after only being on the market for five months. At the time, Lewis said a brick and mortar launch would not happen in the immediate future, but noted the brand had received plenty of interest from retailers. Now, that future is in view and the cereals will soon roll out to over 1,350 Target stores, priced at $9.99 per box. Magic Spoon has emerged as an early player in keto-focused cereals, aiming to reinvigorate a category packed with high sugar, unhealthy products aimed mainly at children. Brands like Love Grown and Kashi have since followed suit, launching their own versions of “Cereal 2.0.” 20 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST 2022
For Mondeléz, the deal reflects the company’s intent to grow its range of snack and bar business through M&A, having added refrigerated bar Perfect Snacks in 2019 and better-foryou chocolate and cracker brand Hu in 2021. Adding Clif brings its global snack bar business past the $1 billion mark, according to a press release. “We are thrilled to welcome Clif Bar & Company’s iconic brands and passionate employees into the Mondeléz International family,” said Dirk Van de Put, Chairman and CEO of Mondeléz International, in a press release. “This transaction further advances our ambition to lead the future of snacking by winning in chocolate, biscuits and baked snacks as we continue to scale our high-growth snack bar business. As a leader and innovator in well-being and sustainable snacking in the U.S, Clif Bar & Company embodies our purpose to ‘empower people to snack right’ and we look forward to advancing this important work with Clif ’s committed colleagues in the years ahead.” Clif will continue to run operations from Emeryville and retain its existing manufacturing sites, according to the release. The deal is expected to be top-line accretive in year two and to create cost synergies by using Mondeléz’s infrastructure to expand distribution and enter new channels and markets. The deal is expected to close sometime in Q3 2022.
According to Lewis, the brand’s initial D2C model was essential to its early growth as it took on and established a presence in the “tired” cereal category. Now he believes the business is “beyond” ready to accelerate and thatTarget’s history of launching D2C brands at retail makes its brick-and-mortar debut a “true partnership.” “We’ll be leveraging our D2C expertise to drive trial instores; they’ll be supporting the launch in various ways in store,” Lewis explained. “We have a handful of additional exciting retail partnerships coming up later this year and next too, and in all cases we’ll be leaning into making sure the partnerships are home-runs.” Magic Spoon cereals contain up to 14 grams of protein and 4 grams of carbs per serving, depending on the SKU. The product also taps timely consumer demands with its callouts for low sugar, and no added sugar, gluten, soy and artificial ingredients. The full lineup includes flavors like Cinnamon Roll, Frosted, Blueberry Muffin, Maple Waffle and Cookies & Cream. Despite its narrow channel focus, Magic Spoon has not shied away from experimentation. In addition to building out an 8 SKU cereal lineup, last year the brand launched limited edition cereal bars in two flavors, Cookies & Cream and Cocoa Peanut Butter, which will be joining its permanent lineup. Lewis said this capital will help enable the brand to execute against this “true inflection point” in its growth over the next few years as it moves into physical sales channels for the first time and transitions operations to support an omnichannel strategy. “We want to make sure we can fully execute on that transition, and that means continuing to invest in building out a world-class team, brand-building, product development, and supply chain,” said Lewis. “On top of that, we’re of course entering a period of economic uncertainty, and it’s important to us that we can take a long term view on growing this business and weather any short term storms.”
For more stories, check out nosh.com
Stryve Brings on Seasoned Exec as New CEO Meat snack brand Stryve has added CPG executive Christopher Boever as CEO, replacing cofounder Joe Oblas, who will transition to Chief Growth Officer. The news came as the now publicly traded company tries to deepen its hold in the meat snack category, further build out a sub brand and fight back against rising ingredient and operations costs. “I never aspired to be the CEO,” Oblas said of the change. “I’ve always been working toward a succession plan to bring in a strong manager to lead the company once we achieved a certain size.” The producer of the Stryve, Kalahari and Vacadillos brands of meat snacks, the company was previously run by Oblas and Jaxie Alt, who held co-CEO roles. Alt, who also was the company’s CMO, departed last October. Oblas said the company pivoted from having co-CEOs once it became a publicly traded company and needed “a clear leader to call the shots.” Boever most recently held the role of chief commercial officer at Hain Celestial, where he focused on driving sales and the company’s innovation pipeline. His resume also includes executive leadership roles at other large companies, including Pinnacle Foods, ConAgra Foods and Hormel. “I am excited to be a part of the Stryve team. They have created customer and consumer solutions that [are] bringing new users into an already high growth category,” he said. “The team is passionate, the brands are exceptional and the future is bright…. [these are] excellent brands that are on trend, taste great [and have] with tremendous upside.” Oblas, former co-founder and COO of supplement brand ProSupps, went on to co-found Stryve in 2017 alongside Ted Casey, now company chairman. Under the new leadership structure, Oblas will focus on new product innovation. Over the last five years, Stryve has focused on becoming the top purveyor of biltong, a dried meat snack originating in South Africa. The company made inroads in the market by building or acquiring the vast majority of the U.S. biltong production facilities. Its 2018 acquisition of D2C brand Braaitime gave Stryve one of its original two biltong production plants, while its 2020 pickup of Kalahari offered the brand a jump into the natural channel. Stryve went public via a merger with a SPAC, or blank check company, in July 2021. Though the goal was to build out biltong offerings before heading into adjacent snacking categories, Stryve made a slight detour for its first sub-brand, Stryve Nutrition. The sub-brand debuted with a collagen protein powder and bone broth protein powder last year, and has since launched a pre-workout powder and plans to roll out a gummy supplement later this year. In an email interview, Oblas stressed that though Stryve has nutritional products, “we are a snacking company” at heart. While
the company is still devoting resources to Stryve Nutrition, Oblas said it will pause plans to move into new snacking categories. “Strategically, a lot of the plans we laid forth were before all of the craziness in the marketplace, rising costs, inflation, supply chain, etc,” Oblas said. “What it’s shown us is that we have the ability to not only build, but dominate a category and be really good at what we’re best at. And that’s our focus for the time being.” The brand initially began trading on the NASDAQ at $10.26 per share last summer; it has since dropped to $1.28, as of press time. On the company’s second quarter earnings call, Stryve reported net sales of $7.4 million, up 8.6% from $6.8 million versus the year-ago quarter, but operating with a net loss of $7.3 million. Oblas told analysts that Stryve was “on a path to profitability,” and in its next phase of growth would focus on a balanced growth strategy. “Our ability to manage growth prudently and not by sales is a key to our ultimate success. This gets us to the root of our ability to manage this business and develop systems and processes for sustainable growth,” Oblas said on the call. “Speed versus sustainability should not be a choice. Rather, speed plus sustainability is the goal. We must be ready to evolve and transition as the business grows.”
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BREWSCAPE
THE LATEST CRAFT BEER BRAND NEWS
Court Approves Sale of Modern Times to Brewery X
A judge in Orange County Superior Court has approved the sale of San Diegobased Modern Times Drinks to BX MT BAMF LLC – a limited liability company connected with Anaheim, California-based Brewery X – for $20 million. Judge John Gastelum signed and filed an order approving the auction sale of Modern Times on June 24. Brewery X was required to send the full $20 million in cash to Modern Times’ receiver Thomas Hebrank within seven days, with the sale closing no later than July 7 – 14 days after Judge Gastelum’s sale approval, per the asset purchase agreement (APA). The sale closing will be “deemed effective as of 5
p.m. Pacific Time on the day prior to the closing date,” according to the order. Hebrank named Brewery X’s bid as the “highest and best bid” in an auction on June 17, which came under fire from another bidder. The decision was disputed by MTD Asset Acquisition – a group referred to in the auction as the Wilmington, North Carolina-based brewery TRU Colors – which submitted a bid of $20.1 million, with a 120-day maximum closing period, and a request for Hebrank to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. MTD filed an objection order on June 20, claiming Hebrank attempted a “change of rules in the middle of the auction,” by giving priority to Brewery X’s bid, despite it being $100,000 less than MTD’s bid. The company also submitted a new offer of $21 million with a 30-day closing window, and no bankruptcy filing. Details of the contested auction events were replayed in partial auction transcripts included in additional declarations filed in support of MTD’s objection. “All objections to the auction, sale and the sale process, if any, have been considered by the court and are overruled,” according to the sale approval order. Should Brewery X fail to close the sale “timely or otherwise,” the sale will go to the backup bidder, Aumakua Holdings, Inc., which participated in the auction on behalf of Kihei, Hawaii-based Maui Brewing Co. Hebrank accepted Maui’s backup bid at $15.3 million with a 120day closing window. MTD was first offered the position of backup bid, but declined, according to Hebrank’s declaration in support of the auction sale and results, filed June 20. Once the sale is closed, Brewery X will retain all assets, property leases, contracts,
production equipment, permits (excluding liquor licenses), intellectual property, and “all net proceeds” “earned between the auction date and closing date,” from Modern Times, according to the APA. Brewbound has reported that Modern Times pays $140,836 in rent each month across nine properties, and owes a total of $222,938 in back rent across the leases. Those properties are listed as assumed liabilities in the APA. The schedule for those payments “may be updated and modified at [Brewery X’s] sole discretion at any time prior to closing,” according to the APA. Brewery X will not have any “obligations whatsoever for any compensation or other amounts payable to any current or former employee,” at Modern Times, “including without limitation, hourly pay, commission, bonus, salary” “for any period at any time on or prior to the closing date.” Additionally, “nothing in this sale order or the APA requires the buyer to offer employment to any employees of Modern [Times],” according to the judge’s filing. In a statement, Modern Times CEO Jennifer Briggs said she is proud of what the Modern Times employees from November 2021 through June 2022 accomplished, taking “a company from near liquidation to a sale of an ongoing concern.” “With a turnaround like we did, it cannot be measured by IRI data,” she said. “It can be measured by selling everything we produce. This generation of employees (November 2021 to June 2022) worked for each other to make this happen. “In terms of the future – [Brewery] X stepped up to the plate in the sale and they will be taking the Modern Times brand to their next level,” she continued. “This next chapter will be their story to tell.”
COOP Ale Works Strikes Deal for OKC Armory Oklahoma City’s COOP Ale Works is pressing forward with its plan to convert a former Armory building into a hospitality complex according to the Oklahoman. The project dates back to July 2018 when the brewery won an RFP to revitalize the 23rd Street National Guard Armory and transform the vacated 87,000 sq. ft. space into a manufacturing brewery, restaurant, event space and boutique hotel. The purchase 22 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST 2022
includes two additional buildings that will be demolished for parking. The facility will include 12 villas with a speakeasy, as well as a beer garden and pool. The project is expected to take two years for demolition and construction with a target of opening in 2025. COOP CEO Daniel Mercer told the outlet that the company has budgeted around $55 million for the project.
BREWSCAPE Stone Brewing to be Sold to Sapporo Holdings Stone Brewing Company is being sold to Sapporo Holdings. On June 24, Sapporo announced that it has entered into a “membership interest purchase agreement” to purchase the San Diego craft brewery, following Stone’s distribution business being “carved out and transferred to the newly established subsidiary of Stone Holdings.” The deal, valued at around $165 million with potential for additional payments based on business performance, is expected to close in August. “This is the right next chapter for Stone Brewing,” Greg Koch, Stone Brewing co-founder and executive chairman, said in a press release. “For 26 years, our amazing team has worked tirelessly to brew beers that have set trends and redefined expectations. To have the interest of a company like Sapporo in continuing the Stone story is a testament to the great beers we’ve created and will continue to create for our fans across the globe.” “We approached Stone Brewing seeking a partner for our growth plans in the U.S, and we quickly recognized they were an ideal partner with bi-coastal brewing capacity, loyal fans, superb management, shared cultural values, and commitment to the highest quality standards,” Kenny Sadai, Chairman, Sapporo U.S.A., added. “This acquisition puts the resources and legacy of the largest Asian beer brand in America together with one of the most innovative and recognized craft beer brands in the world. It’s a perfect fusion of east meets west that is an ideal marriage for Sapporo’s long-term growth strategy in the U.S.” In Stone, Sapporo secures the ninth-largest, Brewers Association-defined craft brewery by volume in the U.S. in 2021, the 18th largest brewing company overall in the U.S., and one of the most recognizable names in the craft brewing movement, which was founded by Koch and Steve Wagner in 1996. Arlington Capital Advisors served as the advisory firm for Stone. Sapporo, Japan’s oldest beer brand having been founded in 1876, previously acquired pioneering craft brewery Anchor Brewing for $85 million in 2017. Stone, which produced 326,281 barrels of beer in 2021 (-2%), operates production facilities on both coasts, in Escondido, California, and Richmond, Virginia. The company also operates restaurants in Escondido and Liberty Station in San Diego, as well as a restaurant at the San Diego International Airport, taprooms in Oceanside, Pasadena, and San Diego, California, plus one at its production brewery in Richmond, Virginia. As part of the deal, Stone facilities will produce offerings for Sapporo, which plans to add 360,000 barrels of volume brewed 24 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST 2022
in the U.S. by the end of 2024. Taking on Sapporo’s stateside production would effectively double Stone’s output. Not included in the transaction is Stone Distributing, the craft brewery’s San Diego-based self-distribution arm in its home market, one of the largest distributors of craft beer in the country. The wholesaler will spin off and operate independently. In addition to Stone offerings, Stone Distributing also sells craft products from 21st Amendment, Avery Brewing, Bear Republic, Brooklyn Brewery, Great Divide, CANarchy (Oskar Blues, Cigar City, Wild Basin), Russian River and Societe, as well as hard kombucha from JuneShine, Boochcraft and Jiant. Since its founding, Stone and Koch, in particular, have championed the independent craft brewing movement, with an axiom “pledging to never, ever, sell out to the man.” In testimony during the craft brewery’s trademark infringement lawsuit against Molson Coors in March, Stone Brewing CEO Maria Stipp said the company has considered a sale process with investor VMG/Hillhouse owed $464 million. Stipp added that the San Diego craft brewery’s business had declined 20% — or $174 million — in the wake of Molson Coors revamping the branding of its economy line Keystone Light in 2017. The downturn in sales coupled with a looming June 2023 repayment date to VMG/Hillhouse had forced the brewery to consider a sale process. However, Stipp said VMG/Hillhouse has given the company wiggle room on repayment. “I was given no timeline. I knew it would take time to build back the company and [VMG/Hillhouse] was giving me some time,” she said during questioning. VMG — a firm that specializes in food and beverage investments — invested $90 million in Stone in mid-2016 via a limited partnership called “VMG Stone Brewing Coinvestment.” The investment was initially earmarked for what Stone called “True Craft,” a platform to keep craft breweries independent, which never got off the ground. Stipp, via the press release announcing the transaction, said she is “thrilled that we have the opportunity to join forces with Sapporo.” “This unique partnership allows us to preserve the Stone legacy that our fans know and love and will add exponential opportunities for growth, from production to more investment in people, equipment, sales, and marketing,” she added.
For more stories, check out brewbound.com
New Belgium to Launch Free Bar and Restaurant Training Program to Create Safe Spaces New Belgium Brewing, in partnership with HospitableMe, a firm specializing in diversity, equity and inclusion training, will launch the Poured For All Initiative this fall, a free safety and inclusion training program for all bars and restaurants aimed at welcoming underrepresented communities into craft beer. The Poured For All Initiative’s overarching goal is to foster “more inclusive and welcoming environments in thousands of bars and restaurants,” including those that serve New Belgium and Bell’s Brewery offerings. The training will also be extended to the taproom employees of both New Belgium and Bell’s. Via the Poured for All Initiative, New Belgium and HospitableMe will develop a custom training program that will empower hospitality staff “to better understand and exhibit inclusive behaviors that foster a truly welcoming space for all identities, including people with LGBTQ+, BIPOC and intersectional identities who are currently underrepresented in craft beer spaces and elsewhere,” the company said in a press release. The program was spurred by the dwindling number of LGBTQ+ bars, which accelerated during the COVID-19 pan-
demic. “In the 1980s there were an estimated 200 lesbian bars, but that number is now down to 15, per NBC and other news sources,” the company said in the release. The training, which is intended to complement programs such as Safe Bars, will be available via HospitableMe’s digital platform, combining lessons with personal stories in order to help bar and restaurant staff members better understand the experiences of underrepresented patrons and create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds and identities. The training program will launch this fall and establishments whose entire staff go through the program will receive a digital certificate and a window cling. Businesses interested in participating can follow this link to pledge to join the program.
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NEW PRODUCTS
THE NEWEST BEVERAGE OPTIONS
CANNABIS DRINKS Cann has expanded its core line of 8 oz. cannabis-infused social tonics with Cann Lites. Available in four varieties – Honeydew Mint, Golden Citrus Bark, Cloudy Apple Rhubarb and Tangerine Hops – the new offerings contain no added sugar and 2 mg of THC and 4 mg of CBD. Cann Lites are available online for $23 per single-flavor 6-pack. For more information, contact highthere@drinkcann.com. Hemp-infused beverage maker Pink Cloud unveiled two new non-alcoholic beverages: Pining for Paradise and Lounge Chair Lilikoi. Each 12 oz. can is crafted with tropical fruit juice and a sweetener blend of monk fruit and allulose, along with 30 mg of broad-spectrum hemp. Both new varieties are available on the brand’s website for $54 per 12-pack or $108 per 24-pack. For more information, contact hello@ pinkcloudbeverages.com. Theory Wellness, Inc. announced the expansion of its Hi-5 beverage brand with the launch of cannabis-infused Hi-5 Energy. Each 12 oz. can boasts 80 mg of caffeine and 5 mg of THC. Formulated with the same fast-acting, nanoemulsified cannabis as its predecessor, Hi-5 Seltzer, the new offering is available in Regular and Sugar-Free Citrus varieties at Theory Wellness Massachusetts locations. For more information, visit enjoyhi5.com. Massachusetts-based cannabis seltzer maker Levia announced a limited edition summer Dragon Fruit flavor. The drink features a sativa cannabis blend to boost energy and the cans feature original artwork from local illustrator Dean McKeever. For more information, visit levia.buzz.com.
CSDs Inspired by nostalgic summertime flavors, Zevia rolled out two new limited-edition varieties: Fruit Punch and Orange Cream. The limited-time offering is available through July for $5.99 per 6-pack of 12 oz. cans. For more information, call 1 (855) 469-3842. 26 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST 2022
MTN DEW partnered with Circle K for its new flavor innovation, Purple Thunder. The new beverage combines flavor notes of berry and plum “for the ultimate berry combination,” according to a press release. MTN DEW Purple Thunder is exclusively available at Circle K in 20 oz. bottles and in fountains. For more information, call 1 (800) 433-2652.
ENERGY Just in time for warmer weather, Monster Energy expanded its Rehab lineup with a classic summer flavor: Watermelon. Each 15 oz. can contains 150 mg of caffeine and antioxidant botanicals like milk thistle and quercetin. Monster Rehab Watermelon is available on Amazon for $37.99 per 24-pack. For more information, call 1 (866) 322-4466. Red Bull announced that its Coconut Edition Sugarfree is back for a limited time. The seasonal offering features a flavor profile of exotic coconut and berries. Red Bull Coconut Edition Sugarfree is available in 8.4 oz. cans in singles and 12-packs at Target, 12-packs on Amazon and 4-packs at Walgreens. For more information, visit redbull.com.
ALT DAIRY Italian non-dairy milk brand Koita’s new Organic Oat Barista Plant-Based Milk was crafted to help consumers “elevate their athome coffee experience.” The shelf-stable milk is made with just three ingredients: organic Italian oats, Italian spring water and organic sunflower oil and was formulated for long-lasting, smooth foam. The full Koita line is available for a suggested retail price of $5.49 per 1-liter pack. For more information, visit koita.com. Paying homage to a popular ice cream flavor, Califia Farms unveiled its limited-edition Mint Chip Oat Creamer. The plant-based creamer “combines the luscious creaminess of oat milk with the delightful flavor experience of a scoop of mint chip ice cream,” according to a press release. For more information, call 1 (844) 237-4779.
NEW PRODUCTS RTD COCKTAILS Tequila Zarpado splashed into the ready-todrink cocktail category with two new SKUs: Zarpado Margarita and Zarpado Tequila Soda with Lime. The former (8% ABV) is a twist on the “skinny margarita” and is crafted with Blanco Tequila, triple sec, lime juice and agave. The latter (5.5% ABV) is a sparkling cocktail made with fruit juice and tequila. Zarpado Margarita is available for $13.99 per 4-pack and Zarpado Tequila Soda is available for $14.99 per 4-pack. For more information, call 1 (855) 879-8446. As the pouched cocktail trend continues to gain popularity among millennials, Holla Spirits has introduced three new vodka-based pouches: Natural Lime, Watermelon and Papaya. The drinks (12.5% ABV) are made with a mix of organic vodka and coconut water and are available in 750ml drink pouches that hold 5 oz. cocktails. For more information, call 1 (717) 650-6858.
RTD COFFEE Italian coffee company LavAzza has entered the ready-to-drink category with the launch of its cold brew coffee cans. The cans will debut with four flavors: Classic Cold Brew, Nitro Cold Brew, Cappuccino Cold Brew with Milk and Double Shot Cold Brew with Oat Milk. All ready-to-drink cold brew flavors will be available for $3.49 per 8 oz. can. For more information, call 1 (212) 725-8800. Like fellow Italian roasting giant LavAzza,Triestebased illy is expanding its ready-to-drink lineup with the addition of Cold Brew Cappuccino and Latte Macchiato. Both offerings, which stand at 90 calories and 110 calories respectively, combine milk with the brand’s signature blend of nine single-origin coffees. The new 8.45 oz. cans are available for $34.99 per 12-pack. For more information, call 1 (877) 469-4559.
SPARKLING Known for its willingness to experiment in flavor on its flagship jelly beans, Jelly Belly is bringing that ethos to its sparkling water line with its latest offering: Chocolate. The zero calorie beverage was showcased in May at the Sweets and Snacks 28 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST 2022
Expo in Chicago and will retail for $1.79 to $2.99 per single-serve 16 oz. can and $4.99 to $7.99 per 8-pack depending on the retailer. For more information, call 1 (800) 522-3267. Sparkling water maker Sound has launched a Rose, Lime & Hibiscus flavor in 12 oz. cans, the company announced. The new flavor is intended as a refreshed take on its glass bottle Rose Tea, which will be discontinued this year. For more information, visit drinksound.com. Texas-based flavored sparkling water brand Waterloo is offering up Passion Fruit as the latest LTO release, along with the return of Summer Berry. The two seasonal flavors are rolling out in grocery stores now nationwide. For more information, call 1 (866) 568-3566.
POWDERS Energy and supplement brand GHOST teamed up with Sour Patch Kids to launch its newest product: Sour Patch Kids Hydration Sticks. The Vitamin C-packed powders are designed to be mixed with 12 to 14 ounces of water and taste “just like SOUR PATCH KIDS candy,” according to the brand. GHOST Sour Patch Kids sugar-free hydration sticks are available in Redberry and Blue Raspberry varieties for $29.99 per 24-pack. For more information, visit ghostlifestyle.com. Idaho-based health and wellness company Kyani is expanding its product portfolio with the launch of Kyani Electro in two varieties, Coconut Lime and Crisp Apple. Kyani is an electrolyte drink mix that features a combination of electrolyte minerals for hydration and a proprietary NR-8 polyphenol blend for nitric oxide regeneration. Kyani Electro drink mixes are available on the company’s website for $27.95 per 14-packet box. For more information, call 1 (844) 701-5049.
JUICE In collaboration with dancer Nia Sioux, SUNNYD announced the return of two seasonal offerings just in time for summer: Classic Lemonade and Raspberry Lemonade. Both varieties are available nationwide at retailers, including Kroger and Walmart, for $2.19 per 64 oz. carafe. For more information, visit sunnyd.com.
CHANNEL CHECK WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT
SPOTLIGHT CATEGORIES
OAT MILK AND ALMOND MILK Increasingly, consumers were turning to oat milk for their alt-milk fi x during the end of the pandemic, creating a tale of two categories. For Oat Milk, fast growth: Planet Oat, Oatly, and Chobani are driving the category. Almond Milk is better established: it’s three times the size of Oat, but we can see Oat’s stealing share; all the big brands in the category are level and overall it’s down. Watch out for Coke’s Simply, flooding distribution channels in the refrigerated section.
ALMOND MILK
OAT MILK BRAND
CHANGE vs YEAR EARLIER
DOLLAR SALES
BRAND
DOLLAR SALES
CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER -7.6%
Planet Oat
$165,480,733
52.0%
Blue Diamond
$558,359,024
Oatly
$102,483,795
58.4%
Silk
$524,768,821
3.5%
Chobani
$80,015,794
50.4%
Private Label
$271,388,979
-4.4%
Silk
$45,101,444
34.4%
Califia Farms
$100,413,459
1.4%
Simply
$33,385,885
17.2%
Califia Farms
$37,540,863
65.4%
Private Label
$17,232,953
49.2%
Simply
$3,582,399
296.1%
Lifeway
$1,157,439
-
Malk
$736,465
193.6%
Happy Planet
$515,121
-40.9%
Mooala
$269,705
-34.5%
Forager Project
$85,860
65.5%
Jelley Brown
$67,483
-50.2%
Ripple
$38,065
-
Natural By Nature
$3,346
-83.3%
So Delicious
$132
-
Nestle
$35
Rockview Family Farms Barista Blends
Mooala
$3,656,862
21.7%
Malk
$2,515,421
67.5%
Hiland
$2,241,320
-22.4%
Three Trees
$1,097,742
28.7%
Ajoyo
$536,177
-28.9%
Pop & Bottle
$350,410
7.4%
Ardmore Farms
$317,363
-
Smiths
$133,134
-9.2%
Live Real Farms
$113,651
-73.9% 44.0%
Beber
$109,267
Dakin
$104,014
3.3%
New Barn
$103,384
56.3%
-100.0%
Generous Provisions
$25,502
249.5%
$12
-100.0%
Barista Blends
$7
-99.9%
So Delicious
$1,892
-98.0%
$55
-100.0%
TOPLINE CATEGORY VOLUME Sports Drinks
$10,041,106,541
17.1%
Energy Drinks
$17,774,975,108
14.1%
Bottled Juices
$8,195,496,169
5.0%
Tea/Coffee
$7,896,967,195
2.9%
Bottled Water
$22,585,691,972
12.7%
Liquid Drink Enhancers
$523,320,192
6.8%
SOURCE: IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm-@iriworldwide% 52 Weeks through 6/12/22
30 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST 2022
CHANNEL CHECK BOTTLED STILL WATER
FLAVORED SELTZER/SPARKLING/MINERAL
BRAND
DOLLAR SALES
CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER
BRAND
Private Label
$4,342,969,019
20.1%
Sparkling Ice
DOLLAR SALES
CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER
$837,577,700
7.0%
Aquafina
$1,284,485,396
16.2%
Private Label
$640,249,267
1.6%
Glaceau
$1,052,659,406
13.3%
La Croix
$548,729,888
0.5%
Dasani
$991,953,918
2.9%
Bubly
$375,324,862
-0.4%
Poland Spring
$841,376,970
13.4%
Polar
$263,692,238
13.5%
Pure Life
$743,952,736
0.1%
Perrier
$161,648,322
9.1%
Deer Park
$519,069,419
19.0%
Aha
$150,864,778
2.5%
Fiji
$508,076,721
3.1%
Spindrift
$128,050,986
41.2%
Essentia
$480,868,875
44.7%
Topo Chico
$79,639,007
18.4%
Ozarka
$444,042,539
18.9%
Waterloo
$75,813,449
25.5%
FLAVORED STILL WATER
CAPPUCCINO/ICED COFFEE
BRAND
DOLLAR SALES
CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER
BRAND
DOLLAR SALES
CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER
Glaceau
$974,902,130
14.2%
Starbucks
$2,086,734,221
-1.1%
Propel
$570,596,256
20.6%
Monster
$685,860,944
7.1%
Hint
$136,916,677
22.9%
Coca Cola
$182,060,707
7.1%
Splash
$108,753,817
27.6%
Black Rifle Coffee Co
$78,603,686
412.7%
Monster
$107,806,679
-7.3%
Private Label
$60,317,939
35.9%
Capri Sun
$95,184,272
9.2%
Kitu Super Coffee
$54,583,249
62.8%
Tum E Yummies
$54,073,699
5.5%
VPX
$35,213,262
6.8%
Powerade
$46,654,883
-8.0%
La Colombe
$29,851,756
25.7%
Karma
$34,940,597
39.8%
Intl Delight
$19,577,205
138.6%
Private Label
$29,345,014
14.4%
Peets
$12,768,921
12.1%
SOURCE: IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm-@iriworldwide% 52 Weeks through 6/12/22
32 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST 2022
ENERGY DRINKS
DOMESTIC BEER
BRAND
DOLLAR SALES
CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER
BRAND
Red Bull
$6,873,108,322
12.6%
DOLLAR SALES
CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER
Bud
$6,554,668,186
-7.4%
Monster
$5,017,298,270
VPX
$1,309,978,291
12.4%
Michelob
$3,400,649,640
4.6%
0.2%
Coors
$2,622,047,228
-2.5% -4.7%
Rockstar
$704,623,081
-4.7%
Miller Lite
$2,107,702,811
Celsius
$504,226,037
220.8%
Busch
$1,741,907,863
0.9%
Reign
$434,851,307
-4.9%
Natural
$1,315,900,580
-6.6%
NOS
$414,080,339
-8.9%
Bud Specialty
$618,148,089
-19.2%
Alani Nu
$242,360,733
381.9%
Keystone
$397,382,654
-13.0%
Cellucor
$236,974,473
171.9%
Miller High Life
$393,376,637
-8.1%
Mtn Dew
$199,347,702
89.0%
Yuengling
$389,863,887
6.5%
ENERGY SHOTS BRAND
CRAFT BEER
DOLLAR SALES
CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER
DOLLAR SALES
CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER
$864,598,636
2.7%
New Belgium
$377,928,565
13.4%
Stacker
$27,525,536
-9.0%
Blue Moon
$365,239,840
-7.2%
Tweaker
$25,033,897
-5.1%
Sierra Nevada
$315,615,627
-3.2%
VPX
$21,924,689
14.5%
Samuel Adams
$224,739,799
-4.0%
Private Label
$8,402,392
-2.4%
Lagunitas
$173,178,996
-12.4%
5 Hour Energy
BRAND
EE
$7,481,046
11.5%
Shiner
$135,904,771
-9.4%
Red Dawn
$4,626,099
15.8%
Firestone
$118,038,246
-2.4%
Vital
$3,951,319
-4.2%
Elysian
$114,535,487
-7.2%
Rip It
$3,780,074
59.7%
Founders
$112,470,335
-15.4%
Pickle Juice
$3,114,138
68.3%
Bells
$102,358,304
-11.6%
SOURCE: IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm-@iriworldwide% 52 Weeks through 6/12/22
33
GERRY’S INSIGHTS BY GERRY KHERMOUCH
Silver Linings Even as the nation has been turning the corner on two horrific plague years, lifting spirits and reopening some crucial channels, recent months have brought a rash of dispiriting developments for the innovation sphere. Public markets have grown precarious, sending valuations of early-stage bevcos crashing down amid a broader correction. That has rippled out to the private market, making deals harder to get done: considerable uncertainty over proper valuation has led to nervous investors demanding preferences that may be hard for entrepreneurs to swallow. And some strategics seem to have done an about-face from their long flirtation with cutting-edge brands, looking mostly internally for innovation as they focus on incremental improvements within incumbent categories that have already established a large addressable market. As they rethink their priorities, they’re jettisoning brands that don’t fit that vision. In rapid succession, Coca-Cola said it’s killing its Honest Tea brand by yearend, Starbucks unloaded HPP pioneer Evolution Fresh and Nestlé dumped cold-brewed coffee maker Chameleon. After PepsiCo semidivested its juice brands, including KeVita and Naked, earlier this year, there were signs that it was ready to throw Tazo Tea overboard too before news of Honest Tea’s pending demise seemed to give that brand a new lease on life. At the same time, as the stresses have mounted, top execs at growth companies like Flow Beverage and Alkaline Water have headed for the exits. It leaves us at an uncertain moment. After all, as the pandemic demonstrated, the broader trends toward healthier brands, sustainability and ecommerce are not going away. But there are more potholes on the road to success. As I’ll try to show, that could prove beneficial to brands with solid concepts, disciplined management teams and patience, as well as to the independent DSD channels that still play a crucial role in incubating them. But even if the broader economy manages to avoid falling into a recession, the coming 12 to 18 months may be uncomfortable. Take the matter of capital. Just a year ago, entrepreneurs were exulting over the emergence of the public markets as a hospitable oasis for brands hitting those health, sustainability and ecomm buttons. It offered a compelling alternative to the strategics, who were leaning away from flirtations with edgier brands, as well as to the privateequity firms that are still very much in the game. No question, some of the valuations accorded newly public firms had “bubble” written all over them, whether it was for established companies with a meaningful topline like Oatly, Dutch Bros and Vita Coco (and, in Vita Coco’s case, demonstrated profitability) or emerging companies such as Laird Superfood. Even in the first flush of market exuberance, observers could be heard warning that some degree of correction was warranted. That has now happened. Those multiples have come crashing down and companies that had been eyeing the public markets, from Hint Water to Chobani, may need to put pencil to paper again. As for the vibe at the strategics, perhaps a rethinking was in order. By now we’re all familiar with the pattern: those strategics make investments in – or outright acquisitions of – ballyhooed new brands with a degree of fanfare and then gradually go quieter on them. In part that’s because they’re still not yet material to events like the quarterly earnings cycle but it’s also because the excitement seeps out as marketing and innovation pizzazz fizzle and the brands don’t scale up to expectations. Sometimes the category itself doesn’t scale up quite as envisioned, as with coconut water or kombucha. The founders and core team members inevitably move on to more 36 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST 2022
exciting pursuits, “professional” managers take over and the execs who championed the deal themselves move on to new assignments. Though Honest Tea was a groundbreaking brand that was beloved by its consumers, it still is a far cry from the $1 billion that earns a victory lap at Coca-Cola. The organic cred it lent Coke was nice but it seemed easier to just elevate the company’s self-created (but mediocre) Gold Peak brand to try to capture some of those more selective shoppers. (Meanwhile, Honest Tea cofounder Seth Goldman is scrambling to put together a new organic line called Just Ice Tea – get it? “Just-ice,” as in poetic justice.) Which all brings me to the silver linings. For starters, that lesson the strategics have learned – that the big winners aren’t necessarily brands that break new ground but rather those that offer an incremental improvement over what consumers already have been consuming in large volume – may be salutary for entrepreneurs too. Maybe they don’t need to spend years in the wilderness refining their product proposition from bleeding-edge to something with a better chance of broad acceptance. After all, that’s how things played out for Body Armor, which evolved from a so-called “super drink” crammed with obscure, expensive and bad-tasting functional ingredients to a sports drink that’s a step up from Gatorade but not breakthrough in any way. It was rewarded with a lucrative exit to Coke. Let not the perfect be the enemy of the good, this thinking seems to go. That view seems to have been embraced by the strategics. At Keurig Dr Pepper, the promise of the small caffeinated seltzer brand it acquired, Limitless, seems to have been overshadowed by the broader promise of Polar Seltzer, the down-to-earth brand it picked up for national distribution. It shouldn’t hurt either to move away from the growth-at-any-cost strategy of many emerging brands. Though entrepreneurs I sometimes deride as carpetbaggers are all about the exit – the sooner the better – I have a soft spot for those who seem to genuinely enjoy participating in the beverage business and are not in a great rush to get out. Though it’s the riverboat gamblers who capture the public’s attention and that of young entrepreneurs, it’s not unheard of for new beverage brands to blossom without recourse to outside financing, as AriZona Iced Tea and 5-Hour Energy did years ago and growing brands like Milo’s Tea and Joe Tea seem to be currently doing. Though Vita Coco took advantage of the receptive public markets, it had been profitable and cutting dividend checks for quite a few years. Such feats are possible. It would be nice to see more of them. I’ll point to one more silver lining: with the strategics currently not deep in the hunt for new brands, promising entries might be available for a longer time to the beer wholesalers and other distributors that remain vital in incubating them, before they migrate to one of the established soft drink systems, a point of great frustration to distributors over the years. (It’s a particularly tough nut for beer wholesalers to swallow, since they don’t have to worry much about the flight risk of alcoholic brands, given franchise laws.) True, cobbling together a network of independent DSD partners is like assembling a jigsaw puzzle where the pieces don’t quite fit, but it would be nice to see what that often-denigrated channel could accomplish if it actually got to keep some of those brands for more than a few years. It might surprise folks. Longtime beverage-watcher Gerry Khermouch is executive editor of Beverage Business Insights, a twice-weekly e-newsletter covering the nonalcoholic beverage sector.
EVENT COVERAGE BY BEVNET MAGAZINE STAFF
BevNET Live Summer 2022 BevNET Live Summer 2022 returned to New York City in June for the first time in three years at a “precipitous time,” according to Jeff Klineman, BevNET Editor-in-Chief, during his opening remarks. Beverage industry leaders and professionals convened eagerly for the two-day industry conference, which opened with a state-of-the-industry discussion featuring insights from retailers, brands, investors and distributors.
While the pandemic may be waning, brands remain vulnerable to looming disruptions, the panelists cautioned, including an uncertain economic climate and continued unexpected supply chain disruptions. In the midst of the chaos, there was an aura of positivity, however. Despite the existential threats ahead panelists and presenters spread sentiments of “we are all in this together” in a variety of ways throughout the event. The audience heard from a number of founders and CEOs, including Orgain’s Dr. Andrew Abraham, who said he built the organic nutrition shake brand by focusing on heart over ego. Sharing the story that led to the brand’s creation, Abraham said a childhood battle with cancer sparked an unerring drive to know more and do better, leading him to devour books on nutritional science and how quality ingredients impact the body’s recovery from disease.
As the brand grew and Orgain took on the nutrition category, Abraham fought to maintain focus on its original mission. That mission has also been shaped by the way he operates as a leader, through an approach that encourages feedback on the brand’s performance from team members at all levels of operations. By establishing an open door policy and holding monthly town halls, Abraham said he has created a work environment in which employees are free to voice their concerns about the company and ways it can improve. Following Abraham, David Klavsons – who in 2017 took the helm at Milwaukee-based King Juice, the parent company of lemonade brand Calypso – talked about how when he assumed the role, the brand was in disarray. “We didn’t even have sales reports, we didn’t even know where this stuff was being sold,” he said. But within the past four years, Klavsons and his team have executed a turnaround, putting Calypso on an upward trajectory and claiming the spot of the top-selling single-serve lemonade brand. Although he’s structured the company’s long term growth with sustainable, actionable goals and mapped out a clear direction on what Calypso can become, Klavsons said the work is not over. Kathy Galloway, founder of kgalloway consulting, meanwhile, said that “purpose” is a company’s reason for being beyond financial success and said that every founder should strive to infuse a draft of their mission, purpose and vision into the brand upon its creation. She recommended starting with defining its “why” and using that as its north star. On day two of the show, Liquid Death VP of marketing Dan Murphy took the stage to break down how the complicated world of web3, blockchain and NFTs has been used to market the company’s products.
The canned mountain water brand has gone all-in on what Murphy called “the most revolutionary tech out there” by selling NFTs through its Murder Head Death Club platform, leveraging its direct link to the brand’s community through Discord channels and turning Gen Z consumers into “superfans” by creating a lifestyle brand for the web3 community. “We don’t talk about users or customers,” he said. “It’s people, fans…we don’t make ads, we make content because people don’t like ads.” 38 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST 2022
Romitha Mally, founder of CPG consultancy firm Mally Collective, advised early-stage entrepreneurs to think critically about their brand’s story in order to gain leverage within a crowded beverage field. Mally sat down with Klineman to discuss how companies should prepare for new investment opportunities. For Mally, the most important thing is a bold vision that can be easily transmissible to potential investors. Mally remembered Bai Brands founder Ben Weiss touring her through his “Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory” in the company’s early days and being impressed with the ethos that he wanted to inject into the brand. Successful entrepreneurs are able to anticipate the challenges before they happen, Mally said, a salient point considering the current uncertainty in the market. What was conceived as a rare sitdown interview with Bang Energy boss Jack Owoc turned into a walking and talking interview as the founder and CEO of VPX Brands refused to physically sit down for a discussion with Klineman, declaring “I have too much energy, I am energy.” He instead opted to stand and pace on the stage while dismissing “haters” and “negativity,” as well as encouraging beverage entrepreneurs to stay true to their core principles and to avoid the mistake of chasing overnight success.
Owoc called the recent arbitrator’s ruling in the case between VPX and Monster Energy and Orange Bang “a false ruling by a rogue arbitrator who has no background in science.” The ruling would award $175 million in damages plus a 5% royalty on all future sales of Bang-branded products to Orange Bang and Monster Energy over a trademark infringement originally filed in 2009. Owoc advised young entrepreneurs to not grow too fast and to use “discipline, effort, sacrifice and study to beat people like me” in the beverage category.
Owoc also urged the crowd to stand up and “bring the Bang” by joining him in downing an energy shot before discussing topics ranging from the brand’s $5 billion in sales in the last three years to product and ingredient innovation – amidst many asides aimed at his competitors, singling out his frequent courtroom sparring partner, Monster Energy CEO and chairman Rodney Sacks, as “the most litigious man in America.” The Bang CEO’s presentation came a week before the company announced it had officially terminated its ill-fated distribution pact with PepsiCo, signed in 2020. On stage, Owoc stopped short of saying he regretted the deal and called it a learning experience. At one point, Klineman asked Owoc if he has trouble working with bigger distributors. “He’s implying that I can’t get along with others,” Owoc responded. “There’s some truth to that.” 39
EVENT COVERAGE NOSH Live Summer 2022
During the opening day of NOSH Live Summer 2022, held June 14-15 in New York City, John Lowe, CEO of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, announced he will step down from the role after 13 years. Lowe told the audience at the top of his presentation that he has instructed Jeni’s board of directors to begin searching for a replacement CEO and he will remain in the position until a replacement is found. Lowe will keep his board seat. During a discussion with NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg, Lowe simply said that he is “anxious to scratch other itches” but did not elaborate on his future career plans. While he reiterated that the time is right for the company and himself to move on, he admitted it is a bittersweet decision, adding that he “got quite verklempt” while informing the Jeni’s team last week.
The announcement cast a nostalgic tone over the rest of Lowe’s presentation, in which he detailed Jeni’s rise from a small Ohio scoop shop to a nationally distributed brand. He broke down his time with the company into five acts, including founder Jeni Britton Bauer’s opening the first store in 2002, his first several years as CEO and the challenges of generating profit, the decision to undergo a devastating recall of all products after a listeria outbreak, the company’s resurgence and rise to a national brand, and finally the current pandemic era, during which Jeni’s has opened 15 new brick-and-mortar stores while expanding direct-to-consumer and retail. In particular, Lowe spoke to the importance of cultivating a passionate team by collaborating with employees and embracing creative decisions – even when they stood to be financial risks for the business. Later in the day, news broke that better-for-you cereal maker Magic Spoon had raised an $85 million capital round and after three years as an ecommerce-focused business, the brand will launch in over 1,350 Target stores nationwide. Hours after the announcement, Magic Spoon co-founder and co-CEO Gabi Lewis took the stage to discuss his entrepreneurial journey, from the founding of cricket-based protein bar company Exo to the new opportunities in the market he saw by creating a disruptive, ketofriendly cereal brand.
The most significant differences between starting Exo and Magic Spoon were education and supply chain, Lewis said. He noted that Exo was an audacious project where success depended on his and his co-founder’s ability to convince consumers to eat food made from insects. By being a first mover in that category, Lewis also had to build out a supply chain from scratch. For his second venture, however, Lewis said he decided to focus on a large, established category in need of disruption. During the second day of the conference, Sweet Loren’s CEO and founder Loren Castle announced the better-for-you cookie dough brand will be launching a range of reduced sugar products in Publix next month. Castle began her presentation by taking audience members on a journey through the history of Sweet Loren’s, which has grown from a frozen cookie dough sold at New York City farmer’s markets in 2011 to a multi-SKU brand of refrigerated cookie dough products available at more than 15,000 stores nationwide. 40 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST 2022
In 2017, the brand replaced the original product with a gluten-free, dairy free, nutfree plant-based portfolio to create a universal product that could be enjoyed by everyone. The release of the lower sugar line comes at a time when consumer shopping trends are seeking out products with low sugar content rather than alternative sweeteners. Sweet Loren’s Lower Sugar products will be available in Publix stores beginning in July and in Stop & Shop stores in August. Later in the day, Dan Epley, VP of Whole Foods Market’s Dry Grocery Team, and David Lafferty, Executive Leader of the Gro-
cery Team, continuously stressed the importance of staying true to their ethos while discussing what it takes for a brand to land its product in the natural retailer’s stores. Amid the global supply chain crisis and price hikes, Epley and Lafferty said that food makers must remain committed to sourcing quality ingredients. If brands don’t stand for quality, they are letting consumers down, according to Epley. When considering brands for placements in its stores – whether they are in the early or late stage of development – Whole Foods Market examines sales, potential scalability and social media presence. Is the brand resonating with consumers? Is it creating authentic content? Can it grow regionally or nationally? “Our quality standards team is looking at all of the different things that are coming out right now and looking very carefully into the science behind it,” said Lafferty. “A customer expects Whole Foods to really protect them and so we’re being very careful about anything we bring in.” Additionally, throughout the two day conference, 11 food brands competed in NOSH’s Pitch Slam 12 with better for you brownie brand Ruani ultimately taking home the prize of bragging rights and a $10,000 industry awareness package. Ruani emerged triumphant from a group of six finalists: allergy-friendly trail mix Absurd Snacks, cheese alternative Farmer Foodie Everything Cheeze, crunchy mushroom snacks Popadelics, protein-rich waffle sliders Start Right Foods and plant-based “dips for dinner” Niramaya Foods. Ruani’s brownies combine almond flour, avocado oil, organic pasture-raised eggs, and unrefined coconut sugar with the stress-relieving benefits of ashwagandha.
41
SHOW REVIEW BY BEVNET STAFF
Summer Fancy Food Review This June, the Specialty Food Association (SFA) Summer Fancy Food Show returned in-person to New York City for the first time since 2019. While more limited in its scope, energy and total attendees than mega-shows like Natural Products Expo West, the event represents an important showcase for CPG brands looking to grow in the specialty food market, which is expected to rise to $185 billion in 2022, according to the SFA State of the Industry report. Overall, there were plenty of new food and beverage brands showcasing packaging updates, bringing a wide range of global flavors to the U.S. market and reaffirming the momentum behind the alt-cocktail movement. For Joe Tea, being flexible during times of crisis allowed the brand to lower prices and expand the business. Moving its flagship iced tea line to 18 oz. plastic bottles from 20 oz. glass came out of necessity during last year’s supply chain disruptions but has benefited the business’s growth. “It was that or nothing,” founder and president Steven Prato cracked. “And our customers like it better than nothing.” Since the switch, the New Jersey-based brand has grown from “one and a half” production facilities to five manufacturing sites across the U.S. and Canada, including a Houston, Texas location which opened last year. Plastic has also allowed Joe Tea to sell at a lower price point, around $2 per bottle compared to $3 in glass. The company can also fit about 1,000 extra cases on each truck thanks to the simpler packaging, Prato said. Also on the floor, several startup beverage makers debuted rebrands as they aim to build momentum and re-establish themselves in retail after a difficult past two years. Vermont-based Shrubbly introduced a new look for its cans ahead of a West Coast expansion in Erewhon stores. Shrubbly is an organic “Bubbly Superdrink” made with shrubs, apple cider vinegar and sparkling water and available in Lemon + Ginger + Aronia Berry and Pomegranate + Aronia Berry flavors. Each 12 oz. can retails for $2.99 and the brand plans to launch two more flavors this year. Shrubbly founder Matt Sayre said the rebrand will help establish Shrubbly as a “category defining brand for sparkling shrubs” by clarifying its healthy ingredients and benefits. Massachusetts-based tea Waku also showcased new branding and a reformulated product line. Now positioned as a prebiotic herbal tea, co-founder and CEO Juan Giraldo said the brand has removed sugar from its recipe and moved to natural sweeteners stevia and monk fruit. The company also added 6 grams of prebiotic fiber to better position Waku as a functional gut health product. On the food side, one of the most notable shifts in post-pandemic consumer behavior has been the transition to more convenient meal making, without sacrificing unique and exciting flavors. That shift was evident on the show floor with all arrows pointing toward the proliferation of Asian-inspired flavors, primarily in the form of spice packs, sauces and meal kits. Convenient product formats offer consumers a low risk, easy access solution for mealtime and, in some cases, even more use occasions, as is the goal with Indian-inspired spice pack brand SugarRoti. According to co-founder Bina Motiram, the packs can be used to easily test out unfamiliar herbs and spice blends with 42 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST 2022
dinner, blend into a beverage, like with its Golden Milk Nu Spice product, or add to a baked good for additional depth of flavor. But use occasions aren’t the primary purpose behind the brand. Motiram founded the company on the ethos of sustainability, explaining she was frustrated by the inefficiencies of dried spice bottles that often went bad before they could be used during their optimal period of freshness. Motiram saw an opportunity in a convenient, pre-packed format; SugarRoti spices are available in fifteen different “Nu Spice” varieties in fully compostable packages. Homiah Foods, a brand that’s positioned itself as a Southeast Asian pantry, also sells flavor packs – available in Singaporean Laksa, Indonesian Rendang and Malaysian Red Curry varieties – but with a broader regional focus. Launched in late 2021, the company is on the cusp of larger growth, according to founder and CEO Michelle Tew. Tew looked to solve a similar pain point as SugarRoti, but noted that many of the spices she wished to incorporate in her sauce pouches were not even accessible in the U.S. This led her to spend multiple months in Malaysia, setting up her own flavor supply chain, which then took an additional few months to make it stateside, due to global shipping constraints. Also on the floor, the momentum behind mocktails was notably accelerating. With alcohol alternatives on the rise, canned mocktail makers are staying focused on growing distribution and introducing new options for consumers seeking out non-alcoholic solutions. Laura Taylor, CEO of Mingle Mocktails, said the company is preparing to enter two major retailers – one liquor chain and one grocery chain – and has expanded its footprint to about 5,000 stores nationwide, including Whole Foods and Wegmans. Taylor said she hopes to also grow foodservice and hospitality accounts in the next two years as more bars and restaurants expand nonalcoholic beverage menus. In retail, Mingle’s single-serve cans have outpaced sales of its multiserve bottles, she noted, and the company has expanded its sales, marketing, supply chain and operations teams to support its growth. Taylor has also advocated for retailers to establish sets in order to support the category and drive growth, and has worked with buyers such as Town & Country’s Dwight Richmond in creating alcohol alternative shelves. “Something that I will be working on as I engage with retailers and buyers and distributors is ‘What does the data say?’” Taylor said. “Dwight proved out that when you create a non-all set people will purchase more because they know where to find it and they see all that’s available. Whereas retailers who put a non-alc beer in one place and a non-alc cocktail in the mixer set, they’re not going to enjoy the turns because people don’t know where to find it.” Washington, D.C.-based startup Mocktail Club also showcased its portfolio of original non-alc creations that have the complexity of an adult beverage. Varieties include Manhattan Berry (blackberries, pear shrub, ginger), Havana Twist (lime, cucumber, mint, cardamom), Capri Spritz (pomegranate, cranberry shrub, lemongrass and hints of bitter) and Bombay Fire (pomegranate, chili, agave and infused tea). Each 12 oz. can retails for $3.99 to $4.50. According to founder and CEO Pauline Idogho, Mocktail Club is available in Erewhon and Whole Foods and will be launching with Town & Country in the near future.
44 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST 2022
Life Af ter Honest By Martín Caballero Let’s make one thing clear up front: iced tea isn’t going away anytime soon. Regardless of the variety, sweet or unsweet, functional or just plain old cold tea, consumers aren’t ready to abandon the summertime favorite -- at least, not yet. But the category hierarchy sure doesn’t look like it used to. That’s mainly because of The Coca-Cola Company. When the soda giant announced its plans to discontinue Honest Tea in May, it rocked the beverage landscape and the reverberations are ringing on. While the reasons behind Coke’s decision are varied, the immediate effect has been to reshuffle the deck for both conventional and premium tea makers as they seek space to grow. Honest Tea didn’t have extensive market share – but pulling it out of the cooler changes the perspective around the whole category. 45
Falling Dominoes When Coca-Cola acquired a controlling stake in Honest Tea in 2011, the path forward was clear: with sugary soft drinks under fire, the beverage conglomerate was widening its options and deepening its portfolio with an organic, better-for-you drink with a strong following already behind it. Honest Tea’s power as a mission-focused, clean ingredient brand was soon leveraged for use in other categories -- see sports drinks, kids drinks, kombucha and others – that seemed to put the company in step with the progressive, high-spending Whole Foods crowd. Now, as Honest Tea exits the stage, Coke is preparing its lowkey but more widely available alternative, Gold Peak, to step into the spotlight. It’s hard to believe those influential spenders will follow along: while Honest Tea’s organic ingredients, glass bottle options and Fair Trade certification positioned it on the premium end of the spectrum, Gold Peak is a more straightforward proposition, offering either black or green tea-based varieties in 18.5 oz. plastic bottles and only a single unsweetened SKU (along with a zero-sugar sweet tea with aspartame). The economics are clearly better: Gold Peak’s liquid is cheaper to produce -- even after shifting away from a concentrate model in 2019 -- and PET bottles are easier to place. The brand has a larger foodservice presence compared to Honest and also does broad bag-in-box sales as well. The good news for Coke is that Gold Peak is starting from a position of strength; according to IRI numbers through June 22, the brand grew bottled tea sales 1.7% to over $478 million, a slightly faster pace than bigger rivals like Pure Leaf (PepsiCo) and AriZona. However, its refrigerated sales slipped 9% to around $227 million. Gold Peak may indeed be a contender for the premium teasized hole in Coke’s portfolio. Right now the brand is complemented only by canned Peace Tea (down -22.5%, according to IRI) on the conventional end, with Fuze Tea having also been phased out in the U.S. -- but the gears are already turning. In June, the brand hosted a media event in New York City with cocktail blogger Camille Wilson featuring food pairings and original mocktails that highlight Gold Peak’s versatility. Meanwhile, the brand’s summer marketing campaign, “Tea is for Trying,” features Grammy-winner ?uestlove of the Roots appearing in three ads. So what does that mean for the category at large? In the short term at least, it looks likely to clear the way for Pepsi’s Pure Leaf to continue growing its +22% market share, a full ten points ahead of Gold Peak. While brands Lipton (+2.2%) and Brisk (+14.7%) keep chugging along, Pure Leaf, which is in PET aside from a handful of super-premium SKUs in glass bottles, has subtly refined its identity in recent months, launching a grant program aimed at supporting women in March and introducing three reduced sugar varieties this summer. For new-age beverage survivor Snapple, meanwhile, bottled tea sales slipped -4.9% year-over-year through June, but the loss of Honest may mean its category exclusive relationships with distributors like Polar will become all the more valuable in blocking new competitors from encroaching into its territories. As for AriZona, the sun keeps shining. Praised for maintaining its 99-cents price point in the face of historic inflation, the 46 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST 2022
company saw a 1.5% increase in dollar sales according to IRI. With on-premise providing a large portion of category revenues, foodservice is expected to be a focus for brands as they shake off the post-pandemic hangover. For Gold Peak, that means frozen dispensed products like Southern Sweet Tea are receiving more attention, as are limited releases like Brisk’s first ever sparkling tea, Dragon Paradise, exclusively with Taco Bell. Slightly further away from the heavy hitters up top, challenger brands are still finding opportunities. In the face of crushing shipping costs, Japanese beverage giant Ito En has focused on refining its best-selling RTD SKUs under its own banner, as well as Tea’s Tea and Matcha Love, with new packaging that can help it expand to non-specialty channels. The company is forecasting net sales for its U.S. business to increase 4.2% for FY 2022. But Honest’s exit may also herald a hunt by distributors for nimble independents that can fill in the gaps left behind; see King Juice’s plans to use its thriving Calypso lemonade banner to enter the space with a 5-SKU line in glass bottles via its NYC-area partner, Big Geyser. Available in single-serve bottles and gallon jugs, Alabama-based Milo’s Tea, fresh off adding two new production lines in a $20 million expansion of its Oklahoma facility earlier this year, also looks an attractive proposition, fueled by +48.1% year-over-year growth in dollar sales (along with +18.3% in pricing) according to Nielsen. With no end in sight to supply chain disruptions and roiling inflation, Joe Tea has also followed Snapple in making the pivot from glass to 18 oz. and 20 oz. PET, a move that has allowed the New Jersey-based brand to drop from around $3 to $2 per bottle and fit about 1,000 extra cases on each truck.
Canned and Bo Bot tled Teas DOLLAR SALES
CHANGE vs YEAR EARLIER
Pure Leaf
$945,391,988
1.6%
AriZona
$867,449,472
1.5%
Lipton
$556,797,618
2.2%
Gold Peak
$478,039,342
1.7%
Brisk
$414,062,935
14.7%
BRAND
Snapple
$375,547,252
-4.9%
Monster
$194,236,737
-4.4%
Guayaki
$139,106,985
21.8%
Peace Tea
$90,642,480
-22.5%
Private Label
$65,864,139
8.7%
Honest
$41,197,235
15.7%
Yachak
$12,663,670
-36.6%
Clean Cause
$11,064,414
29.7%
Tejava
$10,498,143
-32.3%
Bai
$9,564,068
-42.7%
Shaka Tea Honolulu
$6,692,768
379.1%
Ito En
$5,408,390
29.2%
Steaz
$5,125,461
-22.8%
Zevia
$4,002,756
16.4%
Joyba
$3,929,536
-
SOURCE: IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm-@iriworldwide% 52 Weeks through 6/12/22
Opportunities for Innovation While Coke, Pepsi and the other large brands assess their various paths towards growing in tea, the demise of Honest Tea may have lit the fuse for innovation amongst independents -- starting with Honest’s co-founder, Seth Goldman. Despite taking the news like “a gut punch,” Honest Tea’s closure spurred Goldman to get back into the game with Just Ice
Tea, his new venture announced in June. Though still in its nascent stages, the brand has committed to organic ingredients, Fair Trade Certified sourcing and creating either unsweetened or “just sweet enough” SKUs. “It’s not like consumers are going to stop drinking tea, so there’s going to be an opportunity for someone to go grab that space,” he told BevNET in June. In other words, Goldman is looking to recapture those Honest consumers that have been set adrift – but he’s unlikely to be the only one. Unilever-owned, Pepsi-distributed Tazo remains in the mix with organic products across various formats, having recently expanded its family of 32 oz. Refreshers tea-andjuice concentrates. There’s also fast-growing Hoplark out of Colorado, which has leveraged the success of its flagship nonalcoholic hopped tea in natural retailers to enter adjacent spaces like sparkling water and zero-proof “beer.” And while it may be considered more of an ingredient than a fully formed RTD beverage category at this point, matcha is influencing product innovation from trend-forward names like low-calorie lemonade maker Swoon (in collaboration with Chamberlain Coffee) and adaptogenic latte specialists Pop & Bottle. So for the premium customer, it’s unlikely they’ll be at sea for long – but it’s a fair bet that it will be a while before any of the independent brands link up with one of the big companies. Iced Tea may not be going anywhere for a while, it’s true, but that might not be the best thing, after all.
47
BRAND NEWS ICED TEA
Spritz Tea now has three of its four flavors available in 189 Kroger stores across Ohio, in the Columbus and Cincinnati divisions. This brings Spritz Tea to over 400 doors nationally, with a large focus on midwest distribution. In September, Shaka Tea will debut a new SKU that has an exclusive launch in select Target stores across the U.S. The brand has also recently rolled out its iced tea nationwide to all Whole Foods Market stores, as well as expanded into all Publix accounts. Tsai Beverage Group’s all natural fermented organic beverage will soon be introduced with redesigned packaging to 355 ML sleek cans, and certified organic for the U.S., Canada and European markets. An organic, low sugar, low calorie all natural iced tea brand created by Arizona co-founder John Ferolito, Saint James Tea has just launched. Through its partnership with LA Libations, the brand is launching with key retail partners like Sprouts, Go Puff, BevMo and Pink dot on the West Coast and is poised for national expansion later this year. Wize sparkling iced tea has a refreshing iced tea taste with a nice light fizz and only 4 grams of real cane sugar and no fake sweeteners. Created from upcycled coffee leaves, this innovative and remarkably smooth iced tea is changing the game for coffee farmers and iced tea lovers alike. California-based HUMANITEA recently landed in several new retailers across various states, including SPROUTS (nationwide), UNITED (Texas), Central Market Chain (Texas), Haggen’s, G & M Oil (Southern California) and SpaceX HQ. Rviita Energy Tea, a better-for-you energy drink in a first of its kind drink pouch, will be expanding its national reach across Canada in Walmart, in addition to 800 other stores currently carrying the brand. Earlier this year, Minna, a national organic sparkling iced tea brand, was acquired by New Berlin Beverage Company (NBBC), a Wisconsin-based holding company focused on building a portfolio of emerging and innovative beverage brands. Minna is the group’s first acquisition. 48 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST 2022
Montauk Iced Tea has teamed with distributor Big Geyser to bring the product into stores all across Long Island and into New York’s metropolitan areas. The newest flavor, Mango Green Tea, has just been released, while Montauk’s eleventh flavor, Lemon Tea, is launching this July. Hoplark’s Hibiscus HopTea just launched in Whole Foods nationwide. Hoplark’s floral, tropical hibiscus hop tea has 0 calories, 0 carbs, 0 sugar, is Non-GMO, and vegan. The hibiscus petals bring a juicy tartness with sweet, berry-forward notes, while the hop profile of Cashmere and Lemondrop layers candied citrus onto the sweetness. Colorado-based tea manufacturer TEAKOE announced the distribution expansion of Fizzy Tea in nearly 1000 Kroger locations nationwide. Kroger is now offering three flavors of Fizzy Tea in 4-packs to further meet the growing demand of organic, goodfor-you beverages with an emphasis on multi-packs for bulk and delivery convenience via Instacart as well as the Kroger. com delivery platform. Granny Squibb’s Organic Iced Tea announced the release of its newest flavor, Porter’s Peach, further solidifying their commitment to growth in New England with a portion of sales going to their newest philanthropic partner the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund, and expansion into Roche Bros. Pure Leaf Iced Tea has announced the expansion of its tea portfolio with new Lower Sugar iced teas. The new offerings give consumers a refreshing option that says “no” to artificial flavors. Available in major retailers nationwide, the new line comes in three delicious flavors that are reduced sugar takes on Pure Leaf favorites — Subtly Sweet Black Tea, Subtly Sweet Peach, and Subtly Sweet Lemon. Brisk teamed up with Taco Bell to launch its first-ever sparkling iced tea, Brisk Dragon Paradise Sparkling Ice Tea. The new, Taco Bell-exclusive offering features a hibiscus tea base with a blend of dragon fruit, raspberry and blackberry flavors.
Sports Drinks See New Competitive Landscape BY BRAD AVERY
When the Coca-Cola Company announced in November 2021 that it was acquiring challenger brand BodyArmor for $5.6 billion, it was a signal to the industry that the sports drink category was officially entering a new era. Though Coke, through its ownership of Powerade, had long been the number two player in the space, it was always an afterthought to PepsiCo’s Gatorade. But with BodyArmor – the Repole-and-Collins founded, Kobe-backed upstart that recently passed PowerAde in sales volume, the acquisition solidified Coke as a formidable asset holder. Now, nine months after the deal, BodyArmor has been integrated into the Coke system (buoyed by founder Mike Repole and other longtime staff staying with the brand, at least for now) and the sports drink set is rapidly evolving around it. A myriad of new brands – among them Canopy Growth’s BioSteel and the Logan Paul-backed PRIME Hydration – have seized on the disruption to try to expand the set, whether through star power, next-generation hydration, or a defiant stretching of traditional category definitions. All the while, Gatorade – the long-entrenched category leader – is working to adapt by embracing new functional innovations such as hydration-boosting Gatorlyte and Gatorade Fit, sugar free Gatorade Zero, and Gatorade Zero with Protein. According to NielsenIQ, sports drink retail dollar sales rose 7.9% to $9.1 billion in the 4-week period ending June 18, 2022, 50 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST MAY/JUNE 2021 2022
and were up 14.3% in the 52-week period. The growth was in large part driven by price increases, with average pricing climbing up 17% in the 4-weeks, while sales volume dropped 7.7% in the same period. PepsiCo retains its post as the category leader, reporting dollar sales growth of 9.1% to $5.9 billion in the four-weeks (up 9.7% for 52-weeks), while Coke faced a 2% decline in the four-weeks (+17% for 52-weeks) to $2.7 billion. That short-term sales slide is deceptive, however. Coke – primarily through the BodyArmor business – has outpaced PepsiCo over a three-year stack basis.
BLURRED LINES Kaumil Gajrawala, managing director of equity research at Credit Suisse, noted that while the short term volume declines and high pricing are a reflection of the inflationary pressures affecting almost the entire food and beverage sector – both a result and a transition away from last year’s supply chain disruptions – the category is experiencing significant disruption via innovation and new players. “Maybe the first and most important thing about the sports drink category is recognizing the degree to which the lines in the category have blurred between segments,” Gajrawala said. He noted that functional traits such as energy and hydration have increasingly become more prominent within sports drinks.
SPORTS DRINKS CHANGE vs YEAR EARLIER
BRAND
DOLLAR SALES
Gatorade
$6,302,256,416
9.7%
Bodyarmor
$1,655,776,210
35.9%
Powerade
$1,251,517,159
3.0%
Electrolit
$309,239,420
103.8%
Private Label
$56,656,639
66.8%
Biolyte
$32,795,898
82.6%
Pedialyte
$28,365,268
153.3%
Prime
$17,568,615
-
Suerox
$6,862,449
457.7%
VPX
$4,541,291
-
Hoist
$2,497,609
96.1%
Recover 180
$2,484,405
8.4%
Nuun
$1,957,702
-7.8%
Kill Cliff
$1,793,689
-28.5%
Pickle Juice
$1,648,433
9.9%
Unimax Suero Avanzado
$1,362,514
730.0%
Ready
$1,175,710
1500.1%
Bobs Pickle Pops
$963,709
40.7%
O2
$654,863
-3.5%
Glucosoral
$300,978
228.4%
SOURCE: IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm-@iriworldwide% 52 Weeks through 6/12/22
While sports drinks have always relied on added electrolytes to boost hydration, crossover with products like coconut water and enhanced waters has risen steadily. Sports drinks, Gajrawala said, are “right in the center” of the health and wellness macro trend that is redistributing market share away from entrenched brands and towards emerging better-for-you products. Meanwhile, consumer demand for low-sugar and low-carb beverages are turning them towards new innovations and even other categories, such as alkaline water. As well, the rise of subcategories like fitness and performance energy (i.e. Bang, CELSIUS, C4, etc.) has also reconfigured the use occasion for traditional sports drinks, bringing athletic consumers into the energy space and creating even more competition for share of stomach. But despite the more crowded grocery shelf, the expanded defi nition of sports drinks and the wave of innovations is benefitting the category and leading to a marketplace where smaller brands are better able to gain a foothold. “I think the defi nition of the market is broader than what we might have looked at before, which would have been Gatorade, Powerade, BodyArmor – it’s much broader than that,” Gajrawala said. “But that’s okay, because when you have a bigger market, you have a lot more players. And perhaps it’s a bit more fragmented, but it is also much more appealing and you may have a better ability to scale.” Sportswriter Darren Rovell, a partner in CPG investment fi rm Tastemaker Capital and a former BodyArmor investor, is bullish on the space, noting that the long-term double-digit growth reflects a surge that is greatly outpacing historical sales trends from the days when Gatorade was the lone dominant player. Rovell, who once authored a book on Gatorade, noted that while BodyArmor may still only comprise a fraction of Gatorade’s sales – IRI reported its retail dollar sales at $1.6 billion in the 52-weeks ending June 12, 2022 – he said the brand still has enormous white space to grow, which justified Coke’s company record acquisition 52 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST MAY/JUNE 2021 2022
price. Prior to the sale, BodyArmor prioritized major U.S. markets, declining to build out international operations. That strategy has now left a long runway for Coke to scale the brand in smaller American territories and the entire global market. “When you think about BodyArmor selling for what it did, when you talk to people, anecdotally, you can fi nd people throughout the country who haven’t tried it – which is amazing for a brand that was valued at $8 billion [prior to acquisition],” Rovell said. “So it just goes to show you how much ramp up there potentially can be.” Gatorade for its part is working to keep ahead. Carolyn Braff, head of brand strategy, told BevNET via email that innovation is a key focus for the company as it sees more pressure from competitors. “We know every athlete is unique, and they need personalization to be at peak performance – there is no one-size fits all approach to fuel for athletes,” Braff wrote. “Our focus as a brand is delivering more choices to athletes based on their fueling needs and preferences. We are also growing our beyond-the-bottle offerings through powders, reusable bottles and equipment, and our Gx line of personalized sports fuel solutions.” But it’s not just BodyArmor that Gatorade needs to pay attention to anymore, even if the closest competition is still a ways away from vying for the belt.
BIOSTEEL SUITS UP
Toronto-based sports drink brand BioSteel, a subsidiary of Canopy Growth, has quickly risen to prominence within the past few years through a series of high profi le pro sport and athlete partnerships, as well as expanded distribution for its zero sugar RTD line. Though IRI reports the brand’s total retail dollar sales at just $5.8 million over the 52-weeks ending June 12, RTD sales are up 396.1%. And that’s only the U.S. business, as the brand – co-founded by former NHL left wing Michael Cammellari and business partner John Celenza – has already built out a deep footprint in its native Canada. Last year, a report by Goldman Sachs Equity Research called BioSteel an “emerging disruptor in the sports drink category” that “reminds us of an early stage BodyArmor.” While exclusive sponsorships with pro teams like the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks among others – as well as individual athletes such as the NFL’s Patrick Mahomes – have gone a long way toward seeding national brand awareness, BioSteel is about to get an even bigger exposure boost this year as the Official Sports Hydration Drink of the NHL. In July,
the brand announced that it had secured league-wide rinkside marketing rights, kicking off its exclusive sponsorship during the 2022 NHL draft, succeeding Gatorade as the sole sports drink partner for the league. The NHL partnership came only a week after the brand named former Constellation Brands Chief Commercial Officer Bruce Jacobson as its president, a move that furthered the synergy between BioSteel and Constellation, which is a minority owner of Canopy Growth. In the U.S. BioSteel is also distributed by roughly 200 Constellation-aligned DSD houses nationwide. With nationwide marketing now ramping up, the company now aims to be in about 15,000 doors by the end of 2022. Jacobson told BevNET that the NHL deal represents “the perfect partner at the perfect time.” Though the company is only in the early days of its U.S. retail expansion, BioSteel is already well established in Canada with nearly 90% ACV in the convenience and gas channel – making a pro hockey sponsorship even more significant north of the border. For the U.S., Jacobson said the brand has a long runway to gain distribution and, although recent additions like Walmart and Publix help increase availability, BioSteel now aims to tap the NHL sponsorship to drive velocity and add new accounts. After the announcement during the league draft, Jacobson said the brand received a number of calls from interested retailers and the company is working to grow its footprint so consumers who discover BioSteel through hockey games can fi nd it in stores. “We know that we have to balance building the availability through distribution, as well as building the velocity for the brand as well, and that comes down to consumer awareness and helping the consumer fi nd the brand and understand the brand,” Jacobson said. “You really have to do those two things in concert. And so that’s why we’re investing not only in building the availability of the brand and doing that through distributors and retailers in the marketplace, but we’re investing in the pull of the brand and the NHL was one of those things from a marketing standpoint.”
STARTUPS SEEK A STAKE While the odds of becoming a billion dollar brand are slim for any startup, Rovell noted that the recent shifts in the sports drink category have made it (relatively) easier than ever for an upstart brand to get going, and it’s no longer a given that Gatorade will quickly edge out any new competitor; “There’s a graveyard of sports drinks scattered along the highway that died not because they weren’t good, but because Gatorade … did such a good job of not even allowing them to happen,” he said. But routes to the consumer have expanded. Rovell pointed to the swift launch of PRIME Hydration, a sports drink brand founded by YouTuber Logan Paul and rapper KSI – which reported over $17.5 million in retail sales in less than a year on the market, per IRI – as one example of a new company fi nding place to play in the category, as well
as BioSteel, which he said has “probably gotten farther than any brand other than BodyArmor” in establishing themselves as a serious competitor. “I think everywhere in the beverage category, it’s easy enough to start up,” Rovell said. “There are co-packers, there are people who have space, out of COVID there’s a lot of freelance people so you can start up with consultants and not [have a] payroll. What used to be Mom and Pop for one or two years, now you can immediately start a real business. That doesn’t mean that they’re going to be successful, but I think in every beverage category it’s certainly easier to start up a brand. And I think, you know, sports drinks is a sexy category.” Brands like BIOLYTE, Hoist, Nooma, GoodSport and O2 are all now vying for that slice of the pie, positioning themselves as healthier, innovative alternatives to the leading brands. Though it is not yet sold nationwide, Georgia-based BIOLYTE is already among the largest independent players in the sports drink category. Founded in 2017, IRI reported that the family-owned brand’s retail dollar sales were up 82.6% in the 52-weeks ending June 12 to $32.7 million, placing it behind only Electrolit and private label products among the non-Coke and Pepsi brands. Founded by former anesthesiologist Dr. Trey Rollins, BIOLYTE purports to have six times the electrolyte content of standard RTD sports drinks, putting it on par with a medical I.V. drip. BIOLYTE CEO Jesslyn Rollins, the doctor’s daughter, said the brand is now available in nearly 18,000 retail locations despite only having distribution as far west as Arizona and as far north as Ohio. This summer, the brand made the leap from the enhanced water set in Publix stores to the sports drink shelf, and Rollins said the company is pushing to position itself as a sports drink in its other retail partners. “The reason why [repositioning as a sports drink] was a very good move is because that’s where people are going to get their recovery products,” Rollins said. “When you get sick, when you are uneasy and you need a pick-me-up and you need electrolytes, sports drinks – title be damned – that’s where people are going.” To date, BIOLYTE has been bootstrapped and as of two years ago hit profitability, Rollins said. The company has now grown to 31 full time employees, most recently bringing on a CFO, and aims to continue expanding its footprint nationwide. Though the brand has rebuffed traditional sports drink marketing trends, such as athlete influencers and sportsthemed ad campaigns, Rollins said the company is embracing those blurred category lines and positioning itself with consumers as the most efficacious hydration beverage available. “Because BIOLYTE has a medical undertone, people are apt to think ‘Wait, when can I drink this? I don’t know how to drink that. How many can I have?’” she said. “Those are a lot of questions that our team needs to do a better job of explaining in very simple terms. But, you know, BIOLYTE is a phenomenal recovery drink and when it comes down to it, it’s just a drink.” 53
BRAND NEWS SPORTS DRINKS
Cure Hydration expanded its portfolio of Hydrating Electrolyte Drink Mixes with a new flavor, Orange. This citrus staple is infused with coconut water and pink Himalayan salt. Similar to Cure’s other electrolyte drink mixes, the formula is based on the World Health Organization’s Oral Rehydration which can rehydrate you as quickly as an IV drip. Barcode has launched a new flavor, Black Cherry, to hit the market at the end of this summer with a new and improved flavor and formulation including Ashwagandha. The brand has also secured Kehe and UNFI as new distributors. ROAR Organic, a line of hydration beverages offering a blend of vitamins, antioxidants and electrolytes for Complete Hydration that replenishes, announced that all four of its core SKUs – Mango Clementine, Cucumber Watermelon, Georgia Peach and Blueberry Acai – will now be sold at the majority of Whole Foods Market locations nationwide. Gatorade Fit is the newest electrolyte beverage from Gatorade for the active consumer looking for healthy real hydration, with no added sugar. Formulated with no artificial flavors or sweeteners and no added colors, Gatorade Fit delivers 100% of the daily value of antioxidant vitamins A and C, as well as electrolytes sourced from watermelon and sea salt. Sports drink brand BioSteel has announced a U.S. retail expansion that will see the brand enter nearly 15,000 new locations nationwide across grocery, convenience and drug chains this year. BIOLYTE – touted as the world’s fi rst “IV in a bottle” – can officially be found in the sports drink aisle in select locations of Publix across the Southeast. Formerly found alongside enhanced water products, this move solidifies BIOLYTE’s role in the realm of sports beverages – the fi rst hydration drink that offers the same amount of electrolyte as an IV bag.
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Following last year’s launch of ready-todrink Immune Support products, Propel is leaning heavily into the offering with a third Pineapple Peach ready-to-drink flavor now available, as well as Immune Support Powder Packs in Lemon Blackberry and Orange Raspberry. Immune Support has notched a +35% increase in $ Retail Sales Volume (RSV) each month of 2022, compared to the same month’s $ RSV in Year 1 (2021). CBD-infused beverage brand DEFY landed a distribution deal with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, the company announced earlier this year. The company currently markets two flavored drinks – Boost, for pre-workout, and Recovery – as well as CBD-infused purified alkaline water. Now the #2 Sports Drink across the U.S., BODYARMOR announced an official partnership with The Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation to support youth sports – donating, along with co-founder Mike Repole, a combined $24 milliondollars to the foundation. To further honor Kobe Bryant’s legacy and the foundation, BODYARMOR also created a new strawberry grape flavor called “Mamba Forever” which is now available in retail stores nationwide. Adapt SuperWater from Adapt Brands recently earned certification from NSF International’s Certified for Sport program. NSF International is a global public health organization that tests and certifies products to help protect athletes and consumers from potentially harmful ingredients and athletic banned substances in dietary supplements. PLAY MODE Beverage Company continued its rapid growth across the U.S., by launching into all Raley’s, Bel Air, and Nob Hill stores. PLAY MODE is an all-natural pharmaceutical-grade beverage that delivers fast results for severe dehydration.
ON the MENU
RTDs keep searching for a niche on-premise By Ferron Salniker Things were good at BTL SVC. Leading up to the pandemic, the premium ready-to-drink cocktail company, was increasingly found in some of the country’s most well known hotels, at concession stands at Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall, and had just received purchase orders from Jet Blue Airlines. “Then all the arenas went down, all of our travel stuff, the hotels, it all went to zero. We lost 80 percent of our customers,” said Michael Baruch, founder of BTL SVC (pronounced bottle service). While BTL SVC’s sales have rebounded, the company’s carefully planned entry into showy on-premise channels like airlines and hotels shifted during the pandemic, a move that mirrors the journey of other spirit-based RTD brands. Now, many are searching, again, for high-visibility niches as their competition grows and new channels open up post-lockdown. Demand is growing for these spirit-based products: while malt56 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST 2022
based RTDs still retain 91% share by volume in the U.S. RTD market, spirit-based RTDs grew by 53% in 2021, approximately double the growth of the wine-and malt-based categories, according to alcohol industry data provider IWSR. By 2025, spirit-based RTDs are expected to see annual volume growth of 33% in the U.S. “The increased number and variety of RTD options on the market has fueled the category’s growth, which has inspired even more brands to launch RTD products,” said Liz Paquette, head of consumer insights at Drizly. Today there are nearly 650 RTD brands on Drizly, up from 450 in 2021, which was a 45% increase over the previous year, and a whopping 170% increase over 2019. With all that variety, brands are clearly looking to distinguish themselves with new flavors, premiumization, and branding — but where they meet consumers’ lifestyles is another branding and revenue strategy in itself. While
the explosion of RTD products has sparked a race to the retail cold-box, these companies, start-ups and established players alike, are also looking for visibility through placement in entertainment venues, hotels, and every facet of the travel industry.
INROADS IN HOSPITALITY & ENTERTAINMENT Baruch was no stranger to consumer goods: prior to launching BTL SVC in 2017 he was the founder of retail boutique Fred Segal Beauty; he also had done some consulting for other CPG brands. So when mixologist Nathan Oliver came to him about bottling craft cocktails, he initially didn’t see a future in traditional distribution. They were, after all, selling elegant box sets and glass bottledcocktails – without a large marketing budget. But he knew Los Angeles hoteliers and saw a large captive audience in the broader travel industry. Last year, 670.4 million passengers flew on U.S. carriers and U.S. hotel rooms hosted over 1 billion guests, with numbers expected to rebound to post pandemic levels this year. “It was a pretty robust market, and they were captive in their seats or their rooms, and oftentimes they were going from the plane to the road to the plane,” he said. From there he launched in hotels across the country, and American Airlines picked up the cocktails for its business and first class lounges. It was perfect timing: airlines and hotels were shifting to local or more authentic flavors, recruiting well-known chefs for hotel restaurants and upgrading snack and minibar options. But Baruch saw a need for more cocktail options, a demand that continues today. “There’s been increased customer demand for cocktails on board for many years -- especially for classics like margaritas and old fashioneds,” said Mike Henny, managing director of Onboard Services Operations of Delta Airlines. In 2021 Delta partnered with Tip Top Proper Cocktails on domestic routes. Tip Top works with Atlanta bartender and James Beard finalist Miles Macquarrie, of Kimball House, to develop their classic cocktail recipes. The cocktails will be offered on transAtlantic routes starting this month. Tip Top co-founder Yoni Reisman suspects it was the company’s hometown advantage that opened the door to conversations with the airline, which then resurfaced after Delta’s RFP for in-flight cocktails was scrapped at the start of the pandemic. “Being in Atlanta, Delta is our hometown airline. We felt like this is the perfect product for an airline, and so we were bothering them before we even had a product,” he said. Premium RTD On The Rocks, which was acquired by Beam Suntory in 2020, was initially inspired by conversations with Virgin America’s food and beverage team. The former bartender and On The Rocks co-founder, Rocco Milano, impressed the airline staff with his bartender’s choice cocktail. When asked to design
an in-flight cocktail menu, Milano proposed bottled options, a unique proposition in 2015. While Alaska Airlines’ acquisition of Virgin America canceled that deal, Milano pivoted to produce signature tropical cocktails for Hawaiian Airlines. “We really wanted to establish that partnership and drive something amazing there that really brought the spirit of aloha alive for those guests that were going to be on board,” he said. That relationship opened a door to other airline accounts: after Hawaiian Airlines was awarded an International Flight Services Association award for its cocktail program, Milano was approached by United Airlines. The cocktails can now also be found on certain American Airlines routes and through premium cabin service on Japan Air. In the U.S., On The Rocks is Beam Suntory’s highest performing RTD brand, and saw triple digit growth in 2021. Milano credits the brand’s success with airlines— well before it had the resources of a large liquor company— to connections he made at the World Travel and Catering & Onboarding Services Expo. “Every industry has a conference,” he said. For the founders of Crafthouse Cocktails, the increased in-
terest in classic, quality cocktails has been a long time coming. The two hospitality veterans aspired to put bartender-quality palomas and smoky margaritas in a bottle format back in 2013. “There was no [RTD] space when we started,” said Matt Lindner, co-founder and CEO. “So when the category did finally turn the corner and people finally had the light bulb go off, we were poised and ready to go with a full array of really well thought out cocktails in multiple formats.” In addition to the 200ml cans and 750ml bottles, the cocktails also come in a bag-in-a-box option that serves up to 15 drinks, providing an alternative that allows on-premise accounts to keep pour costs down. According to the founders, the diversified formats and the increased demand for cocktails made with premium ingredients have given the brand a leg up on finding non–traditional on-premise channels, which will make up 20% of their revenue by year’s end. “I think so much of that is coming from the fact that we do not have the pockets to compete against the big portfolios, we just don’t have a 200-person sales team,” said Linder. “But with so many of those partnerships we are able to compete because the buyer just tries it and they like our assortment, it’s just good quality and taste, and that’ll keep customers coming back for a 57
second. It’s an elevated experience with zero effort.” In addition to finding success in transportation channels like United Airlines and Virgin Voyage Cruise lines, the brand is expanding into entertainment venues, playhouses, and Cedar Fair amusement parks. Next month, cocktails will be available at AMC theaters, part of their strategy to keep after national non-traditional on-premise chains. These types of accounts also provide marketing exposure they couldn’t afford otherwise, Linder said. But standing contracts with larger brands and portfolios can make sporting or entertainment venues tricky arenas for start-ups to compete. Tip Top’s Reisman came to the alcohol industry from a music festival background. “There’s a lot of larger brands out there with really large budgets, and these startups just can’t compete with those sponsorship contracts,” he said. “I knew it would be an uphill battle.” They’re also up against traditional cocktail programs that provide venues with higher margins. Positioning bottled cocktails as a line killer and an alternative to a skilled mixologist is where he finds the sale. For now, he’s testing the product’s performance in a few local Atlanta music venues.
A PATHWAY TO RETAIL For On The Rocks and BTL SVC, success has been built around flexibility and working closely with partners to fit their needs. On The Rocks bottles are designed to fit trays for LSG, one of the world’s largest airline catering services. Baruch and his team developed a 375 ml bottle for American Airlines, which requested a larger format allowing guests to self-service without them nabbing 100ml bottles for the road. It’s now available at hotels too. At hotels the brands are fi nding niches in poolside service, inroom dining, VIP amenity programs and special events. BTL SVC is soon to be in every Four Seasons nationally, and has a growing roster of upscale hotels in the seven states it currently has distribution. The company is also dipping its toes into international locations and customized cocktails. Customized branding of its boxes, which can be used as a merchandising unit or a gift, can be found in venues like the Aria in Las Vegas or Equinox in New York. On The Rocks is served in many major hotel groups, including multiple Hilton hotel chains. While BTL SVC and On the Rocks declined to share sales information, both founders insist the travel industry is a revenue generator as well as a brand builder. Baruch specially designed a bar cart for ambassadors to offer cocktails in hotel lobbies, which now also functions as a sampling display at gourmet markets and liquor stores. That tasting experience at hotels put the cocktails in the hands of anyone visiting. “To this end, owners, executives, managers, etc. of retail establishments, as well as many other types of businesses, contacted us to pick up our cocktails for their stores and businesses,” said Baruch. Some of those relationships became essential during the pandemic: BTL SVC provided at-home cocktails for virtual events such as HBO premieres and employee events for companies like Nike and American Express. Before the company had wider visibility, Milando said hotels were a key aspect to the company’s growth and success— they also created a platform to showcase how the RTD could insert itself into an already liquor-fi lled venue. The power of hotels is 58 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST 2022
in creating opportunities that previously weren’t addressed by run-of-the-mill beverage options, he said. “What are you doing for your guests who are choosing to spend one of the most important days in their lives with you? You’re going to send old fashioneds to the groomsmen suite, you’re going to send margaritas to the bridal suite,” he said. “And I feel dirty every time I say this but the phones come out, and that creates that instagrammable moment.” When the downturn of travel during the pandemic forced the RTD makers to focus on selling via traditional retail and online, the emotional association with a special occasion like a vacation or family celebration was a boon for connecting with customers and retailers. Milano has met customers who said they picked up an On The Rocks because it reminded them of their fl ight to a vacation in Hawaii, for example. “That positive association and impact for people is what is so rewarding about hotel and airline partnerships – we see that return on investment while also encouraging loyal fans,” he said. The founders of these brands say they’re building on their work during the pandemic to continue in retail, and now that sales in travel and concessions have picked back up, expand globally. BTL SVC survived 2020 because of its retail accounts, and after two years of legwork has a slew of new retail partners, including supermarkets. For Tip Top, selling online has been less of a revenue builder than it has been an opportunity to get to know its customers. Reisman said he’s using that data to focus on continuing to build brand awareness and developing new cocktails. Milano is likely taking his lineup to more international markets. “Hotels are a global enterprise, airlines are a global thing,” he said. “So I very much see us continuing to pursue those and if it takes us outside of our borders and beyond our shores then we’re going to have a great time introducing cocktails to our new guests.”
NATURAL BEVERAGE GUIDE • 2022
61
BRAND LISTINGS Agua Fresca - Slightly Sweet in Bold, Fun Flavors Agua Bonita
OCA Plant-Based Energy Drink in Four Exotic & Delicious Flavors! Beliv
Agua Bonita was inspired by co-founder Kayla’s grandpa, a migrant farm worker, who would rescue fruit from the fields and make aguas frescas for her family. We’ve continued this fun tradition in a way that tastes good, is better-for-you, and good for the planet. Kayla and Erin (co-founder) both realized there was an opportunity to create a category in the food and beverage space as aguas frescas were not available outside of a taco shop or Mexican grocery store. Capitalizing on the void, Kayla and Erin founded Agua Bonita, the first RTD, better-for-you agua fresca. Agua Bonita’s fruit-forward juice flavors and bold packaging appeal to Latinos as a nostalgic beverage with designs based off of traditional textiles and patterns. AMAZ Your Best new Mate
NEW!!! AQUA SELTZER - Organic Probiotic Seltzer infused with kombucha
Your day begins at night with Blue Bear Sleep
Amaz Project, Inc
Aqua ViTea
Blue Bear Wellness
Organic Sparkling Yerba Mate Tea with Adaptogens for Natural Energy, Focus, & Immunity | Plant-based | Zero Calories | Zero Sugar | Vegan | Keto-Friendly | 80mg Organic Caffeine | Sourced from Regenerative Agroforestry
New! A better-for-you alternative to the empty sparkling waters, our organic Aqua Seltzers infused with kombucha have only 1 gram of sugar and 15 calories and are refreshing offerings packed with probiotics for immune and gut health. Batch after batch, each can is infused with passion and purpose.
The first ready-todrink melatonin nighttime tea is here. Made with natural and organic ingredients, Blue Bear Sleep supports rest and relaxation with a zero sugar, lightly sweetened, peach flavored white tea. Get ready for a new nightly routine.
Aqua ViTea Kombucha available in 7 delicious flavors
Ardor Organic Functional Sparkling Water for Focus, Energy, Hydration
Organic, sustainable, delicious kombucha. Big flavor. Small footprint.
Award Winning Taste in the Most Sustainable Package Boxed Water Is Better® Made from 92% renewable materials (trees), Boxed Water™ brand now has a plant-based cap and the highest renewable content. Our water won a prestigious International Taste award and the Good Housekeeping award this year. Consumers ask for it by name Brewery on a creek in Austin brews Wild Kombucha & New Sparkling Kefir
Aqua ViTea
Ardor Organic, Inc.
Blue Ridge Bucha
Buddha's Brew
Available throughout the US, Aqua ViTea Kombucha’s 7 delicious, clean flavors have lower sugar & calories than others, boast naturally abundant probiotics, enzymes, antioxidants, B vitamins AND always Verified Alcohol Extracted ( under.05%).
Ardor is a premium and refreshing sparkling water that provides focus, energy, and hydration through our blend of active ingredients Organic L-Theanine, Organic Caffeine (from green tea) and Sea Salt.
Our bright and crisp flavors are made from cold pressed fruits, ginger and small batch herbal and tea infusions. Low in sugar, raw, unpasteurized, and full of probiotics, active enzymes, amino acids, & B vitamins it’s good for your gut! Non Alcoholic
We've added NEW canned Sparkling Water Kefir (4 SKUs) to our ALIVE lineup! We continue to brew Authentic Kombucha, handcrafted from wild, living culture strains and bottled Full Strength and Raw. Enjoy Wild Deliciousness, bubbling with Live Cultures!
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BRAND LISTINGS Finally, A Natural Energy Drink That Tastes Good Boomerang Energy
Deliciously Refreshing Kombucha Brew Dr. Kombucha
Stevia-Free CBD Seltzer from Wrestling Superstar Goldberg Bravago Bold Seltzer
BUBBL’R Antioxidant Sparkling Water BUBBL’R
63
BRAND LISTINGS Ready-to-Drink Cold Brew Coffee
The Future of Drinking Is Here. And it's cannabis in a can.
Cafe Grumpy
Cann
Drink straight up, over ice or with a splash of your favorite milk. No preservatives, artificial ingredients or sugar. Roasted and brewed in Brooklyn, NY with specialty grade arabica coffee beans. Sustainable Tetra Pak packaging.
Cann is the #1 selling THC-infused beverage across America, winning over canna-curious and sober-curious consumers alike. Cann's microdosed, non-alcoholic beverages deliver a perfect, uplifting buzz with a strength similar to a beer or glass of wine.
Calypso Now Offering Five Refreshing Tea Variations
All Natural CBD Drinks CENTR Brands Corp.
DRY Botanical Bubbly Reserve - NonAlcoholic Wine Alternative
Calypso
DRY Soda Co.
Calypso is the fastest growing brands in the category offering over a dozen lemonade, limeade, zero sugar and now offering five different refreshing tea variations. Each tea is made with black or green tea and natural flavors.
A non-alcoholic sparkling beverage that pairs like wine, toasts like champagne and stands out in a crowd. Layered botanical extracts and flavors create a complex tasting experience for any occasion. Available in Lavender 75 and Spiced Pear.
Home of the Best Tasting CBD Products on the Market CBD Living
Hydrate and refresh with four fruity flavors of CBD Living Sparkling Water, containing 25 mg of nano-CBD and six important vitamins and minerals to boost energy levels and aid the immune system, all with no “hempy” aftertaste.
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NEW! Confidence: Mood-Boosting Refreshment | Drink the Feeling Confidence
BRAND LISTINGS Corina’s Switchy, Organic Sparkling REAL Lime & Ginger Juices with ACV Corina’s Drinking Vinegars
DEFY : Performance System DEFY
At Corina’s we are committed to making the best tasting sparkling juice and ACV beverages. Inspired by my Vermont roots where ACV was a multi-purpose elixir and where simple honest food is linked to some of my fondest memories of family outings I created a modern twist on a classic beverage that has hydrated farmers from the British West Indies to New England. What’s different about Corina’s? Well, Corina’s Switchy is NOT my grannies vinegar forward switchel! It’s a sparkling real juice and ACV beverage that you’ll love. Corina’s is made with 6 simple ingredients: 13% real juices of Brazilian ginger and limes, a splash of apple cider vinegar and sweetened to 100 calories with real raw cane sugar and infused with aromatic spice. Corina’s is juice forward, incredibly refreshing, and as one of our customers says, “I like Corina’s because it doesn’t taste like salad dressing.” I chuckled when I heard this - but it’s true! Corina’s Switchy is an Erewhon Market feature brand. Find Corina’s online or in many independent natural stores throughout New England. Distribution through Pod Foods, KeHE, Craft Beer Guild, Shapiro Produce, and Pine State Beverage. Drink Corina’s because you love the taste and experience and we’ll reward you with beverage that you’ll keep coming back to. Meet Tepache - A Fermented Pineapple Probiotic De La Calle Co.
Nature's Perfect Water Eternal Water
GETPLNTD, Inc.
Eternal Water is the No. 3 selling alkaline water in the U.S.A. Eternal flows through layers of ancient rock that keep all its essential minerals intact. The result is exceptionally tasting naturally alkaline water sourced in America.
This yummy plant elixir contains Chlorophyll as its superfood hero ingredient. With less than 5g of sugar, we created a superfood product that can be enjoyed at any time of the day, with meals, or on the go when you need a health boost! #GetPLNTD
New Sweet Apple Greens Cold-Pressed Juice Evolution Fresh Meet the newest blend from Evolution Fresh – Sweet Apple Greens – an entry-level green juice that’s as delicious and easy-to-drink as it is nutritious. It pairs leafy greens, sweet apples, and a hint of tropical fruit for an unforgettable flavor.
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PLNTD - Concentrated Plant Elixir From Chlorophyll
Mission-Driven Organic Iced Tea Granny Squibb's Iced Tea Granny Squibb's Organic Iced Tea launches its latest flavor, Peach, with a portion of proceeds to benefit The Jimmy Fund. Granny Squibb's offers Organic, Kosher, gluten-free, preservative-free, non-gmo RTD teas in 16oz bottles and 12oz cans.
BRAND LISTINGS Zero Sugar All Natural Australian Born Soda, 10 Calories a Bottle/Can Famous Soda Co.
NEW Flow Vitamin-Infused Spring Water Flow Beverage Corp.
. d Spring Water rate. se fu n -I in am it yd NEW V hile you h mune system w im r u yo rt o p p Su Value 120% Daily C in am it V of
Excellent Zinc u so rce of
Untouched Water. Unmatched Profits FIJI Water
FIJI® Water, Earth’s Finest Water and America’s No. 1 premium imported bottled water brand, is backed by Earth’s Finest® campaign: a multi-million dollar integrated marketing effort that includes national TV, social media, digital, PR, events, in-store activations and FSIs. With this kind of support, there’s no question FIJI Water will continue to attract Earth’s Finest customers. Now available direct to you, order now and get ready to drink in the profits. Only FIJI Water was born in the purest clouds high above the islands of FIJI. It fell through a remote tropical rain forest, 1,600 miles from the nearest continent. It filtered through ancient volcanic rock, naturally gathering minerals and double the electrolytes as the other two top premium bottled water brands. And it’s protected from impurities in a sustainable artesian aquifer, hundreds of feet below the surface. FIJI Water can’t be replicated, because nature perfected it. We just bottled it. For the latest updates on FIJI Water, please visit fijiwater.com. 68 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST 2022
Sarah’s Homegrown Agua Frescas Frey Farms
, Zero sugar es zero calori
BRAND LISTINGS Tsamma Watermelon Juice Frey Farms
A daily water bottle that is okay to lose somewhere. GEN Z Brands
Fuel Your Quest For Alchemy FÜL Beverage
Ethically Sourced Certified Organic RTD Cold Brew Groundwork Coffee
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BRAND LISTINGS Organic Angel City Nitro Cold Brew. Light, IPW Craft Brewed Sparkling Hop Water Bright, & Floral Groundwork Coffee
H2OPS Inc
Get ready to sip on our hand-crafted Certified Organic Nitro Cold Brew! Expertly roasted, brewed, and infused with nitrogen for a deliciously creamy texture. Our NEW Angel City blend is light with a bright fruity acidity.
IPW is our NA take on an IPA that's a craft brewed hop WATER you can enjoy WHEREVER, WHENEVER and WITHOUT alcohol, calories or gluten. Craft brewed from the whole hop using a blend of Mosaic and Citra hops. SKUs: Original and Grapefruit. 12oz & 16oz
H2Om Water with Intention - Winner of Best Tasting Water in the World
Audacious Flavors from Actual Plants Hoplark
Introducing our Coconut Water with Pulp
H2Om International, Inc. Sustainably sourced Premium Natural Spring Water Est. 2006 No flavors or additives. R-PET recycled bottles. pH of 7.4 Featured in TIME and the WSJ. Positive branding for a healthy lifestyle! "Think it while you drink it!"
Naturally Alkaline, Hawaiian Lava Filtered, Ultra Premium Water Hawaii Volcanic Beverages
Harmless Harvest We've taken our beloved coconut water and added soft, tender chunks of coconut meat to give you a little something to nibble on while you hydrate. Just pure, organic goodness - now with a little more of the coconut to love!
Hoptonic Sparkling Tea Hoptonic Tea
Living MaKa P.B.C.
Hoptonic's mission is to sustainably brew a distinctly refreshing sparkling tea. We utilize perennial botanical ingredients that promote regenerative agriculture which helps sequester carbon in the soil. What's good for the earth is good for humans.
On a journey towards activating a healthier lifestyle the founder, Brian Hill, crafted a delicious & refreshing wheatgrass elixir blended with Yerba Mate & Guayusa teas. Each drink is equiv to 8-shots of wheatgrass. Organic Certified, Non-GMO, V, GF.
"Organic & Premium Tea" Great Tea with a Great Cause HUMANITEA Company Introducing a new line of premium, organic teas in the following flavors: Green Tea with Passion Fruit and Kiwi; Hibiscus with Wildberry and Lime; Black Tea with Mango and Melon; Unsweetened Black Tea; Coconut Lemonade
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MAKA Wheatgrass - Superfood Drink
Honey-sweetened Lemonade Me & the Bees Lemonade With five great flavors and about- including our new Black Cherry Lemonade - and about 100 calories per serving, Me & the Bees Lemonade taste good and does good. Buy a Bottle...Save a Bee
BRAND LISTINGS Organic Sparkling Water with Antioxidant Hydrogen Bubbles & Magnesium HyVida Brands, Inc.
Hemp Infused Adaptogenic Sparkling Beverage L8 Life
You’ll love the sweet taste of less sugar! Koia
Liquid Core SMILE with Activated Charcoal Liquid Core Gum Co.
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BRAND LISTINGS Zero Sugar, Vegan, Gluten-Free Performance Liquid Core Gum Company
Natural Taste. Natural Wellness. Mude Drinks
Mother Kombucha Introduces Arise™ Low Calorie Kombucha With a Kick
Odyssey Functional Mushroom Elixirs Odyssey Wellness
The Best Tasting Water in the Most Sustainable Way
Mother Kombucha
Open Water
Arise is a magical combination of mango, peach and ginger, combined with a natural caffeine kick from guayusa and calming focus from L-theanine. As always, it’s low in sugar and calories. Arise provides a great pick-me-up any time of day.
Introducing our new Tallgirl® Cans, available in both still and sparkling water. Our entire lineup is packed in 100% recyclable aluminum packaging that is made of recycled material and is entirely Climate Neutral certified. moreoceanlessplastic
All Natural Alcohol Free Cocktails in NonCarbonated Cans
#1 Sustainable Bottled Water in a 100% Recyclable Aluminum Container
Muddle and Mint
PATH
The combination of all natural ingredients like tea, juice, fruit, and herbs results in full flavored mocktails. Available in three awardwinning flavors. Noncarbonated cans go anywhere adventurous cocktail lovers want to slow down, sip, and savor.
As the first 100% recyclable and refillable bottled water in a sturdy and lightweight aluminum bottle, PATH provides a sustainable solution to the single-use plastic water bottle crisis plaguing our planet today.
Odyssey’s Sparkling Elixirs are crafted to increase your cognitive edge, clarity, focus, and mood with 2500 mg of highly concentrated adaptogenic extract from Cordyceps and Lions Mane. The sacred Metatron cube radiates positive vibes and empowers you to harness the power to do good. • Elevates focus, mood & clarity • Nootropics enhance mental performance • Active Beta-Glucans support immunity • Adaptogens relieve stress, elevate mood
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BRAND LISTINGS Petal - Organic Sparkling Strawberry Lemongrass Dandelion Petal Sparkling Botanicals
Agua Plus Premium Alkaline Water featuring All-Scratch!™ Technology Plus Brand
Naturally flavored electrolyte drink tablets for JOYFUL HYDRATION Plink!
Functional Dairy-Free Lattes Pop & Bottle Crafted with organic, dairy-free ingredients and infused with functional attributes, our coffee & tea lattes offer the delicious taste you crave without compromise. No refined sugar, preservatives, or fillers. 60-80mg caffeine per can.
Rambler Sparkling Water Rambler Sparkling Water Rambler is made with the finest Limestone Mineral Blend and the perfect level of carbonation for a sparkling water that truly makes your mouth water. And sodium free! Sustainably sourced and in proud partnership with American Rivers. #GetRamblin
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Have You Heard? There's a New AllNatural Way to Relax the Mind & Body Rhythm Hemp Beverages Taste the tranquility and capture the calm with the all new Rhythm Relax, the 5th variety from Rhythm Hemp Beverages. 25MG of hemp CBD, L-Theanine and Cucumber Honeydew flavor combine for THE chillest vibes. Avail. for wholesale Aug 2022. $4.99 SRP. Cool Down This Summer with RISE Cold Brew RISE Brewing Co. Stay chill as the summer heats up with our all organic, refreshingly smooth Cold Brew Coffee. Our Cold Brew can be enjoyed straight from the carton, over ice, or use it to mix-up the latte of your dreams. It'll keep you going strong all summer long!
BRAND LISTINGS Refreshing, sparkling, live cultured drinks with no sugar Remedy Drinks
Revive Probiotic Soda Revive Drinks
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BRAND LISTINGS 100% Plant Powered. Radically Real Ingredients. Addictively Refreshing RIOT Energy
Refreshing Caffeine-Free Kombucha Rowdy Mermaid
Deliciously Refreshing Hydration Beverages ROAR Organic
Stress Reducing Iced Tea RUUTS
Sound
At RUUTS we crafted a zero sugar, low calorie, iced tea infused with mood boosting adaptogens, and made with organic ingredients. We pride ourselves on our commitment to promoting mental health and sustainability !
Bright bubbles meet bold botanicals to make a sparkling water unlike the others. By using brewed tea, unique botanicals and fruit extracts, Sound is full of flavor, not sweeteners. 0 Calories, Organic, Non-GMO, Whole30. 3 SKUs with light caffeine.
100% of Your Daily Vitamin D + Vibrant Flavor Zero Sugar All natural
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Sound Sparkling Water with Organic Tea & Botanicals
Introducing ALO Organic ZERO – No Calories. 100% Flavor
ShineWater
SPI WEST PORT, INC
We call it Sunshine In A Bottle® 100% of your daily Vitamin D in every bottle! Allnatural ingredients and no artificial colors or flavors plus electrolytes and antioxidants - and did we mention ZERO sugar? 7 bold flavor fusions, Try them today!
With our special combination of USDA certified organic aloe vera, zero calories and no sugar, good has never been so fruitful. Our aloe vera is straight from the leaf, never from powder. Enjoy plantbased goodness. It is truly guilt-free refreshment.
BRAND LISTINGS Naturally Functional Healthy Soda Säti Soda
Volcanic Artesian Water with Naturally Occurring Gold and Silver Splendor Water
Saint James - Organic Sustainably Packaged Iced Tea Saint James Brands
Naturally Zero-Sugar Beverages Swoon
Founded by Arizona Iced Tea co-founder John Ferolito, Saint James was created in honor of the legacy of Father James Haggerty. Father Haggerty, or “Saint James” as John referred to him, is the man that gave John his start in the business and instilled in him the values that would guide him throughout his life and career. With Saint James Tea, he is carrying that legacy into the next generation. 77
BRAND LISTINGS Plant-based Coffees & Ceremonial Grade Matcha with Adaptogens
Perfectly refreshing. All-natural flavor. Zero sugar.
Taika
The Lemon Perfect Company
Premium craft coffee and organic ceremonial grade matcha, rich and creamy, perfectly calibrated for balance and creativity. Our products are plantbased, with no sugar added, and infused with adaptogens and functional mushrooms.
Unlock Your Body's NXT LVL with NXT LVL Hydrogen Water
Ultima Replenisher Premium Hydration Electrolyte Powder Mix Ultima Health Products, Inc
Lemon Perfect is a zero-sugar hydrating lemon water with ½ an organic lemon squeezed into every bottle. Certified Organic with allnatural flavor and superfruit benefits, healthy hydration has never been this perfectly refreshing. Drink more lemons. Spare Tonic Upcycled Sparkling Probiotic Tonic
Takeover Industries Inc. We created the first 12oz premium spring water, infused with hydrogen and Quad-C (our proprietary blend of colloidal copper, gold, platinum, and zinc). This product is the next generation hydration drink for everyone from athletes to seniors.
NEW All-Natural Liver Health Support with Electrolytes The Plug Drink
The Spare Food Co. 4 Real Food Ingredients. Nutrient Rich with Probiotics + Protein. Upcycled Certified. Chef-crafted using fresh whey, the NEXTY Award-winning new functional beverage from The Spare Food Co. is redefining "function" in the Functional Beverage category.
VIDE Zero Sugar Vodka & Tequila Sodas VIDE
Weird Beverages LLC
VIDE set out to bring quality, convenience, and transparency to the discerning consumer. VIDE serves all-natural, glutenfree, zero sugar, zero carb vodka & tequila Sodas. VIDE proudly carbon neutral.
Weird Tea launched Summer 2021 in Austin, Texas and Southern California with four incredible and unique flavors. We want to refresh you, make you smile, and give you a high five. Check us out on the digitals at DrinkWeird and Let's Get Weird!
Naturally Alkaline Hawaiian Volcanic Water
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WEIRD TEA - Organic, Amazing Tasting, and a High Five for YOU!
First-of-its-kind, Superior-Quality 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Juice
Waiakea
WONDER LEMON™
Waiakea filters through thousands of feet of porous lava rock absorbing essential minerals that give it a natural alkalinity of 7.6 8.2pH. Now available in Oceanplast bottles made from 100% oceanbound plastic and high-grade refillable aluminum.
WONDER LEMON™ is a first-of-its-kind, superior-quality 100% organic cold-pressed juice with zero added sugar. By pairing the tart flavor of lemons with other fruits, WONDER LEMON juices are sweet and refreshing with the benefits of NO Added Sugar.
BRAND LISTINGS Organic Prebiotic Soda With Plant Fiber and Minerals Vina
Well Well Juicery Canada LTD
Literally, the only RTD to use REAL cold-pressed ORGANIC juice, NOT from concentrate with ZERO additives, preservatives, or flavors. Friends Don’t Let Friends Drink Natural “Flavors”.
VOSS+ Water That Works Harder For You Voss Water
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On a mission to help prevent ocean pollution ZenWTR Alkaline Water
SUPPLIER & SERVICES LISTINGS Tea, Coffee & Specialty items A. Holliday & Company Inc.
Scientific & Regulatory AIBMR Life Sciences, Inc.
Functional US Milks + Proteins Axiom Foods
Water Soluble Cannabinoids Caliper Foods
For over 47 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 varieties (extracts & leaf), coffees (extracts), antioxidants, herbal & superfruit extracts, natural caffeine, polyphenols, EGCG, Rooibos, coconut water powder, and our newest product, oil soluble tea polyphenols.
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 GRAS Independent Conclusions, FDA GRAS & NDI Notifications, toxicology studies, label reviews, claims substantiation, FDA & FTC compliance, and manuscript preparation & publication.
Innovating FDA GRAS non-GMO plant-based ingredients since 2005, our nutrient-dense rice & oat dairy alts are certified whole grain & allergen-friendly. Also US-made, our soluble patented rice protein is clinically tested vs whey(4x). Looking for extruded pea or fava protein? Choose sizes from Denmark & Asia.
Caliper ingredients are fast-acting, water-soluble cannabinoids that are easily introduced into any application using standard production equipment and with no noticeable impact to flavor, consistency, texture, or appearance. Designed for rapid go-to-market and scalable manufacturing across food, beverage, supplements, and topical care applications, and come with FDA-ready documentation.
Flavor House Abelei Flavors
Steviose® 100 and Steviarome® Almendra Americas, LLC
Contract Manufacturer Azpack
Real People. True Flavor. Callisons
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 the beverage, food, dairy, confectionery, health & nutrition, and pet industries.
Almendra intends to be the leader in naturebased taste and sugar reduction ingredients. Building upon expertise in stevia, our success relies upon our ability to deliver consistently superior and innovative products. Experienced team Proprietary taste technology Manufacturing excellence Innovative agricultural approach with its patented photobiology process Headquartered in Singapore.
Fully automated canning for high-acid beverages with variety pack capabilities, state-of-the-art 350,000 sf facility, 2 million can daily capacity, tunnel pasteurized or cold fill preserved carbonated, still or alcoholic beverages, organic, kosher, halal and sqf level 3 certified. *AZPACK is a refresco beverage 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.
Organic Functional Ingredients Applied Food Sciences (AFS)
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Take Your Packaging to New Heights Berlin Packaging
SUPPLIER & SERVICES LISTINGS Your Total Solution Provider Bioenergy Life Science (BLS)
We’re re-imagining the possibilities for beverages, dietary supplements, functional foods, cosmetics and personal care products. Great things can happen when you sharpen your competitive edge with Bioenergy Ribose and RiaGev because our ingredients do more, and they do it better. Bioenergy Ribose is a healthy, crucial sugar that increases cellular energy by enhancing the body’s ability to make ATP. Bioenergy Ribose is THE go-to ingredient for noticeable sustained energy, and enhancing the performance of other energy ingredients in custom blends. It is fully soluble, all natural and adds a bit of sweetness with no aftertaste. Healthy aging is an enormous opportunity. Even those taking NR will be sold on RiaGev, our newest ingredient. It’s the next big thing in healthy aging because it uniquely increases ATP, NAD and glutathione production simultaneously. Science also shows RiaGev supports concentration and motivation. Add it to your next beverage formulation--consumers will notice the difference! Contact us, your Total Solution Provider, to advance your business to the next level.
Your Tropical Fruit Partners Brothers International LLC
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Cans Supplied Nationwide CanSource LLC
Exceptional Taste. Naturally. Doehler North America
With a decade of experience, CanSource is your trusted can-supply partner. Sleeved, printed & brite cans - we have them all plus a team dedicated to customer service! We leverage 6 locations (CA, OR, CO, IN, PA, NC) to provide quick lead times & high on-time delivery yearround. Give us a call to ensure your your cans look as great as your beverage tastes and ask about our 1/2 pallet minimums.
Doehler is a global producer, marketer and provider of technology driven natural ingredients, ingredient systems and integrated solutions for the global food, beverage and nutrition industry. Our ingredients are derived from natural raw materials. Being sustainable by nature, we help to nourish the world better – good for people, good for planet. WE BRING IDEAS TO LIFE.
Speciality Hydrocolloids CP Kelco
Natural Beverage Development Drink Me Taste Solutions
CP Kelco is a nature-based ingredient solutions company with 90 years’ experience working with food and beverage manufacturers worldwide. We apply ingredient innovation and problem-solving to help you meet your clean label goals. Key product lines include citrus fiber, gellan gum, pectin, xanthan gum, carrageenan, refined locust bean gum and microparticulated whey protein concentrate.
Drink Me Taste Solutions was created to directly support the natural and organic functional beverage industry. We pride ourselves on creating great tasting beverages that gives the consumer the functionality they crave all while supporting you from concept to commercialization. We have proven success and knowledge in this category and we know what it takes to help your brand succeed.
Process Authority for Beverages Caporale Consulting
SUPPLIER & SERVICES LISTINGS Mix Today. Profit Tomorrow! (833-4-Drinks) Drink Labs
Leaders In Natural, Organic & Plant-Based Flavors Flavor Producers
Clean Label Ingredients Farbest Brands
Natural Beverage Development Flavorman
Coconut Ingredients Franklin Baker, Inc.
Gusmer Brewing Solutions Gusmer Enterprises
Our Ingredients. Your Sourcing Simplified. We 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 USDAcertified organic, and NON-GMO Project Verified ingredients No matter your budget, application, or label claim we can guide you to the ingredients that are right for you.
Natural beverages are tricky—but the benefits they provide won’t matter if nobody drinks them! Luckily, the Beverage Architects at Flavorman can make your natural beverage as flavorful as it is functional. With 30 years in the business, Flavorman is the best partner to custom formulate your natural beverage to your unique specifications. Together, we'll change what the world is drinking.
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.
For over 95 years, Gusmer has taken a revolutionary approach to serving the brewer’s vision. It’s why Gusmer offers a full line of solutions for the brewing industry including fermentation and processing aids, filtration media and equipment, analytical products and instrumentation, processing equipment, and analytical laboratory services.
Custom Flavor Development Flavor Dynamics, Inc.
FONA Flavor & Taste Solutions FONA
Nut Butter Goodness at GDNIS! Grower Direct Nut Ingr. Supply
Advanced Beverage Formulas Hidell international
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.
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.
Nut Butter in Bulk and in ecofriendly (5g bucket replacement) MetaPails for healthy plant based beverages. Silky smooth nut butter and paste - Almond, Walnut, Pecan, Pistachio. Also, great addition to smoothies, yogurt, ice cream, baked goods. Can do jarred nut butter Private Label like our Nutty Gourmet brand. Also roasted and seasoned nut capabilities. Certified Organic. OU Kosher. Thank GDNIS!
Hidell International is a 54 year old, global Bottled Water and Beverage Consultancy. The company specializes in identifying water resources, completing hydrogeological investigations and developing health and wellness formulas for clients.
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SUPPLIER & SERVICES LISTINGS Going beyond great taste Givaudan
As the global leader in taste and wellbeing, Givaudan recognizes that the beverage market is now more fluid than ever. The pace of beverage innovation is speeding up at an unprecedented pace. This can be attributed to the fact that people are very open to trying new drinks. It’s an inexpensive way to discover an enjoyable food experience and has led to a lot of creativity in the beverage space. For Givaudan, this means that customers constantly rely on our pipeline of innovation to create and respond to trends. Whether it’s a relaxing cup of tea, an invigorating wake-me-up coffee, a refreshing citrus drink or a botanically balanced beverage, we have you covered. Afterall, beverage is our largest segment for a reason. Our expertise and portfolio span across the entire spectrum of beverage possibilities. By partnering with us to co-create your next beverage innovation, you have access to our vast array of research and product expertise to help meet your consumer’s needs - including taste, natural colors, botanical ingredients for wellness, maskers, mouthfeel, delivery, shelf life enhancements, clean and clear label solutions, sugar reduction and much more. Visit https://www.givaudan.com/taste-wellbeing/solutions-segment/beverages to learn more about our expertise in beverages. Together, let’s shape the future of food. National Sales and Merchandising Gotham Brand Managers
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Ingredient Supplier International Food Products Co
Clean Label Extracts Javo Beverage Company
Over the last two generations, our family-owned company has grown from a sugar supplier to a one-stop ingredient shop. We have 14 distribution centers across the country and manufacture custom ingredient systems at our SQF-certified facility, Aviator. From functional ingredients to custom sweetener systems, we have what you need to create a successful beverage.
Founded in 2001, Javo is an extraction company that uses a proprietary process to produce fresh, clean-labeled coffee, tea and botanical extracts for the food and beverage industry. We use clean ingredients to craft products for global and emerging brands. Our production facilities located in Vista, Calif. and Indianapolis, Ind. are Safe Quality Foods (SQF), QAI organic and kosher certified.
Mobile Canning Solutions Iron Heart Canning Co
Bulk Matcha - MATCHA.COM MATCHA.COM
IHC is your solution to guide you through the canning process! With over 250 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!
Choose the best quality, lowest price source of bulk matcha on the market! We have an independent network of matcha producers and farms in Japan and have been able to consistently save companies 5%-20% over their previous bulk matcha source, including vs. the incumbent bulk suppliers. We can service POs of all sizes and many of our customers place orders 1,000KG-10,000KG range. Get samples today!
Beverage Repack Specialists Keller Warehousing & CoPacking
SUPPLIER & SERVICES LISTINGS Functional Beverage and Supplements Experts Kerry
Clean & Natural Protection Lanxess Corporation
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. Benefits of Nagardo® include: • • • • • •
Achieve natural & consumer friendly 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 production process Application-specific advice and services from Nagardo® team
LANXESS Corporation hopes to conveniently meet all of your microbiological protection needs with our widely applicable technologies and services. For more information on Velcorin®, please visit https://velcorin.com/. For more information on Nagardo®, please visit https://www.nagardo.com/. Science-backed branded ingredient for mental energy Kyowa Hakko USA
Cognizin® Citicoline is one of the most comprehensive brain and nootropic ingredients on the market. Citicoline is a naturally occurring nutrient found in the brain. It increases an important substance called phosphatidylcholine that is critical for healthy brain function. An innovative form of Citicoline, which has been clinically researched for its role in cognitive function, Cognizin® is clinically studied to support mental energy, memory, focus, and attention. Many other cognitive health ingredients only enhance brain performance, Cognizin® provides brain performance as well as more comprehensive brain health support over time. This brain health nutrient has demonstrated through multiple clinical trials that it provides essential mental wellness benefits to people of all ages. Cognizin® provides a competitive edge as consumers are looking for science backed ingredients addressing multiple needs. It is a pure, allergenfree, GRAS nootropic suitable for use in many different types of product applications. Meet demands for evidence-based cognitive health products with the gold standard for branded nootropics, Cognizin® Citicoline. Learn more www.Cognizin.com
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Beverage Processing Equipment Mojonnier USA, LLC
Building Tasty Beverage Brands Pixelslave
American-owned company in Ohio with over a 100-year history serving the beverage industry globally. Mojonnier has consistently led the beverage industry in developing new equipment and processes. Our new equipment lines allows for more efficient and consistent production than ever before. We provide mix processors, deaerators, sugar dissolvers, pasteurizers, complete syrup rooms, parts, and more.
Pixelslave is a full service branding and advertising agency delivering big results for 12 years. We specialize in growth stage brands looking to take the next step. Strategy, package design, web design & dev, photography, video, advertising, media placement and all relevant communication channels are within our expertise. Let's talk about how we can help your better-foryou beverage brand grow.
Natural, Clean Label Flavors Omega Ingredients Ltd
Ideal Flax for Beverages Pizzey Ingredients
We are Omega Ingredients, Award Winning Creators of Natural Flavors & Clean Label Ingredients for Manufacturers of Beverage, Food, & Flavor 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 flavors.
Pizzey Ingredients’ BevPur™ Flax enhances beverages with the nutritional benefits of flaxseed (ALA Omega 3, protein, fiber and lignans) while providing a smooth and rich texture. BevPur™ has a guaranteed shelf life of two years and is non-GMO and pesticide-free. BevPur™ is ideal for a variety of ready to mix and ready to drink beverages.
SUPPLIER & SERVICES LISTINGS Trust the monk.™ Monk Fruit Corp.
Sustainable Packaging Handles PakTech
Enhance And Fortify MORRE-TEC Industries
Filling and Closing Solutions Pneumatic Scale Angelus
New Online Storefront Remake
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 needs of a wide range of Beverage, Craft Beverage, Dairy and Food applications, and are fully supported by a global Service and Aftermarket network.
New Product launch? The Remake platform is a new online storefront. Making it easy to discover new products and drive direct sales. Shoppers miss new announcements due to social algorithms, spam newsletters and limited results on searches. Remake offers product publishing, data tagging, tracking system, search optimization and a product review to ensure product discovery online.
Beverage & Food Development PTM Food
Real-Time In-Store Insights Retail Aware
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!
Retail Aware helps you gain real-time visibility into actionable insights on any shelf space that your products occupy in-store. As a beverage brand you can use these decision-making insights to continue growing your relationship with key stakeholders, increase shelf space, understand conversion rates and measure how a product performs in-store or in-relation to a marketing campaign.
MORRE-TEC Industries is a multifaceted manufacturer and supplier of ingredients to the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries since 1987. Vitacyclix, a division of MORRE-TEC Industries, formulates and manufactures a variety of unique water-soluble dry powders and liquid emulsions for the fortification of all types of beverages. Our products include water soluble vitamins A, D and E, in both powder and liquid forms. We also have a full selection of vitamins, minerals, bioflavonoids, and protein, as well as vegan and kosher options, that can be customized to your specific needs.
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SUPPLIER & SERVICES LISTINGS Your natural choice for sweet brown extracts and flavors. PROVA
Packaging Line Automation Ska Fabricating
Partnership Makes all the Difference Sensient Flavors & Extracts
Mastering The Art of Flavoring Sovereign Flavors, Inc.
Fruit & Vegetable Ingredients Stiebs
As the masters of finished beverages and high quality flavors, our skilled beverage technologists and talented flavor chemists formulate beverages that deliver extraordinary value to our customers. Whether you’re looking to add natural vitamins and minerals, create a non-GMO or organic formulation, our team is ready to bring your beverage concept to life according to your specifications.
Stiebs, since 2005, has been devoted to sourcing, processing & delivering the world's finest plant-based products. We offer a full line of fruit & vegetable based ingredients as Single Strength Juice, Juice Concentrates, Purees and IQF Cubes. 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.
Blending and Process Experts Statco-DSI Process Systems
Naturally A Great Solution TechniBlend
Statco-DSI is a full-service equipment and integration service provider to the food and beverage industry, with specialties in dry powder mixing, continuous inline blending, as well as de-aeration and carbonation. Operating from 11 offices coast-to-coast, we are able to assist with all of your beverage processing requirements.
TechniBlend & ProBrew offer the best natural beverage processing equipment in the industry. Whether you need to Flash Pasteurize your all-natural beverages with our FlashPAS or carbonate your beverages with our industry leading ProCarb and ProCarb Mini systems or fill you beverage into cans with our ProFill line of can fillers, TechniBlend & ProBrew are Naturally your best choice & partner.
Sensient Flavors and Extracts offers value-added flavors, systems and extracts that bring life to products. We inspire our customers to deliver products that offer multi-sensory experiences that are “just picked from nature.” Thanks to our wide-ranging product library, development teams and cutting-edge facilities, we’re able to implement thoughtful solutions for complex challenges. With industry-leading expertise in the savory, beverage and sweet markets, we provide comprehensive solutions that meet our customers’ flavor, color, and functionality requirements. At Sensient Flavors & Extracts, we use our advanced proprietary development technologies to create fresh, unique flavor systems. Additionally, we have a complete line of masking & flavor enhancing technologies. Particularly in beverage, we have a TrueBoost portfolio that enhances mouthfeel & creaminess, and a natural extract portfolio from named sources. We are experts in the science, art and innovation of taste. We are market-savvy influencers, grounded in facts and driven by the needs & occasion of our consumers. We are problem solvers,and you are what makes us a collaborator, and a true partner. Together, we can solve the most challenging product puzzles and together, we can make products that are delicious, craveable and truly inspired. 92 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST 2022
SUPPLIER & SERVICES LISTINGS Functional Beverage Ingredients STAUBER
Beverage Premix Solutions The Wright Group
The Wright Group delivers custom nutritional blends, vitamin & mineral premixes and microemulsion-value added ingredients for the beverage and nutritional supplement markets. Beverages create ideal systems for functional ingredients since flavoring / sweetening systems can often mask unfamiliar tastes from functional ingredients. Microemulsion value-added ingredients often perform better in beverage delivery systems since they may not be 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! The Wright Group’s SuperBlend© custom nutrient premixes are engineered to increase homogeneity of your final product and prevent the de-mixing of ingredients. We deliver economy of scale by simplifying ingredient procurement from a single source. Our 100+ years of innovative expertise, accomplished technical team, and comprehensive production capabilities allow us to provide shorter lead times enabling you to successfully bring your products to market. Connect with the team of experts at The Wright Group, today! Call us at 800-201-3096 or visit www.thewrightgroup.net.
Upcycled, Tasty, Nutritious The Coffee Cherry Co.
Turnkey Beverage Services US Beverage Manufacturing
Coffee Cherry is ideal for functional beverages. Upcycled ingredients are hot with consumers, and deliver flavor, nutrition and sustainable benefits. Loaded with antioxidants, potassium, iron, protein, magnesium and a hint of caffeine. Let Coffee Cherry be a key part of driving your consumers' purchase decision. Contact us now to learn how Coffee Cherry can help your brand!
We can turnkey develop and copack/manufacture all types of beverages, alcoholic and nonalcoholic, liquid and powder, in aluminum cans, PET bottles, glass bottles, and flexible packaging. If you are looking for a one stop shop that can develop, formulate, and manufacture your new beverage concept, then look no further! We can help supply all ingredients, materials, and manufacturing services.
Shrink Sleeve Solutions Tripack
Centrifuge & Gas Mgmt Equip. Trucent, Inc.
For over 20 years, Trucent has been mastering the science of fluid separation. We provide value to countless industries by purifying, reclaiming and extracting valuable fluids. Building upon our deep knowledge and experience, we are introducing our technologies and services to the Natura Beverage Industry. Our main technology is the centrifuge. Our main goal is to maximize your potential.
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COMPANY CONTACT INFORMATION COMPANY
CONTACT NAME
CITY
STATE
PHONE NUMBER
A. Holliday & Company Inc.
Christine Renken
Toronto
-
(416) 225-2217
teacoff.com
Mike Allegretti
North Aurora
IL
(630) 859-1410
abelei.com
Agua Bonita
Tyler Wincup
Hanford
CA
(602) 300-3598
DrinkAguaBonita.com
AIBMR Life Sciences, Inc.
Jared Brodin
Seattle
WA
(253) 286-2888
aibmr.com
Abelei Flavors
Almendra Americas, LLC
WEB SITE
Eric Zabin
Decatur
GA
(404) 395-0219
almendra.com
Amaz Project, Inc
Gustavo Nader
Santa Monica
CA
(310) 310-0672
liveamaz.com
Applied Food Sciences (AFS)
Jackson Zapp
Austin
TX
(512) 732-8300
appliedfoods.com
Lisa Kelly
Middlebury
VT
(802) 453-8590
aquavitea.com
Aqua ViTea Ardor Organic, Inc. Axiom Foods Azpack
Allison Wilson
Napa
CA
(503) 332-0456
ardororganic.com
Kay Abadee
Bell Canyon
CA
(818) 266-2461
axiomfoods.com
-
Tempe
AZ
(480) 449-7770
azpack.com
Beliv
Lizzy Browne
-
-
(650) 785-0102
drinkoca.com
Berlin Packaging
Jason Loper
Chicago
IL
(312) 856-7101
berlinpackaging.com
Penny Portner
Ham Lake
MN
(763) 746-3926
bioenergylifescience.com
Blue Bear Wellness
Bioenergy Life Science (BLS)
Alex Vialy
Encino
CA
(818) 208-2622
bluebear.com
Blue Ridge Bucha
Hank Heyming
Waynesboro
VA
(540) 221-6841
blueridgebucha.com
Boomerang Energy
Cal Tentis
Duluth
MN
(952) 378-7455
boomerangenergy.com
Robert Koenen
Holland
MI
(616) 856-0558
boxedwaterisbetter.com
Bravago Bold Seltzer
Matthew D'Andria
Marina Del Rey
CA
(310) 493-4253
DrinkBravago.com
Brew Dr. Kombucha
-
Portland
OR
(503) 235-3656
brewdrkombucha.com
Boxed Water Is Better®
Andy Keane
Rochester
NY
(585) 343-3007
brothersinternational.com
BUBBL’R
Brothers International LLC
Tyler Hartmann
Madison
WI
(608) 846-1275
drinkbubblr.com
Buddha's Brew
Kimberly Lanski
Austin
TX
(512) 351-9176
buddhasbrew.com
Cafe Grumpy
-
Brooklyn
NY
(718) 383-0748
cafegrumpy.com
Caliper Foods
caliperingredients.life
Jolene Jacobs
Denver
CO
(720) 273-3824
Callisons
Kim Carson
Cincinnati
OH
-
callisons.com
Calypso
Ally Busswitz
Milwaukee
WI
-
drinkcalypso.com
Cann
-
Venice
CA
-
drinkcann.com
Dan Reese
Longmont
CO
(833) 228-3959
cansource.com
Caporale Consulting
Mark Caporale
Middletown
CA
(707) 987-9703
caporaleconsulting.com
CBD Living
Sean McDonald
Corona
CA
(800) 940-3660
cbdliving.com
CanSource LLC
CENTR Brands Corp.
-
-
-
(888) 527-3251
findyourcentr.com
Oliver Cole
Beverly Hills
CA
(714) 916-2306
drinkconfidence.com
Corina Belle-Isle
Norwich
VT
(617) 894-4673
drinkcorinas.com
-
-
GA
(678) 247-7300
cpkelco.com
De La Calle Co.
Megan Abbott
Los Angeles
CA
(810) 569-8289
delacalle.mx
DEFY
Mark Jacobs
Denver
CO
(310) 748-1226
drinkdefy.com
-
Cartersville
GA
(888) 367-8327
doehler.com
Dennis Morales
Los Angeles
CA
(833) 437-4657
thedrinklabs.com
Rachel Dannemeyer
-
-
(949) 677-5369
drinkmetastesolutions.com
Confidence Corina's Drinking Vinegars CP Kelco
Doehler North America Drink Labs Drink Me Taste Solutions DRY Soda Co.
Sharelle Klaus
Seattle
WA
-
Eternal Water
Tahne Davis
Walnut Creek
CA
(925) 378-7388
eternalwater.com
Christina Larigan
Rancho Cucamonga
CA
(973) 943-3080
evolutionfresh.com
Evolution Fresh
drinkdry.com
Famous Soda Co.
Michael Pillon
Denver
CO
-
Farbest Brands
Cheryl Pasiut
Park Ridge
NJ
(201) 573-4900
Leilani Cano
-
CA
(310) 966-5716
fijiwater.com
Colleen Roberts
South Plainfield
NJ
(908) 822-8855
FlavorDynamics.com
FIJI Water Flavor Dynamics, Inc. Flavor Producers Flavorman Flow Beverage Corp. 94 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST 2022
famoussodaco.com farbest.com
-
Valencia
CA
(661) 257-3400
flavorproducers.com
Spencer McGuire
Louisville
KY
(502) 301-8136
flavorman.com
Brian Coleman
Evesham
NJ
(267) 241-6785
flowhydration.com
COMPANY FONA Franklin Baker, Inc. Frey Farms FÜL Beverage
CONTACT NAME
CITY
STATE
PHONE NUMBER
WEB SITE
John Fishel
Geneva
IL
(630) 578-8638
fona.com
John Slade
Memphis
TN
(901) 881-6681
franklinbaker.com
Elizabeth Gonzalez
Fairfield
IL
(618) 835-2536
drinksarahs.com
Adam Dickey
Detroit
MI
(248) 895-9791
fulbeverage.com
GEN Z Brands
Erin Campbell
Bentonville
AR
(479) 530-4857
drinkgenz.com
GETPLNTD, Inc.
Nate Aframian
Los Angeles
CA
(310) 848-0440
getplntd.com
-
-
OH
-
Gotham Brand Managers
Givaudan
Trent Moffat
Long Island City
NY
(877) 931-3030
Granny Squibb's Iced Tea
Kelley McShane
Westerly
RI
(562) 774-7929
grannysquibb.com
Jessica Smith
North Hollywood
CA
(734) 673-1549
groundworkcoffee.com
Tony Varni
Hughson
CA
(209) 883-4890
gdnis.com
-
Mountainside
NJ
(866) 213-1131
GusmerBeer.com
Lex Lang
Los Angeles
CA
(818) 761-5759
h2omwater.com
H2OPS Inc
Paul Tecker
Anaheim
CA
(714) 823-3010
h2ops.com
Harmless Harvest
Emily Schell
Oakland
CA
(989) 415-0259
harmlessharvest.com
Groundwork Coffee Grower Direct Nut Ingr. Supply Gusmer Enterprises H2Om International, Inc.
Hawaii Volcanic Beverages
givaudan.com gothambrands.com
Jason Donovan
Princeville
HI
(808) 639-9394
hawaiivolcanic.com
hidell international
henry hidell
Hingham
MA
(781) 749-8040
hidelleyster.com
Hoplark
Toni German
Boulder
CO
(720) 224-6779
hoplark.com
Hoptonic Tea
Brian Pham
Richmond
CA
(510) 858-6312
hoptonictea.com
Joe Garza
Riverside
CA
(951) 966-9432
drinkHUMANITEA.com
Rick Smith
Muskegon
MI
(231) 780-7450
hyvida.com
Mathew Brady
Fenton
MO
(314) 422-2324
ifpc.com
HUMANITEA Company HyVida Brands, Inc. International Food Products Co Iron Heart Canning Co
Roger Kissling
-
-
(908) 619-5449
ironheartcanning.com
Javo Beverage Company
Joanne Sheean
Vista
IL
(760) 330-1141
javobeverage.com
Keller Warehousing & CoPacking Kerry Koia
Michael Ramirez
Defiance
OH
(419) 980-4857
kellerlogistics.com
Shawn Gerstenkorn
Beloit
WI
(608) 201-5470
kerry.com
Hero Nguyen
Encinitas
CA
(323) 381-9944
drinkkoia.com
Maria Stanieich
New York
NY
(551) 482-9968
cognizin.com
L8 Life
Kaze Williams
Los Angeles
CA
(510) 559-0747
l8life.com
Lanxess Corporation
Michael Turpin
Pittsburgh
PA
(817) 357-5851
lanxess.com
Liquid Core Gum Co.
scott schaible
Denver
CO
(855) 558-9407
liquidcore.store
Liquid Core Gum Company
scott schaible
Denver
CO
(720) 795-5547
liquidcore.store
Brian Hill
Arlington
VA
(888) 690-7058
livingmaka.com
Kyowa Hakko USA
Living MaKa P.B.C. MATCHA.COM
Sean Matteson
Tucson
AZ
(520) 273-2110
matcha.com
Me & the Bees Lemonade
D'Andra Ulmer
Austin
TX
(512) 580-3899
meandthebees.com
Mojonnier USA, LLC
Matthew Brinn
Streetsboro
OH
(844) 665-6664
mojonnier.com
Monk Fruit Corp.
Paul Paslaski
Libertyville
IL
(847) 367-6665
monkfruitcorp.com
Maria Jewelyn Mendoza
Union
NJ
(908) 688-9009
morretec.com
Mother Kombucha
Victor Donati
St. Petersburg
FL
(727) 470-0365
motherkombucha.com
Muddle and Mint
Hally Turner
Saint Paul
MN
(303) 564-1619
muddleandmint.com
MORRE-TEC Industries
Kelly Rourke
-
FL
(813) 233-6278
drinkmude.com
Odyssey Wellness
Mude Drinks
Margie Adelman
Fort Lauderdale
FL
(916) 220-3500
odysseyelixir.com
Omega Ingredients Ltd
Jim Kavanaugh
Philadelphia
PA
-
Jess Page
Chicago
IL
(305) 771-1357
drinkopenwater.com
-
-
OR
(541) 461-5000
PakTech-opi.com
Open Water PakTech
omegaingredients.com
PATH
Gulshan Kumar
Fremont
CA
-
drinkpath.com
Petal Sparkling Botanicals
Candice Crane
Highland Park
IL
(847) 344-2858
drinkpetal.com
Pixelslave
Allan Finkelman
Boca Raton
FL
(305) 393-0260
pixelslave.com
Mary Ekman
Rockford
MN
(651) 797-3168
pizzeyingredients.com
Luke Montgomery-Smith
Burlington
VT
(929) 246-3398
drinkplink.com
Pizzey Ingredients Plink!
95
COMPANY CONTACT INFORMATION COMPANY
CONTACT NAME
Plus Brand
Agua Plus Sales
-
-
(800) 697-6700
AguaPlus.com
Gigi Lorence
Stow
OH
(800) 992-0491
psangelus.com
Pneumatic Scale Angelus Pop & Bottle
CITY
STATE
PHONE NUMBER
WEB SITE
Amelia Winslow
Walnut
CA
(310) 484-6140
popandbottle.com
PROVA
Julie Pickette
Beverly
MA
(978) 739-9055
provaus.com
PTM Food
Don Rodgers
Wall Township
NJ
(888) 736-6339
ptmfood.com
Rambler Sparkling Water Remake Remedy Drinks
Thu Nguyen
Austin
TX
(832) 231-5916
ramblersparklingwater.com
Natasha Soleil
Los Angeles
CA
(323) 804-5311
remake.app
Anne West
Hermosa Beach
CA
(310) 408-5061
remedydrinks.com
Retail Aware
Ioanna Goxhara
Chicago
IL
(866) 212-1258
retailaware.com
Revive Drinks
Sean Lovett
Petaluma
CA
(707) 536-1193
revivedrinks.com
Rhythm Hemp Beverages
Ian Monat
Walnut Creek
CA
(602) 370-6714
drinkrhythm.com
RIOT Energy
Laura Jakobsen
Marina del Rey
CA
(206) 369-3228
riot.energy
RISE Brewing Co.
Jarrett McGovern
Stamford
CT
(646) 400-0141
risebrewingco.com
Wendy Derbak
Bethlehem
PA
(301) 467-8300
roarorganic.com
Sheila Rosen
Boulder
CO
(303) 818-0255
rowdymermaid.com
Alexander Malin
New York
NY
(917) 803-0638
Drinkruuts.com
ROAR Organic Rowdy Mermaid RUUTS
David McLaughlin
Boulder
CO
(303) 619-4100
satisoda.com
Saint James Brands
Säti Soda
Roy Warren
Boca Raton
FL
(561) 632-0995
saintjamesicedtea.com
Sensient Flavors & Extracts
Sydney Byrne
Hoffman Estates
IL
(847) 645-7031
sensientflavorsandextracts.com
Larry Long
Bay City
MI
(989) 891-6513
shinewater.com skafabricating.com
ShineWater
Jake Kolakowski
Durango
CO
(970) 403-8562
Sound
Ska Fabricating
Tommy Kelly
New York
NY
-
Sovereign Flavors, Inc.
David Ames
Santa Ana
CA
(714) 437-1996
SPI West Port, Inc Splendor Water Statco-DSI Process Systems STAUBER
drinksound.com sovereignflavors.com
Brian Choi
South San Francisco
CA
(800) 223-4438
alodrink.com
Collins Speed Pugh
Summerfield
NC
(504) 583-1152
splendorwater.com
Randy Smith
Huntington Beach
CA
(714) 375-6300
statco-dsi.com
Becki Schwietz
Roseville
MN
(714) 441-3648
stauberusa.com stiebs.com
Stiebs
Brian Nova
Madera
CA
(559) 455-8606
Swoon
Jennifer Ross
New York
NY
-
Taika
Michael Eyal Sharon
San Francisco
CA
(646) 591-3682
Takeover Industries Inc.
Michael Tzanetatos
Pasadena
CA
(954) 347-8960
Nxtlvlusa.com
Derek Deubel
Waukesha
WI
(262) 484-4090
techniblend.com
Carole Widmayer
Seattle
WA
(312) 952-9100
coffeecherryco.com
Jake Kuhn
Atlanta
GA
(240) 731-3029
lemonperfect.com
The Plug Drink
Justin Kim
Los Angeles
CA
(818) 271-9171
theplugdrink.com
The Spare Food Co.
Jeremy Kaye
Dobbs Ferry
NY
(415) 858-8778
sparefood.com
Customer Service Teams
Lafayette
LA
(337) 783-3096
thewrightgroup.net
Travis Linz
Milford
OH
(513) 253-6218
tripack.net
Jeremy Vogel
Dexter
MI
(877) 280-7212
trucent.com
TechniBlend The Coffee Cherry Co. The Lemon Perfect Company
The Wright Group Tripack Trucent, Inc.
tasteswoon.com taika.co
Ultima Health Products, Inc
Loretta Reilly
-
-
(914) 907-2245
ultimareplenisher.com
US Beverage Manufacturing
Zach Mosesian
Las Vegas
NV
(702) 476-1021
usbeveragemanufacturing.com
VIDE
Ryan Laverty
New York
NY
(516) 322-0275
drinkvide.com
Vina
Megan Abbott
Los Angeles
CA
(810) 569-8289
drinkvina.com
Voss Water Waiakea Weird Beverages LLC
Scott Munz
-
-
(914) 714-4300
Vosswater.com/contact
Roxy Ng
Culver City
CA
(650) 302-7748
waiakea.com DrinkWeird.com
Ronnie Bruland
Austin
TX
(800) 409-4310
WELL Juicery Canada LTD
Jeff Tumbach
Toronto
-
(760) 797-5480
drinkwell.ca
WONDER LEMON™
Mike Stamper
Bayonne
NJ
(718) 369-4600
kayco.com
-
-
NY
-
zenwtr.com
ZenWTR Alkaline Water 96 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST 2022
PROMO PARADE
INDUSTRY PROMOTIONS & EVENTS
Pepsi Speaks for the Trees with New EVOLVE Campaign
After revamping the brand last year with a new look and identity built around the outdoors, Pepsi is moving its plant-based protein line EVOLVE further outdoors this summer with the launch of a mission driven marketing campaign built around sustainability. The centerpiece of Evolve’s “PlantBased for the Outdoors” commitment will be the planting of $100,000 worth of trees in urban areas via a partnership with reforestation non-profit One Tree Planted. The fi rst event was held in May at Highbridge Park in New York City, where American Chestnut trees
were planted in a former illegal dumping ground along the Harlem River. “In the nearly year and half since the EVOLVE relaunch, we’ve seen this consumer target expand as the plant-based category experiences immense growth, sparking sustainability-minded eating trends such as flexitarianism and climatarianism,” said Anuj Bhasin, VP of Protein and Fitness Brands at PepsiCo. The brand has also made tweaks to the packaging and formulation itself with sustainability in mind. According to Bhasin, Evolve now uses TetraPak’s sugarcane-derived Bio-Based Cap,
which claims to carry a lower carbon footprint than fossil-based caps. “We are planting trees in areas that need them, which is important because planting the right species of trees can have a positive impact in improving air quality, decreasing urban heat and fostering biodiversity,” Bhasin said. Evolve is also fielding pitches from consumers about how they are getting involved in local programs to protect the environment. Three entrants will be selected to receive $10,000 each to use toward their community initiative. For each entry, the brand will also donate $1 to One Tree Planted, up to $5,000, to support urban tree planting efforts. Entries will be judged by EVOLVE council ambassador, intersectional environmental activist, eco-communicator and author, Leah Thomas, also known as @ GreenGirlLeah. Evolve, which was included in Pepsi’s acquisition of Muscle Milk maker CytoSport in TK, markets a four-SKU line of ready-to-drink pea-based protein shakes, as well as powders and bars. According to Bhasin, the brand has outpaced category growth year-to-date at +68% YTD (compared to +12%).
Essentia’s ‘Stop for Nothing’ Campaign Doesn’t Stop Nestlé-owned alkaline water brand Essentia announced a continuation of its 2021 “Stop for Nothing” ad campaign, featuring NBA star Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields and singer-songwriter Tate McRae. According to a press release, the campaign originally launched last year and featured McRae and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Built around a message of “maintaining resilience by taking a moment to pause and hydrate,” the new edition of “Stop for Nothing” will emphasize messages like self-care and keeping your mind and body focused to achieve your goals. The campaign was created in partnership with creative agency Droga5 and features 6-, 15- and 30-second commercial spots that will air on digital and social platforms, including Hulu, YouTube and NBC Universal. “This campaign underscores the importance of taking care of yourself so you can continue chasing your dreams, and focus on the things that are important to you,” Zola Kane, head 98 BEVNET MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST 2022
of marketing at Essentia, said in the release. “Our partners personify that extraordinary combination of grit and determination we not only admire, but strive to inspire through our products and campaigns. We are both proud and humbled to be working with these superstars.”
