BevNET Magazine March/April 2022

MARCH - APRIL 2022

THE DEEP END Water Builds Around Format, Flavor & Function

2022 FUNCTIONAL BEVERAGE GUIDE POWDER POWER: MIX MARKET EVOLVES

CBD BRANDS EXPAND PLATFORM

CRAFT BEER IN REVIEW

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Contents / March – April 2022 / Volume 20 / No. 2

FUNCTIONAL BEVERAGE GUIDE • 2022

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50

58

71

COLUMNS

EVENT COVERAGE

6 First Drop Great Show Except…

36 Fancy Food Show Goes Vegas; Expo West Returns

8 Publisher’s Toast One Crazy March

42 CBA Preview

34 Gerry’s Insights Oil, Water, and Cacao

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS 12 Bevscape/NOSHscape/Brewscape KKR to Acquire Majority Stake in Refresco, Former Chobani President Joins Impossible as New CEO, Stone Brewing Invests $2.7M in Virginia Facility 26 New Products Coca-Cola Starlight, ZOA+, Spindrift & Sanzo 30 Channel Check Naked’s Ambitions 120 Promo Parade RIFFing on Carbon Neutral

44 Bottled Water Shifting Tides Create Opportunities (with Brand News) 50 Powders & Tablets Growth is Far From Fizzling (with Brand News) 58 CBD Beverages Market Shifts Amidst Wait for FDA (with Brand News) 66 Craft Beer Four Key Issues for 2022

SPECIAL SECTION 71 Functional Beverage Guide with services and suppliers

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5

THE FIRST DROP

BY JEFFREY KLINEMAN

Great Show. Except…

One thing about the past couple of years that’s been as painfully apparent for people in the events business as it has been for those in the beverage business is that when it comes to just plain getting people together – be it in a factory, a concert hall, a store or a conference room – there are several added degrees of difficulty.

That’s true for BevNET, which produces BevNET Live, NOSH Live, Brewbound Live, and other peer knowledge and networking conferences, and for New Hope Network, which puts on the Natural Product Expo West and East shows.

There’s been a lot of shared pain – because of COVID-19, we both canceled two years’ worth of gatherings, moving what had been joyous affairs onto Zoom, which, well, you can dress it up, but it’s still Zoom.

So we were almost as happy to see Expo West happen in March as we were to return to our own Live events last December. As our publisher would state, you see old friends and new. For our team, it’s a reporting bonanza, with innovation and investment mixing with brand maturation and insider-y things like people taking new jobs, entrepreneurs saddling up for another ride, and people dreaming big around product types – natural, organic, sustainable – that are growing faster than any other part of the CPG industry.

Yes, there were some situations where the outside world gave us some pause around the good vibes that the 60,000 or so attendees were celebrating: your hotel room’s TV brought constant updates on the Russian invasion of Ukraine; the pandemic isn’t over and vendors from other parts of the world, like Hong Kong, brought tales of continued lockdown. Yes, masking rules seemed to fade the second we all hit Anaheim, as vaccination, testing requirements and slowing infection rates created the illusion of group immunity.

People got down to business – the kind of in-person, rapid transaction, fill-an-order and sign-a-distributor business. And with new brands on the floor, trying to push their way from online to store shelves, and existing companies feeling the opportunity to release new products, and the overall continued success of better-for-you food and drink, there was a familiar, renewed hum in the air.

Then it happened. On the last day of a four-day event, the reports started circulating online, then on to the Expo floor.

Claims from at least two women who were brave enough to speak up, to make it clear that men were harassing, threatening, and improperly touching them; that they were being treated like any 6 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 2018

success they found might be due to their sex appeal alone; that, as with so many places and experiences, they were being targeted because they were women.

Carlotta Mast, who runs the show as SVP and Market Leader of the New Hope Network, who should have been enjoying a victory hike and a well-earned salt scrub, instead had to deal with questions from a reporter about how New Hope plans to keep women safe from this kind of classless, brainless toxic masculinity.

Here’s a better question, and I say this as the reporter whose job it was to bother Carlotta: why the heck should she, or New Hope, have to fix this?

And yes, we ALL believe the women. We’ve seen it happen too often. Don’t blame the victims. Don’t do the “whatabout” crap or make excuses about drinking. Members of my team have experienced it, too. Friends of mine. Women who otherwise have the power to make or break a company through investment or to greenlight products for retail. I’ve seen it, I’ve tried to stop it in the past, I’ve put people in cabs, I’ve been the friendly escort home, but like so many of us, I haven’t done enough.

So I’m using this column, which is my biggest soapbox, to say it: All we can do, guys, is be an ally against the sexist gaze, the grabby hands, to try to upend our stupid, ages-old entitlement. Call it what you want: call it bro culture, the patriarchal underpinnings of capitalism, or just plain infantile douchebaggery. You wouldn’t be wrong. Call it unlawful and you wouldn’t be wrong either.

It should be clear that this garbage isn’t merely the purview of the natural products business, or that there aren’t industries where this is more pervasive. Trade shows on the whole have sordid reputations and the vendors themselves have, for decades, tried to use attractive models to help hawk products. That’s changing – gradually – but the kind of behavior we’ve heard about - and seen - at Expo doesn’t have the luxury to evolve. You need to change now.

There’s a lot that’s good about the natural products industry, and there were a lot of ways that it showed beautifully upon its return to Anaheim. Yes, it would have been great if we’d worn our masks more. But it turns out that for some, the danger from a novel coronavirus wasn’t anywhere near the danger from a much older contagion: the attitudes of the men who are supposed to be their co-workers. So, folks, we have to improve. We have to police each other, we have to police ourselves, we have to recognize that on the floor and off it, hawking a Paleo diet doesn’t give you an excuse to act like a Neanderthal.

Photo by Samara Doole on Unsplash

PUBLISHER’S TOAST

BY BARRY NATHANSON

In Like A Lion

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www.bevnet.com/magazine

Sometimes it all comes in a rush, like it did for me in the fi rst two weeks in March. It started with my wife -- still holding our granddaughter in her arms!

-- slipping and falling at the Museum of Natural History. My wife suffered a broken wrist; my granddaughter was fi ne, but as anyone would be, I was shaken.

Shakier still, three days later I apprehensively headed out to Anaheim, returning to Natural Products Expo West for the fi rst time since 2019. I didn’t know what to expect, but I was for sure excited to go and to reunite with so many friends. I hadn’t anticipated how overwhelming it would be -- I didn’t expect the show would be returning at full throttle, but there it was, back in all its glory. I couldn’t believe how many people were there. On Wednesday, with only the North Hall open, the aisles were packed like I’ve never seen, and the energy level was at warp speed. I guess the pent- up emotions of being there again drove people to a frenzied pace.

The speed at which we all seemed to return to previous years – there were few masks around – made for an uncomfortable environment. That being said, as a hub for commerce, Expo West didn’t disappoint.

There was so much innovation from both existing brands and newcomers alike, it made my head spin. Knowing my words won’t match my thoughts, I’ll nevertheless give some observations that left an impression on me: Soda is back, but it’s being shaken up by a new generation of products. I was so impressed with all the natural and organic offerings, and the tastes and health benefits brought a category that was the mainstay of my beverage youth back to into consideration as a part of my own choice of drink.

The aisles were also fecund with a new set of “plant-based” products. But the taste of plant-based protein has fi nally caught up to the efficacy and benefits of these diet altering brands. As I’ve written so often, unless the product can capture my palate, I don’t care how good it is for you. Having tasted my way 8 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

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

SALES

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

Aaron Willette DESIGN MANAGER Nathan Brescia PHOTOGRAPHER

through the jungle, I believe that plantbased drinks are here to stay.

Probiotic infused products – see those sodas above – have also taken the spotlight. After an initial thrust a few years back, they receded -- but now, they are in full bloom. Also, who would have thought that mushrooms would factor into the product mix?

The water category rolls on unabated. The category, with its sparkling, flavored, and functional varieties, is still at root the basic stuff of life, and its brands combine all the attributes of health, lifestyle, formulation and exciting packaging.

The best keeps getting better.

Having been fortified by the encouraging return of natural beverage innovation, I returned home less shaky – but got sick nevertheless. I came home with a bad cold, andI had to sweat out a rapid and PCR test.

Luckily, both proved negative.

Then, there was a positive: upon my return home, my wife had successful wrist surgery. So the second half of March should be quieter, albeit sneezy and sore. Let’s hope we all get a rest.

BEVNET.COM, INC.

John F. (Jack) Craven CHAIRMAN John Craven CEO & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR jcraven@bevnet.com

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BEVSCAPE

THE LATEST BEVERAGE BRAND NEWS

Sanzo Lands $10M Investment from CircleUp; Disney-Pixar LTO Arrives in March For San Francisco-based CircleUp, the investment marks its fi rst within the sparkling water space. The company uses a proprietary AI-driven platform, dubbed Helio, to identify funding targets within the healthy CPG market; its past investments include nutpods, Super Coffee, Koia, Liquid I.V. and Ohza, among others. Sanzo previously closed a $1.3 million funding round in August 2020.

By focusing on unique flavors — Lychee, Calamansi, Mango and, added in February, Yuzu Ginger — while also delivering the zero-calorie, better-foryou credentials consumers expect from the sparkling water category, Sanzo has gained placement at over 2,000 locations nationwide. Despite thin margins and a threadbare team, founder and CEO Sandro Roco said the company has been able to drive growth efficiently through grit and hustle, emphasizing on-the-ground work with DSD partners — including LA Distribution (SoCal), Rainforest (New York City) and Good Stuff (NorCal) — to help cover gaps in inventory and staffi ng. That’s been supplemented by efforts to drive velocities online via D2C and digital retailers like Amazon, Weee! and Thrive Market. In direct-toconsumer, repeat purchase rates are over 30%, according to the company.

Backed by CircleUp’s strong background in analytics, Sanzo is set to con-

12 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

tinue its current approach of using data to guide targeted expansion into new markets and channels, while also turning up the pace on innovation. That means partnering with DSD houses in regions with large Asian-American communities, while simultaneously driving the product through select retailers including Whole Foods’ Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions to reach sparkling water consumers seeking differentiated premium products.

The brand enjoyed a big boost in awareness when it landed a deal with Marvel Studios to feature characters from the fi lm Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings on a set of limited edition cans in September 2021. The movie was one of the biggest box office hits of last year and a cultural touchstone for many in the Asian American community, but the brand’s performance in Whole Foods suggests Roco’s prediction of a wider audience is coming to fruition.

“Our velocities at Whole Foods are comparable to other really hot CSDs in the prebiotic space, in the probiotic space and the like,” he said. “The folks picking this up are not just Asian Americans — were actually crossing over or we call it bridging cultures.”

That focus on bridging cultures has deepened Sanzo’s connections within the entertainment industry: Shang Chi star Simu Liu joined the brand as an inves-

tor, and it also partnered with Disney to promote the release of the animated fi lm Raya and the Last Dragon in March 2021. Next up is a LTO Lychee can tied to Disney and Pixar’s Turning Red, the directorial debut for Chinese-Canadian animator Domee Chi, set for release on streaming service Disney+ in March.

Unlike with Shang Chi, this release will be available both in D2C and in some select retail partners. New investor Gold House Partners, an AAPI advocacy group with deep ties to artists and athletes, also provides a path towards further collaboration and cross-promotion.

“Our ability to partner with these creatives I think helps educate maybe the buyers, retailers, distribution partners that this is what’s happening in American culture and hopefully, as a beverage, we’re able to operate as that bridge,” Roco said.

As Sanzo has grown, Roco has embraced the opportunity to become a role model for young AAPI entrepreneurs and an example of how business and culture can be authentically and harmoniously integrated. Having seeded the product in QSR and food service accounts across New York City, Roco said that sense of responsibility heightened after he watched many of those urban businesses suffer in the wake of COVID-19. Meanwhile, the opportunity to collaborate with Disney on projects that highlight positive role models for the AAPI community — as well as offering opportunities for Asian-American talent in front of and behind the camera — is indicative of a broader interest that the company is hoping to tap into.

“Why I’m kind of vocal about this is that I think in the beginning, we kind of faced that cold start problem where, whether it’s investors, consumers, or buyers, I think people were still not really sure about it,” he said. “I think our goal is kind of showing our community and also the broader American populace that this is kind of for real. It’s here to stay, and it is worth investing in — not just dollars and cents but also time and attention.”

KKR to Acquire Majority Stake in Refresco New York-based investment firm KKR announced in February it has entered an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Refresco Group B.V., one of the largest independent beverage contract manufacturers worldwide. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

According to the companies, the majority stake will be acquired from Refresco’s existing stakeholders, French investment fi rm PAI Partners and Canadian group British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI), but they will retain “significant” minority positions in the company.

The deal values the bottler at around $7.9 billion (or 7 billion euros), according to Bloomberg, and “marks a rare example” of KKR using its global infrastructure fund to invest in a consumer company. The report noted that Swiss investment firm Jacobs Holding AG had been considered a frontrunner to acquire the majority stake in Refresco, but was ultimately outbid by KKR in a “hotly-contested auction that ended early Tuesday.”

“Refresco has established itself as an industry leader supporting the global beverage industry with a blue-chip global customer base, an experienced and highly regarded management team, and an impressive network of assets that provides compelling value to customers,” said KKR partner James Cunningham in a press release. “The Company also has a strong commitment to sustainability, which is an important differentiator for its customers. We look forward to leveraging our operational expertise from across the KKR platform to support the Company’s continued growth and further advance the sustainability of its value chain.”

Founded in 1999, Netherlands-based Refresco provides bottling and beverage solutions for retailers and brands across North America and Europe. The company currently operates over 70 manufacturing sites across the two continents, claims over 10,000 employees and also offers material planning, procurement, warehousing, fulfillment and distribution services.

The acquisition comes as Refresco seeks to expand its global footprint and services,

according to the release, with plans to focus on innovation and M&A opportunities.

“We are very pleased to welcome KKR, one of the world’s most prominent investment firms, as our new majority owner,” said Refresco CEO Hans Roelofs in the release. “To support further growth, we have explored the various alternatives available to us and believe that the investment by KKR is an incredibly positive development for the Company.”

“Like our existing shareholders, KKR is supportive of our strategy and will bring operational expertise, access to capital and a well-established network to support us in our growth, innovation and M&A strategy. Our focus of growing alongside our customers, combined with expanding into new categories and geographies, remains unchanged. I look forward to this new chapter, and for all our employees and customers to capitalize on the opportunities ahead of us.”

PAI Partners and BCI initially acquired Refresco through a consortium in 2017, which valued the bottler at about 3.3 billion euros. At the time, the firms said they supported Refresco’s buy-and-build strategy to grow the company. Most recently, Refresco purchased three U.S. production facilities from The Coca-Cola Company in Texas, Michigan and Missouri.

“We are proud to have been instrumental in Refresco’s growth since we initiated our investment with BCI in 2018,” said PAI managing partner Frédéric Stévenin in a statement. “We are even more excited about the prospect of continuing to stay a part of Refresco’s strong growth trajectory alongside KKR. We are convinced of Refresco’s unique value-add capabilities, its growth initiatives and a proven M&A track record, and we look forward to the next phase of this journey.”

13

BEVSCAPE Infinite Drinks and Beyond: Cana Develops ‘Beverage Printer’ It’s been a longstanding trope of science fiction media that future technology will allow people to produce any food or drink they want on demand.

Although it might be a while before we dine Star Trek style, California-based startup Cana Technology believes an era when we can “print” any beverage we want, anytime, at home, is just about here.

Fueled by $30 million in capital funding from San Francisco holding company The Production Board, Cana has created a home appliance it is touting as “the world’s first molecular beverage printer.” The device is designed to produce a near-infinite number of beverages which are instantly mixed with water through the use of replaceable “printer cartridges” containing hundreds of unique flavor compounds.

The machine, which will unveil its final design in the coming weeks, is built to fit comfortably in any home kitchen and uses a touchscreen to allow consumers to customize their beverage of choice.

Rather than concentrates or single-use pods, Cana uses molecular technology to identify and mix over 500 compounds that can, the company claims, create or approximate nearly any beverage in the world.

Since about 95% of any beverage is water, Mahar said, Cana has focused on mapping out the remaining 5% of every category of drink and developing its machine to produce selections on command.

This also extends to drinks with extensive manufacturing processes or specific standards of identity, Mahar said. For example, while kombucha by definition must be fermented, Cana can nevertheless mimic its taste and texture to create a drink that may not technically be booch, but is, in theory, nearly indistinguishable.

This method also allows Cana’s machines to inject functional ingredients to beverages as well, primarily caffeine and alcohol. The introduction of alcoholic options, however, means the appliances will only be available for purchase to 14 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

consumers 21 or older in the U.S. The brand’s primary fi nancier is The Production Board, an investment fi rm and holding company founded in 2016 that is focused on the food, agriculture and biomanufacturing industries.

Beyond Cana, the company is also an investor in meal replacement brand Soylent. Production Board founder and CEO Dave Friedberg also serves as the executive chairman of Cana.

With the upcoming launch, Mahar said Cana is seeking to double its 35 person team this year, with open positions across hardware and software engineers, design, operations and marketing.

Cana is the first beverage project for Mahar, who joined the company as CEO in February 2021. He most recently spent nearly seven years with Vivint Smart Home, where he held several positions including VP of product management and general manager for cameras and video.

Other team members at Cana, according to LinkedIn, include head of brand marketing Lindsey Fahey, who previously worked at Nike and Rothy’s, and former ZX Ventures global manager Daniel Dengrove as head of business development and strategy. Beyond ZX Ventures, Dengrove brings additional food and beverage industry experience to the company as the founder and former president of frozen dessert brand Brewla. Former Ripple Foods VP of R&D Lance Kizer serves as Chief Science Officer.

Friedberg said he was inspired to create Cana in 2018 after reading a research article about scientists breaking down and creating a version of red wine from its molecular compounds that tasted virtually identical to the real thing. But beyond the novelty and convenience of developing an at-home beverage printer, Friedberg also highlighted the potential for the product to reduce waste and bypass traditional supply chains – a key proposition at a moment where supply disruptions have led to global product shortages.

As well, Cana claims a relatively small carbon footprint to develop the machines compared to the extensive waste created by traditional CPG companies.

Convenience is also a big part of the brand’s strategy, Mahar said. Each Cana machine will be internet connected and, when the printer cartridge is low, the company will automatically ship a refill cartridge to the owner’s address.

Still, there’s a long way to go between introducing a great concept and having the world buy into it: just ask the backers of recent failed gadget brands like Juicero and Bartesian, both of which overestimated both their utility and their technological advantages.

For those wondering about Cana, there’s still some uncertainty, as well: Final pricing, product imagery and a more detailed look at the science behind the machine are yet to be revealed.

The machines will eventually be sold online and in retail, but Mahar declined to offer specifics of Cana’s rollout strategy prior to the full announcement. However, the focus at launch will be on the home user, with the food service and office channels set aside as future projects.

“I think we’re providing a new type of tool, a new way of creating beverages for the world,” Mahar said. “And I think you’ll see that come to life in a very different way than anything that’s been seen before.”

BEVSCAPE

For more stories, check out Bevnet.com

L.A. Libations Announces ‘L.A. Vibrations’ Marketing Unit With the opening of its new CPG marketing services division, L.A. Vibrations, SoCal-based beverage incubator L.A. Libations has taken another step towards becoming a complete one-stop shop for startup brand building.

Under the leadership of LAL CMO Bonnie Shah, L.A. Vibrations offers full marketing and branding services for CPG companies, including product design, social media management, content strategy, web development, production and retail and trade marketing. The unit also provides support with digital, ecommerce and Amazon sales, helping companies to register their brands, manage P&L, SEO, and paid social ads, Shah said.

“I think what we’re really able to be nimble with is being an emerging brand marketing arm,” Shah said. “A lot of emerging brands don’t necessarily have the budgets to be able to afford a CMO or be able to work across a lot of different marketing functions, like in the digital space or to build Amazon, and also work at experiential events to support their markets.”

Unlike the main LAL business, which is deal and partnership based with the company taking equity in many of its core brands, L.A. Vibrations operates on a work-for-hire basis, CEO Danny Stepper said. However, he noted that brands should still fit LAL’s better-for-you ethos – “We’ve got to believe in it,” he said.

The announcement marks another step forward for LAL, which was founded in 2009 with a focus on introducing betterfor-you beverages into mainstream retail channels. In 2019, the company launched Relentless Trade Solutions, its fi rst for-hire division providing merchandising in California retail, and later that year Molson Coors Beverage Company acquired a minority stake in LAL with the aim of using the incubator to create new non-alc beverage brands and having the group work with its existing companies. Most recently, in December 2020, the company launched its SoCal Incubation Program (SIP), which works with startups selected through an application process.

L.A. Vibrations has been quietly running over the past year with 22 partner brands, – including companies like Shaka Tea, Hawaii Volcanic, Mingle Mocktails and Swedish energy shots 16 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

brand Carly’s Naturals – but LAL is now expanding the service publicly as the company looks for opportunities to scale operations. The division has allowed LAL to move beyond beverage, working with snack brands like Blue Nest Beef. Stepper said that although the core LAL business will always remain focused on beverage, the new unit – as well as Relentless – have the potential to expand into the broader world of CPG beyond food and beverage.

“At our core, we are about emerging beverage brands, we’re never going to be The Coca-Cola Company in scale, because that’s not who we are and that’s not strategically what we are trying to be,” Stepper said. “Having said that, there are pieces of our business that are completely scalable, like L.A. Vibrations, like Relentless. There’s literally no limit to how big those businesses can get.”

L.A. Vibrations currently has 12 full time team members working on the unit, while the entire company is now up to 80 employees, Stepper said. The expansion comes as LAL is continuing to focus on its relationship with Molson Coors, both in creating new lines like Huzzah!, MadVine and barley milk brand Golden Wing, as well as working to build Molson’s partner brands like plant-based energy drink ZOA and launch new meal replacement products such as Don’t Quit! and orro.

Stepper noted that while the brands enrolled in L.A. Vibrations and Relentless remain separate from the company’s in-house and partnered portfolio, the units have synergy across the entire business. In addition to helping develop the company’s own product launches, LAL is able to form relationships with more brands who may or may not go on to work with the company in a closer fashion down the line.

“As far as L.A. Vibrations and Relentless, it’s a great way for L.A. Libations to get to know brands,” CEO Danny Stepper told BevNET. “But now with this new addition, we have, soup to nuts, every capability that an emerging beverage would need.

This was a gap for us before, we had everything but this marketing capability that Bonnie’s built.”

NOSHSCAPE

THE LATEST FOOD BRAND NEWS

Good Culture Closes $64M Round, Targets $100M in Sales

LesserEvil Acquires R.E.D.D. Bar

Dairy brand Good Culture has taken another step towards its goal of becoming a cultured foods platform, announcing in February the closing of a $64 million funding round that will support retail and product expansion this year.

The raise was led by Manna Tree, with participation from SEMCAP Food & Nutrition and actor Kristen Bell, who Merrill said invested at the same valuation as Manna Tree and SEMCAP. Some of the capital will be used to provide liquidity to early investors including CAVU Venture Partners and General Mills’ investment arm 301 Inc, which both previously took part in the company’s $2.1 million round in 2016 and $8 million round in 2019.

“We’re definitely at an inflection point. And we think this investment is necessary to support that rapid growth and continued momentum,” said CEO and founder Jesse Merrill. “[Manna Tree has] overlapping values and we are both committed to creating real food system change. We’re really looking to [them] to be thought partners who will help us shape and sharpen our vision across all parts of the business.”

As a result of the deal, SEMCAP managing partner John Haugen will regain the board seat he previously held while at 301 Inc. The brand declined to comment on how much it has raised in total to-date.

Good Culture’s portfolio of organic cottage cheese, low sugar fruit topped cottage cheese, sour cream, lactose-free sour cream and cottage cheese is sold in over 10,000 doors. The company has a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 79% for the past five years with $70 million in retail sales for the last 52 weeks, Merrill said, and a plan to achieve $100 million in sales for fiscal year 2022.

The capital will go towards marketing efforts, focusing on building “top of the funnel awareness,” in addition to performance marketing in-store. Though Good Culture initially launched in the natural channel, it has since expanded into conventional grocery, with MULO (where Merrill says it’s the top selling natural cottage cheese brand) now accounting for 64% of sales.

Though shoppers, particularly in conventional retailers, may see cottage cheese as a “diet food,” he said, these marketing efforts can help change that narrative to see it as a “nutrient dense, superfood…with healing properties.”

“This will allow us to just more effectively tell our story in a larger way to a larger audience,” Merrill said. “If we’re serious about getting to the top of the mountain and getting to the next level of growth, we want to ensure that we have the war chest to enable that growth.”

Direct-to-consumer sales, however, do not appear to be part of those plans. After testing the channel last year, Merrill said the brand changed course due to the high cost of shipping a relatively heavy, perishable product. Instead it will focus on growing its sales via shopping platforms such as Instacart, Amazon Fresh and Shipt.

The funding will also allow Good Culture to launch new products, Merrill said, ultimately creating a platform of cultured food products that support microbiome diversity.

In the near term, the focus is squarely on the dairy case, with its most recent expansion lactose-free sour cream and cottage cheese. Yet Merrill said he could see other refrigerated fermented foods outside of the dairy set offering the brand room for expansion. Still, demand for the line has already stretched the company’s existing supply chain, he added, so investment will first go towards building more capacity with existing co-manufacturers.

Good Culture is a Certified B-Corp with a partnership with 1% for the Planet, and is also working with dairy co-op Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) to transition more conventional farms over to ones that embrace regenerative agriculture practices. While the capital won’t directly go to those efforts, Merrill said, as Good Culture scales it will be able to encourage more farmers to make the swap and “accelerate that mission.”

“We’re effectively changing the food system and creating a new milk supply to allow us to have access to pasture raised milk for all of our products. As we’ve grown, it’s proven to be quite challenging,” he said. “We’re creating change every day.”

In March, organic snack brand LesserEvil announced it will spearhead a coalition of brands trying to clean up the types of oil used in packaged food products. The company also announced its first acquisition, protein bar brand R.E.D.D. BarTerms of the deal were not disclosed.

LesserEvil CEO and president Charles Coristine said the acquisition will accelerate his company’s long-held plans to break into the bar category.

“We already make a variety of snacks, including cookies, so bars felt like a nice transition,” Coristine said.

“Like LesserEvil, R.E.D.D. prioritizes quality ingredients in its bars, which aligns with LesserEvil’s mission and ethos to create clean, healthy snacks that are as tasty as they are better for you.”

Founded by former male model Alden Blease in 2010, R.E.D.D. markets a five-SKU line of plant-protein based bars. Two years ago the company launched R.E.D.D. Labs, a D2C platform designed to help the company test new innovations, including a line of plant-based protein powders.

According to SEC filings, the Portland, Maine-based brand has raised roughly $4.5 million since its inception.

LesserEvil is manufactured in Connecticut and will take over R.E.D.D.‘s production in May, Coristine told NOSH. The company plans to evolve the line’s taste, ingredient deck and texture, and highlight LesserEvil’s signature branding icons, such as its gurus, on the packaging. The R.E.D.D. team will also be integrated into the LesserEvil family, he said.

“R.E.D.D. brings the know-how of creating a great bar and strong relationships in the category and at LesserEvil, we have the knowledge of production and operations,” Coristine said. “The acquisition allows us to combine resources from both sides as we expand our factory and capabilities, and grow faster together.”

18 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

NOSHSCAPE

For more stories, check out nosh.com

4505 Sells to Benestar Brands, CEO Says Company Will Move Beyond Meat Snacks Meat snack maker 4505 was acquired by holding company Benestar Brands, a deal that comes as the brand looks to expand beyond its flagship pork rinds under a new leadership team. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Launched at Bay Area farmer’s markets in 2009 by founder and chef Ryan Farr, 4505 is part of a group of brands that have emerged over the past decade offering a premium, antibiotic and hormone-free pork rind.

The brand has since grown in tandem with consumers’ interest in the ketogenic diet and in 2016 the product entered Whole Foods Market as part of the grocer’s first crunchy meat snack set.

4505’s full product line now also includes crunchy pork cracklins; a pork rind, cracklin and cheese crisp snack mix called Cheese-Charrones; and Pork Crumbles, a bread crumb alternative made from a blend of crushed cracklins and pork rinds. The company also introduced a line of sausage snacks under the Butcher’s Snacks brand last year.

The company changed leadership in 2021, first with president Anish Sheth leaving the company and then CEO Farr stepping down to focus on his restaurants. Farr remains the company’s chairman of the board and assists with innovation.

He was succeeded by Duke’s Freshly Craft Smoked Meats and BIGS founder Erik Havlik, while another former Duke’s and BIGS employee, Greg O’Neal, was appointed CMO. Over its lifespan, Encore Consumer Capital and CircleUp both backed the brand, with Benestar Brands also a “small minority” shareholder in the company.

Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, 4505 grew 35% in YOY dollar growth in 2021, according to O’Neal, and now has the fourth highest dollar sales in the total pork rind category. The brand “is the number one premium brand in the category,” he added, with higher sales than General Mill’s Epic Provisions.

Created and backed by Highland Capital Partners, Benestar Brands is a holding company for a range of snack products, primarily in the pork rind and corn tortilla chips subcategories, including Pretzilla, Mac’s, Cazo de Oro, Turkey Creek Snacks, PÖRQ and Chicas Chips.

Benestar acquired Evans Food Group from Wind Point Partners in 2019, adding one of the leading manufacturers of pork rinds to its roster, along with most of the brands it now sells. The Evans Group is 4505’s pork rind co-packer and has five facilities throughout the U.S. and Mexico.

Though most of Benestar’s brands are more conventional products, it’s familiar with the premium pork rind space, hav20 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

ing developed and launched PÖRQ with the help of innovation group DuPuis.

Havlick said he will continue as CEO of 4505, telling NOSH that when he joined the company last September it was not actively seeking a buyer nor was it “looking to test the waters in the near future.” The 4505 board brought on Havlick and O’Neal for their expertise in channel strategy, brand development and innovation, he said, and ultimately felt Benestar would expedite these goals.

Benestar will also add operational and supply chain efficiencies, Havlick noted, giving the brand a closer relationship with its co-packer and allowing it to share delivery space with trucks that distribute and deliver Benestar’s other snack brands. 4505 will bring a deeper understanding of the natural channel to the partnership, while Benestar has a stronger relationship with retail buyers in conventional grocers and c-stores.

First up will be expanding distribution across all channels, including convenience, Havlick said. Though some premium meat snacks have struggled with a higher price point compared to conventional competitors, he said early indicators are that the brand is performing “exceptionally well” in conventional and mass retailers Though 4505’s heritage is in the meat snacks space, Havlick ultimately sees a future for the brand beyond pork rinds and meat sticks, with a goal to “speak to a wider salty snacking audience” via more high-protein, low-carb snacks.

“As we look at a broader portfolio of innovation,” O’Neal added, “We are looking at both meat and non-meat based innovation that aligns with our mission… to bring chef inspired snacks to folks.”

BREWSCAPE

THE LATEST CRAFT BEER BRAND NEWS

42 North, 2085 Brewery Launch Open-Source Collaboration Beer to Support Ukraine

JuneShine Launches RTD Canned Cocktails In Next Step Toward Becoming Lifestyle Brand

East Aurora, New York’s 42 North Brewing Company and Ukraine’s 2085 Brewery have launched an open-source collaboration beer program called Resolve to support the humanitarian effort in Ukraine, according to 42 North founder John Cimperman.

“As a brewery, we have deep connections to Ukraine and feel pretty helpless in what we can do to help,” he said of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24, leading millions of Ukranians to flee the country. “If we can raise awareness and funds, it’s the least we can do.”

One of 42 North’s founding brewers, Naz Drebot, is Ukrainian.

Cimperman credited Drebot with helping build 42 North during its first three years before he returned to Ukraine and opened 2085 Brewery in Kyiv.

“Not that we need any more reason to support Ukraine, but when one of your own is literally in the middle of it, it really brings it close to home,” he said.

Cimperman said the project is being called Resolve due to the word often being used to describe the Ukrainian people. Resolve follows other open-source collaboration fundraisers such as Resilience, Black is Beautiful, and Brave Noise.

Resolve will be a kellerbier (4.8% ABV) and 42 North will provide the recipe and artwork for breweries who want to join the effort. Proceeds from the sale of the beer will go to Global Empowerment Mission, a not-for-profit that is “providing emergency aid in Ukraine to the fighters and families that have stayed behind, as well as humanitarian aid to the women and children that are trying to cross the border into Poland,” according to the Resolve website.

Other efforts have popped up to support the humanitarian effort in Ukraine. Oregon’s Rogue Ales & Spirits created “F*#k Putin,” a 6.5% ABV Northwest IPA, with 100% of the proceeds going to Global Giving’s Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund to help nonprofits provide access to education, food, medical services and more in Ukraine..

Pravda Brewery, the Lviv-based craft brewery that gained global attention for shifting its beer production to making molotov cocktails, announced its own collaboration beer and fundraising effort, offering the recipes for several of its beers to brewers from around the world to brew with proceeds going to its relief funds.

“As peaceful craft brewers, we want to return to normal life ASAP and enjoy brewing and drinking,” the brewery wrote.

“But fi rst, we must kick the cockroaches out of our land.”

Meanwhile, Drinkers for Ukraine has launched a threepronged effort, including a solidarity beer, online auctions, and fundraising livestream.

Ready-to-drink canned cocktails from JuneShine officially launched in Southern California on March 1. The release of the spirits-based RTDs marks the first non-hard kombucha product launch from the San Diego-headquartered company.

Co-founder and CMO Forrest Dein told Brewbound that the launch of the canned cocktails was the next step in his and fellow founder and CEO Greg Serrao’s overall ambition to make JuneShine a branded house built around “better-for-you, betterfor-planet alcohol” offerings.

“The first three years were really building that foundation and the platform of the JuneShine brand to be able to launch new products, but we’re still hyper focused on growing the hard kombucha category as well,” Dein said. “That will be 90% of our business this year.”

The goal for 2022 is for the other 10% to come from canned cocktails, Serrao said. It’s all part of JuneShine’s strategy of competing in bev-alc’s fastest-growing segments and becoming a leader within the fourth category of alcoholic beverages.

According to Dein, JuneShine’s entry into canned cocktails is not unlike its genesis in 2017. He and Serrao perused the grocery aisles looking for alcoholic beverages built on “transparency” and organic ingredients.

“We felt like hard kombucha was super disruptive,” Dein said of JuneShine’s 2018 launch. JuneShine was part of a movement that led to more “organic, transparent products now in seltzer, beer, wine, hard kombucha,” Dein said.

However, Dein said the high-ABV, canned-cocktail space still lacks “transparency” with “no nutrition facts [panels]” and offerings “still loaded with sugar.”

“We felt like there was a gap in the high-ABV, canned-cocktail market for the JuneShine brand that we could solve,” he said.

JuneShine’s 8-10% ABV cocktails do not feature artificial ingredients or added sugar. The first wave of JuneShine canned cocktails will feature three flavors — Classic Tequila Margarita, Tropical Rum Mai Tai, and Passion Fruit Vodka Soda — each sold in 4-packs at $12.99. The company is also offering a variety 12pack for club stores.

Additional flavors will roll out in April: Tequila Ranch Water and Vodka Mule. Look for special releases and collaborations with different distilleries and JuneShine ambassadors in the future.

“We’re really proud of the fact that we made a canned cocktail within the JuneShine ethos,” Serrao said. “What I mean by that is that it is high ABV, two shots per can. But there’s zero grams of added sugar, all the sugar that we have is from fruit juice and spices. So it’s all natural ingredients.”

Scout Distribution and Stone Distributing will take the product to market in Southern California. Additional states will follow in May. In the meantime, JuneShine will offer e-commerce sales to 47 states (excluding Alaska, Mississippi, and Utah).

22 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

BREWSCAPE Stone Brewing Invests $2.7M in Virginia Facility Escondido, California-based Stone Brewing has expanded its East Coast operations, increasing annual capacity at its Richmond, Virginia, facility from 150,000 barrels to 200,000 barrels.

The company has invested $2.7 million in the project, installing four new 1,000 barrel tanks that will help increase production of Stone beer and hard seltzer for distribution east of the Rockies and internationally. A 10-barrel pilot system is also being installed to produce Richmond-exclusive offerings starting in May. Stone first announced the planned expansion in August 2021. At the time, chief operating officer Sean Monahan told Richmond Times-Dispatch the facility had room for 40 more tanks for future expansion.

Stone opened the Richmond distribution center and brewery in 2016, two years after announcing the $74 million project. This year, the brewery added a “Live Buena” food trailer to the location, to serve San Diego-inspired food alongside Stone Buenaveza Salt & Lime lager and Buenavida Hard Seltzer.

Speaking to Brewbound, Stone CEO Maria Stipp said the company is refocusing on its core beers in 2022, led by its Buena brand family. Stone launched the Buena family nationally with Stone Buenaveza Salt & Lime Lager in August 2020. Since then, the Mexicanstyle lager has grown to be Stone’s third-largest brand in overall sales, and No. 1 draft brand, as of November. Monahan said the growth of Buenaveza Salt & Lime lager “is a major contributor” to the capacity investment.

In April 2021, the brewery added Buenavida Hard Seltzer in four flavors — Mango, Black Cherry, Mandarin, and Watermelon Lime — packaged in glass bottles and initially distributed only in Southern California. Stone rolled out Buenavida nationwide in January.

Juice Force Hazy Imperial IPA on Pace to be Top 4 Voodoo Ranger Brand in 2022 New Belgium Brewing Company is making its biggest investment yet behind a Voodoo Ranger brand with the launch of Juice Force, a year-round hazy imperial IPA. Dave Knospe, Voodoo Ranger brand manager, told Brewbound that New Belgium is investing more than $1 million in media for Juice Force (9.5% ABV), which is rolling out now.

“We eclipsed 15,000 barrels before we even ran $1 media on this brand, which is crazy,” he said. “It seems like this is going to be a really, really big launch for us.”

New Belgium’s initial projection for Juice Force was 50,000 barrels in Year One, which has since been revised to around 70,000 barrels. That would make it the biggest Voodoo Ranger launch ever, Knospe said.

If Juice Force reaches the 70,000-barrel threshold, it would rank within the top four brands in the Voodoo Ranger portfolio, trailing Voodoo Ranger Imperial, Juicy Haze, and IPA. Juice Force is off to a strong start.

Within its first four weeks on the market, Juice Force 19.2 oz. cans are a top-five selling craft beer single-serve package in the convenience store channel, and the second fastest turning single-serve, behind Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA, according 24 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

to NielsenIQ total U.S. convenience store data for the four weeks ending February 26, shared by New Belgium.

The early success is likely due to the brand playing at the confluence of two of the fastest growing style subsegments — hazy IPA and imperial IPA. In 2021, hazy IPA and imperial/double/ triple IPAs were the two fastest-growing style subsegments, increasing off-premise dollar sales 10.4% and 9.7%, respectively, according to NielsenIQ total U.S.xAOC + liquor plus convenience data shared by Bump Williams Consulting. Both hazy and imperial increased their dollar share of craft by a little more than 1% last year. Helping drive that growth is Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA, which was the second best-selling craft brand in 2021 and the top-selling IPA in the beer category. Through the first two months of 2022, Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA increased its share of the beer category by more than 1%, to 3.48% share, and has grown its off-premise dollar sales more than $5.3 million compared to the same period in 2021.

Knospe said while there are parallels to be drawn between Voodoo Ranger Imperial and Juice Force, the new release brings a more fruit-forward composition.

The beer is brewed with Mexican orange,

mango and passionfruit, and Chinook, Mosaic, Pahto, Galaxy, Lotus, Sabro and Strata hops.

Knospe admitted releasing a hazy imperial IPA wasn’t a “novel idea” from a brewer known for IPAs, however, when the Voodoo Ranger team looked at the market, they didn’t see a widely available option.

“The hazy imperials that everyone knows and loves are generally made by much smaller brewers but aren’t available at some of the channels where Voodoo Ranger is distributed,” Knospe said. “So we were talking about it and, ‘Oh, hazy imperial. Of course everyone does one of those. Wait, does everyone do one of those? Does a competitor on a national scale make a really good successful hazy imperial?’ And the answer is really no, even if we are drinking them just as consumers at our favorite local breweries.”

In addition to 19.2 oz. single-serve cans, Juice Force is available in 6-packs nationwide. Those packs are being line priced with Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA 6-packs, Knospe said.

For more stories, check out Brewbound.com

Boston Beer and PepsiCo Launch Hard MTN Dew in Florida, Iowa and Tennessee Hard MTN Dew – the partnership project between Boston Beer Company and PepsiCo Beverages – launched in late February in three states: Florida, Iowa and Tennessee.

The product will expand into 13 more states by May, Boston Beer president and CEO Dave Burwick said during the company’s Q4 earnings call.

The 5% -ABV, 100-calorie f lavored malt beverage (FMB) is available in four f lavors – original MTN Dew, Baja Blast, Black Cherry and Watermelon – in 24 oz. single-serve cans and 12 oz. variety 12-packs. Unlike the original soda inspiration, Hard MTN Dew has no caffeine and zero added sugar.

Boston Beer and PepsiCo announced Hard MTN Dew in August. Boston Beer developed and produced the FMB and will market it, while PepsiCo has set up a new wholesale entity – Blue Cloud Distribution – to sell, deliver and merchandise it.

Boston Beer founder Jim Koch recently said PepsiCo planned to get into the alcohol industry with or without his company, but wanted to work with them due to Burwick’s

connection to PepsiCo and the MTN Dew brand.

“Dave turned it into what you know today, so they felt very comfortable doing business with us and having us do the marketing, frankly, because he’s the best marketer Mountain Dew’s ever had,” Koch said during the Beer Industry Summit.

“The core demographic for Mountain Dew now is 30 years old, 30 to 35,” he continued. “About 80% of the consumers and Mountain Dew are legal drinking age. We’ve got to remember it came of age in the ’90s, so a lot of the people who adopted it then and in the first part of the century are still drinking it because it is a very strong brand, a unique brand. There’s nothing else like it in soft drinks.”

While Hard MTN Dew will join a “relatively crowded market” of malt beverages,” PepsiCo believes the product will offer “a differentiated f lavor with a very unique brand,” Ramon Laguarta, PepsiCo CEO, said during the company’s Q3 earnings call in October.

During the company’s Q4 earnings report, Laguarta added that Pepsi would “like to participate in a consistent and structural way,” via licensing brands to beer manufacturers.

He hinted that in the future the company could leverage its Blue Cloud Distribution infrastructure, and assets “to provide capital distribution and consistent execution across the country” for alcoholic beverages from third-party brands.

25

NEW PRODUCTS

THE NEWEST BEVERAGE OPTIONS

CSDs The Coca-Cola Company has introduced Coca-Cola Starlight as the first limitededition release from its new global innovation platform, Coca-Cola Creations. The outerspace inspired soda features a “reddish hue” and flavor notes intended to be “reminiscent of stargazing around a campfire.” The beverage is currently available in original and Zero Sugar varieties with both canned and bottled packaging options. CocaCola Starlight is available for purchase in 20-ounce single bottles and 10-packs of 7.5 ounce mini cans. For more information, call (800) 438-2653.

ENERGY Energy drink brand ZOA has introduced its first line extension, pre-workout supplement ZOA+. The three-SKU, zero sugar line features “a powerful combination of nitric oxide support, vitamins, antioxidants, electrolytes, and nutrients that work to promote exercise performance and focus,” as well as delivering hydration and immunity benefits. The drinks offer 200mg of natural caffeine designed to extend energy release during high-intensity exercise and are available in three varieties: Mandarin Orange Grapefruit, Pineapple Passion Fruit and Blackberry Acai. ZOA+ is currently available for purchase through GNC and Amazon for $39.99 per 12-pack. For more information, contact yourfriends@zoaenergy.com.

Mission-based organic beverage maker Machu Picchu, which operates under the motto ‘Feel Good, Do Good,’ debuted its first-ever lineup of beverages and seltzers at Natural Products Expo West. The Elevate 120 Series (120 mg of caffeine and B vitamins) is a spin on the classic energy drink and is available in four SKUs: classic, pineapple, mango, zero-sugar pineapple blueberry and zero-sugar ginger peach.

The Refresh 40 Series, a line of low-calorie energy seltzers (40 mg caffeine), is available in two SKUs: lemon lime and blood orange.

The energy drink is available for pre-order on machupicchu.energy (MSRP $2.99) and via 26 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

GoPuff, and is set to enter Erewhon Market in April and Central Market (H-E-B) by early Spring. For more information, call (786) 610-3917.

FUNCTIONAL Jones Soda Co. has partnered with integrated life sciences company Wesana Health and legendary heavyweight champion Mike Tyson to create Jones Nootropics, a line of liquid supplements that promote focus and clarity while supporting brain health. The drinks are available in two not-so-subtle flavors: Tiger’s Blood and Tyson Punch. Both SKUs feature “fruity, crisp, and flavor-forward taste profiles.”

The supplements will be sold for $22 per 4-pack online. For more information, call (206) 624-3357.

JUICE & LEMONADE Organic juice maker Uncle Matt’s has debuted a slew of new products, including Matt50, a function-forward orange juice that contains “half the sugar and calories as regular OJ,” and is boosted with 100% DV vitamin C in addition to prebiotics and probiotics. Matt50 is now available in 52 oz. bottles for $6.49 at Whole Foods Market and Sprouts Farmers Market stores nationwide. For more information contact customerservice@unclematts.com.

Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Co., a Floridabased premium juice maker, is getting ready for summer with its launch of two new lemonades, Mango Lemonade and Guava Lemonade. Made with mango puree and lemon juice, each 16 oz. bottle of Mango Lemonade is packed with 33 mg of Vitamin C per 16 oz. bottle. The Guava Lemonade packs 66 mg of Vitamin C per 16 oz. bottle. The new SKUs give “customers the nostalgic feeling of a traditional roadside lemonade stand, infused with something out of the ordinary.” Both flavors will be offered in 16 oz. and 64 oz. sizes online and in-store. For more information, contact customer.service@oijc.com.

NEW PRODUCTS RTD COCKTAILS San Diego-based JuneShine has quietly rolled out ready-to-drink canned cocktails, marking the company’s first non-hard kombucha product launch. As part of JuneShine’s commitment to natural ingredients, the 8-10% ABV cocktails. do not feature artificial ingredients or added sugar. The first wave of canned cocktails will feature three flavors–Classic Tequila Margarita, Tropical Rum Mai Tai, and Passion Fruit Vodka Soda. The drinks are sold in 4-packs at $12.99. Additionally, the company will offer a variety 12-pack for club stores. For more information, contact orders@juneshine.co.

Loverboy has debuted the newest addition to its roster of sparkling hard teas, spritzes, and canned cocktails–the Cosmopolitan. Crafted as a better-for-you iteration of the New York staple, each can (12% ABV) contains 95 calories and is equivalent to two cocktails.

The drink contains 3.5g of sugar per serving.

Loverboy’s Cosmopolitan is available on drinkloverboy.com and retails for $49 per 8-pack. For more information contact orders@drinkloverboy.com.

SPARKLING Massachusetts-based sparkling water brand Spindrift has debuted its latest flavor, Blood Orange Tangerine. Incorporating two different orange varieties, the new SKU doubles Spindrift’s commitment to real squeezed fruit and features a “multidimensional and almost berry-like depth” that is “highlighted by the bright sweetness from real squeezed Tangerines.”

Spindrift Blood Orange Tangerine is now available for purchase online and in-store in packs of 8. For more information,call (617) 391-0356.

Sound has teamed up with health influencer Kelly Leveque to create Lemon with Thyme & White Tea, a limited edition release in its line of organic tea and botanical-infused sparkling waters. The new drink was crafted as a crisp, citrusy flavor based on lemon-lime sodas and intended to taste like “sipping on 28 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

a sunny spring morning.” The sparkling tea is now available at select retailers including Whole Foods Market and Erewhon, online at drinksound.com and on Amazon for $30 per 12-pack. For more information contact hi@ drinksound.com.

Startup sparkling water brand Sanzo added a Yuzu Ginger flavor to its line of zerocalorie, better-for-you products. The brand’s unique flavor set takes inspiration from yuzu, a citrus fruit primarily cultivated in Japan that is described as “seriously fragrant with pleasantly bitter notes.” The drink is now available on the brand’s website and in Whole Foods Market for $29.99 per 12pack. For more information contact hello@ drinksanzo.com.

SPIRITS Mexican spirits brand Kilinga has launched its Bacanora, an agave spirit native to Sonora, in the United States. According to Kilinga, Bacanora “has been enjoyed for over 300 years, but has not been shared beyond Mexico until now.” The Bacanora is infused with local terroir and aromas and only includes agave cultivated on the company’s family-run farm. The portfolio features four hand-crafted, small batch expressions: Bacanora Silvestre (MSRP $64.99), Bacanora Blanco (MSRP $54.99), Bacanora Reposado and Bacanora Añejo.

Bacanora Silvestre and Bacanora Blanco are slated to launch this spring, while the aged expressions will be launched in the near future. For more information, contact info@ kilingabacanora.com.

BEARFACE got in touch with its wild side to create its Wilderness Series, a new line of nature-inspired whiskies. The line’s first release is Matsutake Release 01, which features the rare and highly sought-after Matsutake mushroom that grows wild in British Columbia. The whisky is aged in three different styles of sherry casks and features flavor notes of nutmeg and cinnamon with an umami finish. Matsutake Release 01 (42.5% ABV) will be available for a limited time across Canada (except in Quebec) for CAD $49.95 per bottle. For more information, visit us.bearfacewhisky.com.

CHANNEL CHECK WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT

SPOTLIGHT CATEGORIES JUICE AND DRINK SMOOTHIES Looks like some order is returning to the category following the demise of Odwalla, with Naked and Bolthouse picking up the slack and Coke putting some juice behind Simply as well.

Independent brands Once Upon a Farm, Koia, and Suja are gaining, while coconut derived Harmless Harvest and Genius are also climbing the charts.

RFG JUICE AND DRINK SMOOTHIES BRAND

DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

Naked

$646,789,010

11.0%

Bolthouse Farms

$222,361,608

24.0%

Simply

$35,420,179

13.4%

Private Label

$21,312,307

9.0%

Once Upon A Farm

$13,928,182

81.9%

Evolution

$13,594,487

56.9%

Stonyfield Organic

$7,665,931

51.5%

Dannon

$5,674,444

98.5%

Suja

$4,793,190

43.4%

Koia

$2,594,620

-

Ardens Garden

$1,919,355

26.4%

Harmless Harvest

$1,300,738

-

Genius

$1,008,781

43.0%

Kelloggs

$262,347

803.6%

Columbia Gorge

$256,075

67.0%

Pressed Juicery

$193,303

-

Odwalla

$153,991

-99.1%

Yoplait

$67,638

-38.6%

Karuna

$54,559

152.3%

TOPLINE CATEGORY VOLUME Sports Drinks

$9,733,533,776

21.1%

Energy Drinks

$16,879,833,290

16.0%

Bottled Juices

$8,056,207,501

3.2%

Tea/Coffee

$7,901,415,296

7.2%

Bottled Water

$21,833,638,972

12.6%

Liquid Drink Enhancers

$520,964,267

11.4%

SOURCE: IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm-@iriworldwide% 52 Weeks through 2/20/22

30 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

CHANNEL CHECK ENERGY DRINKS

NONFLAVORED CONVENIENCE/BOTTLED STILL WATER

BRAND

DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

BRAND

Red Bull

$6,762,620,262

DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

18.8%

Private Label

$4,007,554,862

13.4%

Monster VPX

$4,857,583,574

14.9%

Aquafina

$1,259,805,136

16.2%

$1,360,542,722

12.3%

Glaceau

$1,035,736,268

23.8%

Rockstar

$705,319,989

-8.1%

Dasani

$998,658,660

1.6%

Reign

$444,350,287

-2.0%

Poland Spring

$815,420,518

13.8%

Pure Life

$762,638,051

5.1%

Fiji

$510,693,037

14.0%

NOS

$417,482,245

-7.9%

Mtn Dew

$205,016,046

228.9%

Alani Nu

$172,025,050

895.4%

Deer Park

$489,438,152

16.5%

Cellucor

$169,309,704

163.4%

Essentia

$449,476,870

54.2%

Full Throttle

$111,886,457

11.5%

Ozarka

$414,749,552

12.4%

ENERGY SHOTS BRAND

FLAVORED SELTZER/SPARKLING/MINERAL BRAND

DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

$864,767,599

8.4%

Sparkling Ice

$829,055,192

9.9%

Stacker

$28,017,738

-8.9%

Private Label

$629,998,658

-0.4%

Tweaker

$25,266,349

-3.7%

La Croix

$545,533,225

-0.7%

5 Hour Energy

VPX

$20,573,045

-3.8%

Bubly

$388,114,281

5.7%

Private Label

$7,626,838

-5.6%

Polar

$251,116,602

9.8%

ee

$7,386,696

14.1%

Perrier

$161,159,388

11.7%

Red Dawn

$4,773,897

49.2%

Aha

$151,491,582

9.3%

Vital

$4,017,607

-2.5%

Spindrift

$116,870,599

50.6%

Rip It

$3,107,669

24.3%

Topo Chico

$85,330,204

51.2%

Pickle Juice

$2,795,597

75.4%

Waterloo

$67,295,921

23.6%

SOURCE: IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm-@iriworldwide% 52 Weeks through 2/20/22

32 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

FLAVORED CONVENIENCE/BOTTLED STILL WATER

RFG KOMBUCHA

BRAND

DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

BRAND

DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

Glaceau

$963,149,225

22.1%

GTs

$293,376,962

-0.2%

Propel

$540,220,089

15.3%

Health Ade Kombucha

$95,046,929

22.8%

Hint

$131,902,791

33.3%

Kevita

$74,963,701

-3.5%

Monster

$113,287,114

-3.5%

Brew Dr Kombucha

$31,999,276

2.3%

$103,506,548

29.3%

Private Label

$29,143,734

10.4%

Capri Sun

$90,792,819

12.9%

Humm

$18,732,261

-6.2%

Tum E Yummies

$54,008,263

13.5%

Aqua Vitea Kombucha

$4,740,325

14.9%

Splash

Powerade

$50,998,217

20.9%

Live Soda

$4,027,638

16.8%

Karma

$33,740,091

77.9%

Buddhas Brew Kombucha

$3,050,901

-9.5%

Pure Life

$28,484,849

-6.1%

Big Easy Bucha

$2,977,855

-25.7%

CANNED/BOTTLED RTD TEA

DOMESTIC BEER

BRAND

DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

BRAND

DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

Lipton

$1,912,936,994

7.9%

Bud

$6,687,876,903

-8.5%

Arizona

$866,405,597

2.2%

Michelob

$3,335,707,915

2.7%

Gold Peak

$481,087,316

6.0%

Coors

$2,633,405,240

-4.3%

Snapple

$372,490,679

-7.5%

Miller Lite

$2,114,754,685

-7.3%

Monster

$195,175,156

-4.8%

Busch

$1,723,393,240

-1.8%

Guayaki

$133,796,818

30.2%

Natural

$1,329,001,374

-9.2%

Peace Tea

$99,651,012

-11.3%

Bud Specialty

$657,720,785

-16.7%

Private Label

$62,528,741

3.5%

Keystone

$415,616,350

-14.9%

Honest

$39,438,283

16.3%

Miller High Life

$395,607,975

-11.9%

Yachak

$14,191,027

-30.8%

Yuengling

$381,058,294

-0.1%

SOURCE: IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm-@iriworldwide% 52 Weeks through 2/20/22

33

GERRY’S INSIGHTS

BY GERRY KHERMOUCH

Oil & Water & Chocolate: Learning from Oded Brenner’s Second Act Before I ran into him at Expo West a few weeks ago, my last encounter with Oded Brenner occurred a decade ago, as I chronicled in this very space, when I blundered into a new coffee shop on Manhattan’s Upper East Side called Little Brown Chocolate Bakery & Café and spotted him surveying customer activity at his new concept. “The bald head, alert, friendly eyes and thick earring certainly made him look familiar,” as I wrote – ah, it was the chocolate guru of the Max Brenner empire, which he’d sold to Israel’s Strauss Group conglomerate. To me, Brenner epitomized the spirit of the serial entrepreneur, constantly observing, experimenting, tinkering with the minute details that separate success from failure. But the store didn’t last long, and I assumed it just hadn’t worked out.

That’s how it is sometimes. It certainly wasn’t the location: the site currently supports what seems to be a thriving Variety Coffee Roasters store. A few years later, I heard that Brenner had zeroed in on the core constituent of chocolate, cacao, with a new retail concept called Blue Stripes. In fact, that store was located just a couple of blocks away from Max Brenner’s flagship store. Hmmm.

It wasn’t until I came across a remarkable profile and interview that had run in Entrepreneur magazine last spring that I realized that, at the time I encountered Brenner, the life of the good-humored entrepreneur was about to spiral into an abyss of financial ruin, anxiety and self-doubt. The way Brenner described it, he managed to cut himself an exceedingly poor deal in selling Max Brenner that left with him with a negligible 3.5% equity stake, he became less and less influential and engaged, and eventually won permission to tinker with a new concept – that Little Brown store – until, fairly abruptly, he was told he didn’t have permission after all. He was served with legal papers and found himself ousted from both enterprises, broke and stuck with a five-year non-compete. (Strauss didn’t comment.)

What’s remarkable about the interview is how open Brenner is about his reasons for selling (financial stress, but exhaustion too), his steadily diminishing role and progressive alienation within the operation, and his desperate need to create something new. After his ouster, the ebullient entrepreneur who’d been a constant presence on TV was borrowing from friends to stay afloat in a small house in New Jersey, seemingly a continent away from the glamorous Manhattan lifestyle he’d enjoyed. His description of the human toll is wrenching and makes the story well worth reading. A few entrepreneurs, such as Zico Coconut Water’s Mark Rampolla in his memoir titled High-Hanging Fruit, have flicked at the human toll entrepreneurship can take. But not like this.

As interesting, to me, though, was Brenner’s take on entrepreneurs trying to work in a corporate environment, a frequent enough occurrence in beverages as startups accept investments from strategics or sell outright to them. His conclusion: “It’s almost like an impossible marriage . . . Usually, an entrepreneur is a very impulsive, gut-instinct person. He has crazy passion, like a fire. He wants to do things, he wants to see them happen right now. The corporate process is extremely different. It’s, ‘Let’s think about it, analytics, who told you this is true? Why this packaging? Why these colors? Why are you changing the brand language?’ It’s endless.

When you say, ‘Let’s try to sell in Japan,’ it’s, ‘Why Japan? Who told 34 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

you it’s a market?’ But the Japanese love dark chocolate! ‘How do you know, show us research. Why do you think this is the way?’” The consultants they bring in to figure it out only make things worse.

Entrepreneurs and consultants “are like oil and water. I mean, they cannot work together.”

(Journalists like me may, of course, find it easier to understand this disconnect because it’s a key element of our own careers: the very qualities that lead many of us into the trade – short attention spans, disdain for authority figures – make us supremely unsuited to becoming middle managers, which, when you think about it, is really what being promoted to an editor entails.)

So is it possible for an entrepreneur to thrive within the corporate colossus that just acquired your company? Surveying our beverage space, I can think of very few who have, which makes me think Brenner is right. The one who comes to my mind is Honest Tea cofounder Seth Goldman. He seems like the kind of guy with a high emotional IQ, if you believe that concept. Even-keeled, good-humored, able to mingle easily with the adults in Atlanta who’d bought his little contraption of a company. Ready to defend his organic cred to the death, but pragmatic about how many of his delicious flavors the typical Coke bottler would find room for on the truck (hardly any). Though he’s never confided any frustrations to me, it couldn’t have been easy: I recall how disconcerted he was when Honest Tea, of all brands, found itself in the crosshairs of a nascent consumer boycott because parent Coca-Cola had been found to be spending millions to oppose mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods. Goldman stayed in a hands-on role for several years after the purchase, maintaining some semblance of innovation and creativity that seems to have entirely fled the brand now that he’s gone.

But he’s the rare exception. Most entrepreneurs quickly wear out their welcome at their new corporate home, often exiting before the announced transition period was to end. The bottom line for those who actually want to continue to operate their creation? If you’re struggling, and that’s the only lifeline you’re getting thrown, by all means pursue the strategic exit, on the best terms you can bluff your way to. But don’t have any illusions that it will be a smooth or enjoyable ride, even given the best intentions on the acquirer’s side. Surround yourself with Sherpas who can navigate the system, as Body Armor’s Mike Repole has done at Coca-Cola with his recruitment of Brent Hastie or Super Coffee has done at Anheuser-Busch with its hiring of Sanjiv Chhatwal. But brace yourself for the inevitable cultural collisions. And console yourself that sometime in the future – quite likely before you expect it! – you’ll be enjoying the heady rush of your next venture.

As for Brenner, well, there he was at Expo West, eyes sparkling, heralding Blue Stripes’ entry into the CPG sector with a line of cacao smoothies, bars and other items that will be getting onboarded nationally at Whole Foods by the time you read this. His fundamental optimism seemed fully restored. That personal hell after being ousted? “Give it all the room and time it needs,” Brenner told Entrepreneur. “Feel sorry for yourself, be angry. But use this period to build you for the next stage in your life, which can be unbelievable.

If you are creative, if you are a true entrepreneur, you will be able to come back and do it again, and the next thing will be better.”

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

Winter Fancy Foods Show Recap After two years of virtual events and pandemic-induced supply chain disruptions, an in-person return to the Specialty Food Association’s Winter Fancy Foods show brought an eagerness to boast about the people and processes behind each product.

While every food and beverage brand has been subject to challenges over the past two years, many displayed a sense of pride in every unique supply chain approach. Exhibitors presented a variety of new flavor and nutrition profiles, shared the benefits of small-farming regenerative networks and displayed new creations using upcycled and side-stream ingredients.

Many of the emerging brands in attendance aimed to take new approaches to overlooked and under-innovated categories while the more well-established exhibitors also maintained a pulse on consumer interests by sharing ingredient origins, sustainable production practices and better-for-you innovations.

Amidst the new products unveiled at the show, sustainability and climate impact were two dominant themes between new brands and products, namely innovative pantry staples, with many calling out these attributes directly on front-of-pack.

First time exhibitor Big Picture Foods took to the show floor with the expressed goal of modernizing commodities such as marinated olives and peppers. The brand also aims to increase attention toward the environmental impact of conventionallyfarmed pantry staples and has placed its naturally fermented food line not in the center store, but the fresh set of over 300 natural and independent grocers nationwide.

The brand’s co-founder, Daniela Jensen, said this added visibility helps distinguish the company as a raw, unpasteurized alternative. The products have a two-year, refrigerated shelf-life and the brand currently sells a line of regeneratively farmed organic olives and debuted its specialty fermented pepper line at the show.

Alaska-based Foraged & Found, a “wild harvested” sauce and condiment brand, is also looking to reinvigorate centerstore with product lines that include native Alaskan superfood ingredients such as bull kelp and sea asparagus. What began as “an accident” said founder Jenn Brown, has grown into a regional brand determined to go national while also rethinking commodities such as pickles, salsa and sauces by incorporating sustainably-sourced superfood ingredients. The result – a nutrient-dense pantry staple and only a hint of brine-y flavors.

In terms of supply chain, this brand is literally foraging and finding its ingredients in the Alaskan wilderness. Utilizing wild harvesting techniques, Brown said the end-goal is to bring the unique nutrition and flavor profiles of wild Alaskan ingredients to stores across the country while leaving the wilderness “untouched.”

Beyond pantry staples, snack makers showcased a range of better-for-you alternatives, many of which touted low impact, clean and nutrient-dense ingredient decks.

36 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

Neptune Snacks also stood out on the floor for its sustainable, wild-caught fish jerky, sourced from local fishermen.

The Neptune team hinted that a dive into the seaweed category may be imminent, stating that a plant-based, oceanoriented jerky is a high priority in its innovation pipeline.

Aside from jerky, better-for-you snack brands and chip alternatives were definitely not in short supply. Notable new innovations include nopal cactus stick maker Nemi Holisticks and mushroom crisp brand Roam Snacks which both made their respective debuts in the Incubator Village.

Among them were numerous other vegetable-forward snack makers such as Root Foods, Canada-based Hardbites and Rhythm Foods.

Even within better-for-you segments like plant-based and vegan products, many exhibitors embraced indulgence, including plant-based cookie dough bar maker Woah Dough, which is working to expand its distribution footprint outside of the Midwest, and vegan cookie dough cups Yummy Doh, a Canada-based food brand aiming to expand to the U.S. However, the most distinguished among new indulgent treats may have been Vine to Bar – a chocolate company upcycling leftover grape byproducts created during winemaking processes. The brand currently sells tasting squares,

full-sized bars and chocolate-covered almonds, all infused with the brand’s flagship WellVine Chardonnay Marc ingredient, created from leftover grapes. The end result is a nutrient-dense, flavanol-rich dark chocolate with unique flavor profiles such as tart cherry and smoked chardonnay salt.

Also distinguishing on the basis of flavor innovation is Vermont-based Runamok, which introduced a range of new infused honey products at this year’s show, including hibiscus, lemon verbena, chipotle morita and szechuan peppercorn. The maple syrup producer prides itself on its in-house supply network, originally operating as a syrup distributor until it “put a brand to the ingredient.” At first, they partnered with local distilleries to create barrel-aged syrups; now they’re producing lines of syrups, honeys, cocktail mixers and a co-branded whiskey which will be on-shelf at Whole Foods later this year.

With this return to in-person exhibitions and as the COVID-19 pandemic approaches the two-year mark, there were signs that the industry has stabilized. However, supply chain dynamics remain in flux and are expected to remain so for at least the first several quarters of this year. As such, brands and entrepreneurs are rethinking not only the logistics of sourcing and securing ingredients, but also examining how supply chain strategy fits into broader goals around sustainability and mission.

For brands sourcing ingredients outside of the U.S., those dynamics have been increasingly difficult. Heirloom fruit and nut brand Ziba Foods procures its ingredients from small-scale, women-run farms in Afghanistan. While a spokesperson for the brand said political unrest in the country presented additional challenges on top of existing transportation constraints and import delays, she noted that the brand’s close relationship with its network has allowed them to navigate those issues and avoid facing inventory shortages.

Whether it’s to source a commodity crop like wheat or dairy or securing a specialty ingredient such as saffron and figs, there appears to be an increased realization among brands of the value of establishing or utilizing existing small farming networks. From sustainability plays to increased efficiency the majority of exhibitors highlighted their respective supply chain’s impact on not only the end-product, but also their brand’s values and mission.

37

EVENT COVERAGE Expo West 2022 Recap After a two-year enforced layoff due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was back to business at Natural Products Expo West this year, as brands, entrepreneurs and industry figures converged in Anaheim, California for the annual conference and trade show. But before the booths opened, attendees found themselves wrestling with two themes during much of the “pregame” programming — opportunity and urgency.

The latter was reflected in both the opening day’s traditional Climate Day event — something embodied by Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., founder and president of the Hip-Hop Caucus, an architect of Sean Combs’ “Vote or Die” movement and a longtime social justice activist, who reflected on the extreme weather conditions brought on by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the upheaval that was concentrated on the largely Black population of New Orleans as a disaster that created “climate refugees in our own country.”

Yearwood went on to draw a line from those events to those taking place in the ongoing invasion of the Ukraine by Russian forces. The upshot: the same ethos that has created climate change is battling for the increasingly scarce resources that continue to amplify climate change.

To the good, however, there’s opportunity: the growth of a natural products industry, alternative energy, and more important, the energy of young people who are increasingly terrified and disappointed by the inaction of previous generations. As a legacy for those to come, Yearwood urged, look at where the attendees might be able to contribute to an audience 100 years from now, and think about what they might do to improve environmental outcomes.

Wednesday’s opening convocation stressed that opportunity, while acknowledging the challenging forces that have continued to plow the way for natural, organic, and better-for-you products.

The audience gave a wildly enthusiastic welcome to a touchpoint event where New Hope Prexy Carlotta Mast, SPINS EVP Kathryn Peters and Whipstitch Managing Director Nick McCoy laid out the burgeoning sector’s economic status while folding in renewed interest in diversity, the environment, COVID, and the current crisis in the Ukraine.

As part of the intro, Mast announced that New Hope was making a $100,000 donation to Jose Andreas’ Chef’s Collaborative, an organization which has been providing meals to Ukrainian refugees during the Russian onslaught.

With so many Americans looking at their health and looking at immunity, the natural and organic industry is going to hit $400 billion by 2030, Mast announced. The industry is filling out in all the right places, Peters noted, hitting about 25% of CPG, — but providing 68% of the overall CPG industry’s growth. Food and beverage are about 70% of that category total.

Adversity is creating opportunity, as well, McCoy pointed out: even the much hyped inflation that’s been an issue in 2022 hasn’t fallen on smaller health-and-wellness focused companies quite as hard. The 7% inflation rate has been matched by 7% pricing growth for brands in the SPINS database, he noted, but that 38 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

EVENT COVERAGE growth is highly over-indexed by the big brands. Health and wellness brands, he said, have raised their prices around 5%, leaving room for them to also take price increases to keep up, making for fatter overall margins.

But to keep those returns growing, all three speakers again echoed the challenge expressed the day before: companies with diverse leadership are outperforming those that skew less diverse, McCoy noted, and products that are part of movements like organic and now regenerative agriculture are growing ahead of conventional. In the face of environmental disaster and years of unequal wealth distribution, the speakers seemed to be saying, the stakes are high, but the crisis is also an opportunity.

Meanwhile, on the Expo West show floor, various different beverage trends were apparent, including a slate of new entrants to the rapidly developing gut health friendly functional soda space.

Brands including TEAONIC, Mortal Kombucha, Turveda and Mission Loop debuted better-for-you functional CSDs, reflecting a bigger push into this emerging space for small and mid-size brands. As well, Humm Kombucha showcased its previously announced probiotic soda and seltzer line front and center at its booth where CEO Matt Witherell said the line is already performing well online, with its seltzer offerings outpacing the sodas.

Mission Loop, a Canadian cold-pressed juice brand now making the leap into the U.S. via Sprouts stores in April, displayed its new line of probiotic sparkling sodas, available in Clementine, Ginger and Strawberry flavors. The sodas are currently available nationwide in Canada and will accompany five of the brand’s top selling juices in the U.S. retail launch.

Elsewhere, wellness beverage brand Turveda showcased a comprehensive rebrand as the company pivoted its entire line from glass bottled tonics to become a canned “Prebiotic Super Soda.”

President and co-founder Dev Chakrabarty described the new products as if “Olipop and VIVE Wellness Shots had a baby,” while citing Asian-inspired sparkling water brand Sanzo as a point of reference for its focus on Indian and Asian ingredients. The new functional line moves the brand past turmeric exclusivity and now features three SKUs: Zesty Lemon Spicy Ginger with turmeric and cinnamon, Blood Orange Passion Fruit with amalaki, and Lavender Vanilla with ashwagandha.

Following a familiar naming convention, TEAONIC debuted a new line extension dubbed Fresh Pop, but moved away from gut health to offer three flavors with immunity, detox and “chill” functions. Startup brand Mortal Kombucha also introduced Mortal Power, a soda line made with prebiotics and varying functionalities including caffeine, collagen and electrolytes. Longtime kombucha maker The Bu is also getting in on the trend, introducing a fourSKU line of 5 calorie, zero-sugar sparkling probiotic waters in new 12 oz. slim cans.

While Expo West is a critical launching pad for new brands, it’s also a venue for established companies to showcase new natural innovations. After digging into non-alcoholic beverage categories like energy drinks and probiotic sodas in recent years, Molson Coors is looking a little bit closer to home with the launch of Golden Wing, a single-SKU line of barley milk set to launch this summer.

The concept itself isn’t novel: recall that Anheuser-Busch has 40 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

links with Take Two Barley Milk via use of the beer company’s proprietary spent grain ingredient platform, EverGrain. However, that’s not the case with Golden Wing, which boasts a different type of sustainability angle through its use of barley grown at 7,500 feet above sea level in Colorado’s High Country, where natural irrigation through snow packs means the crop requires no additional watering to cultivate. On-pack, the company is also highlighting the 75-year-plus history of working with American barley farmers to protect harvests and create sustainable growing systems.

As for the drink itself, shelf-stable Golden Wing ticks some important boxes for natural consumers and retailers: the drink has four ingredients – barley, sunflower extract, sea salt and shitake mushrooms, the latter to boost nutritional content – and is designed to pair well with coffee. Golden Wing is set to launch in 32 oz. cartons later this spring, starting in California with Whole Foods (SoPac region) and with Sprouts via L.A. Libations’ incubation program across 50 stores in San Diego, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The suggested retail price is $5.99.

Along with its unique sourcing and straightforward single-SKU approach, Golden Wing is also leaning into a more overtly masculine positioning than some of its plant-based milk competitors, according to reps at the booth. The package itself features classic Americana iconography against a dark blue background.

SHOW PREVIEW

BY BEVNET STAFF

Craft Brewers Conference Returns Amid Uncertainty, New Challenges The Brewers Association’s (BA) largest industry event, the Craft Brewers Conference (CBC), returns at its regularly scheduled time of year but also at a time of flux.

The 2022 edition of CBC will take place in person on May 2-5 at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minnesota, and will feature the World Beer Cup, the biennial global competition that the BA calls “the Olympics of beer.”

It’s unclear just how many people will make the trip to Minneapolis. BA president and CEO Bob Pease told Brewbound that the trade organization has budgeted for somewhere between the 14,000 who attended in 2019 and the more than 7,000 who traveled to Denver in 2021. However, exhibitor space had sold out early this year and sponsorship sales were at or surpassing the BA’s budget, according to Pease.

Those who travel to Minneapolis are doing so under a backdrop of challenges: nearly across-the-board supply chain issues; inflationary headwinds; ongoing wholesaler consolidation; nonalc beverage goliaths Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Monster and global cannabis firm Tilray entering the bev-alc space via products, acquisitions and distribution divisions; a slow to recover onpremise channel; the fallout from hundreds of women in the beer industry sharing their experiences of harassment, assault and toxic workplaces; and continued struggles with diversity, equity and inclusion.

How will BA leaders address these challenges? Several of those questions are likely to be addressed during the main stage general sessions with leaders of the trade organization and its board of directors, and will most likely come up in side conversations at parties at bars, breweries and restaurants throughout the week.

42 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

Highlights of the BA’s program include: • BA chief economist Bart Watson will offer his state of the industry talk, sharing insights into the last year of data and expounding on his prediction that the industry will grow around 5% in 2022, but still remain below pre-pandemic levels.

• Dr. J. Jackson-Beckham’s day-long THRIVE workshop on May 2, which focuses on diversity, equity and inclusion, human resources and physical and mental wellness over six 45-minute breakout sessions.

• Russian River Brewing Company co-founder Natalie Cilurzo’s keynote speech on May 4 on the challenges she and her husband/co-founder Vinnie Cilurzo have faced in recent years.

Also likely to be addressed during the general session is the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s report on competition within the beverage-alcohol industry, which parroted many of the concerns in comments submitted by the BA on improving the competitive marketplace for small producers. It remains unclear what, if anything, will change in the wake of the report.

Another question that needs to be answered -- in an industry built on founders’ stories over the last 40 years, who will step up as many of those pioneers retire, sell their companies, or fade away? It’s a question the we’ll be searching for during the conference -- and likely for many years to come.

THE DEEP END

Upstarts and Legacy Brands Battle in Bottled Water

BY MARTÍN CABALLERO

44 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

Sometime in the last decade or so, while we were all worried about staying hydrated, American consumers made an important decision: why shouldn’t the bottled water products that they spend over $21 billion on annually reflect the same kind of dynamic branding, packaging, flavors and functional benefits that they expect from other major beverage categories?

If you need an answer to that, spend some time in the water section at any modern retailer: packaged in everything from 16 oz. tallboy cans to reusable aluminum bottles to rPET, glass, and various paper formats, the category features an increasingly diverse set of sub-spaces, encompassing products ranging from smartwater’s ashwagandha-enhanced Tranquility to eco-friendly Richard’s Rainwater, to those -- now seemingly quaint -- brands offering up processed, unflavored alkaline water. Without even getting into the complexities of their respective impact on environmental issues like single-use packaging waste and sustainable water sourcing, there’s a lot to take in, and a lot of voices vying to be heard. Hey, you asked for it.

As the water market chessboard continues to be rearranged, forcing old players to evolve and leave behind space for younger ones to move into, the question isn’t so much if the category will keep growing as it is who will shape its future, and how.

RIDING THE WAVES Regarding investment, companies in the business of selling unflavored packaged water aren’t the hottest of targets. As a commodity item with a handful of dominant brand names, not to mention a vast private label business, notable deals in the space have mostly centered around situational opportunities with either well-connected startups (ZenWTR, Hint, Flow) or big-ticket transactions among the large conglomerates, as when Nestlé shed its Nestlé Waters North America (NWNA) portfolio and acquired Essentia last spring.

The exception to that rule is California-based canned water maker Liquid Death; while its ravenous appetite for viral marketing projects has stolen the headlines over the past year, the brand’s biggest validation may have come in January with the closing of a $75 million Series C round led by startup studio Science Inc., bringing its total financing war chest of $125 million. The combination of its counter-cultural branding and better-for-the-planet credentials has won Liquid Death a fervent following among younger consumers, but the raw figures — $45 million in 2021 top-line revenue; 29,000 retail locations nationwide, including Whole Foods, 7-Eleven and Target; roughly $10 million in earned media, according to the brand — are what has attracted experienced CPG investors like Mark Rampolla and Powerplant Partners. Speaking to BevNET in January,Rampolla described the brand as the “next Red Bull,” a comparison echoed by managing partner Dan Gluck; as a testament to its IP’s current popularity, Liquid Death’s apparel sales passed $3 million last year (its branded clothing is also sold in Urban Outfitters stores). With a new line of flavored, agave-sweetened sparkling waters currently rolling out to conventional and c-stores, arriving at the heels of its well-received debut Super Bowl TV spot, the brand looks set to continue its rapid ascent — even if it took backlash from some fans for its Murder Head Death Club NFT collection in March.

Elsewhere, premium water brand Flow Beverage Corp. has

experienced mixed fortunes over the past 12 months, continuing to put up impressive top-line growth numbers while recording significant losses along the way. The Canadian publicly traded company — marketers of a pure U.S.-sourced spring water, alongside flavored and collagen-infused SKUs that are sold in over 24,600 locations — reported consolidated net revenue increased by 86% during FY2021 to $42.7 million, fueled by a 47% rise in retail and e-commerce channels. After reporting in September that YTD adjusted EBITDA losses were down 12% to $19.3 million, Flow reported a loss of $27 million for the full fiscal year 2021, down just slightly from $27.3 million in FY2020. The company is working to improve its position, though, targeting a 45%-50% reduction in overall EBITDA losses by the end of FY2022, and it hasn’t slowed plans to continue scaling the portfolio with innovations like its vitamin-infused flavored water line or securing marketing new partnerships with the New York Marathon and the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL. For BlueTriton Brands, the company formed to complete the $4.3 billion purchase of NWNA’s set of domestic commodity brands in February 2021, acquisitions and growth are still top of mind. Last November, the company signed a deal to bring Saratoga Spring Water Company (SSWC) into the fold for an undisclosed fee, in a move that BlueTriton leadership described as an opportunity “expand its brand offerings and access a national, upscale beverage market” and while “maintaining production of the premium products SSWC is known for,” according to a press release.

One of the original bottled spring waters in the U.S., New York-based SSWC will likely play a different role in BlueTriton’s mix relative to the six regional spring water brands — Poland Spring, Ozarka, Ice Mountain, Zephyrhills, Arrowhead and Deer Park — it picked up in the Nestlé deal, along with 27 production facilities in North America, plus the Pure Life trademark and the ReadyRefresh delivery platform. While those products play in the category’s lower price range, SSWC, which markets premium water in glass bottles mainly to hospitality accounts, helps address one of the gaps in its parent company’s evolving portfolio: Nestlé kept its premium imported sparkling and still brands S. Pellegrino, Acqua Panna and Perrier in the NWNA sale, and previous attempts to generate traction for carbonated or premiumpositioned SKUs of Poland Spring have seen mixed results.

Behind the scenes, BlueTriton has also quietly assembled an experienced team to run operations. Javier Idrovo, formerly of Hain Celestial, arrived as the company’s new chief fi nancial officer in February, while CPG veteran Scott McIntyre was hired as EVP and GM for its Canadian division the following month.

According to NielsenIQ data, retail dollar sales for BlueTriton’s portfolio rose 13.5% to over $4.6 billion in the 52-week period ending March 12. During that time, the company saw an average price increase of around 5.2%, coming in under the industry average of 8.2%, while volume was up 8.4%.

FUNCTION FLOWS FORWARD According to data available on Statista, the functional bottled water market is expected to surpass $5 billion by 2022. And though sparkling water is the preferred canvas for many water brands to launch their functional products, still bottled water has seen its share of innovation in that department.

Produced via patented “Advanced Cellular Hydration Technology” that adds essential minerals and charging the water with Jove (pronounced electrons to improve absorption, Florida-based Jov Joh-Vee) has made some inroads in the South and Northeast, where it is collectively sold across over 1,200 stores including Publix and Giant Foods. Elsewhere, a group of former Mountain Valley Spring Company (MVSC) veterans, including former CEO Breck Speed, are helping bring Splendor Water, an Ecuadorian import brand marketed as the only bottled water in the world to contain naturally occurring colloidal gold and silver, to the U.S. market. The product is available in 100% rPET blue plastic bottles in four sizes — 1.5 liter, 1 liter, 750 milliliter, and 500 milliliter — and in 350ml and 750ml glass bottles. The brand is taking a tiered approach to its U.S. retail rollout, starting with direct-to-consumer sales before moving to partner with select lower-scale retailers in the North Carolina area later this year.

In explaining the benefits of colloidal silver and gold, Splendor highlights the story of its original founder, scientist Guillermo Sotomayor, who discovered the source in the 1980s while excavating near the volcano in an area called La Mana, known as one of the world’s “energy centers” due to its elevation and proximity to the equator. That stands in contrast to the more science-driven approach from brands like Nirvana Water Sciences.

Backed by an experienced team that includes many former VOSS sales reps, has leaned into a specific functional ingredient (watersoluble HMB, for which it retains the exclusive global rights) to build its message, along with enlisting NBA star and investor Kyle Lowry for marketing support.

During Natural Prod46 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

ucts Expo West in March, the company introduced its newest line extension, Nirvana HMB + Vitamin D3, with the latter being a particularly hot ingredient for functional water at the moment following the success Shine Water has seen in building around it.

That increased visibility for the category has also benefited established brands like hydrogen-infused water HFactor or Hellowater, which offers SKUs with fiber as well as CYTO PLUS, a patented ingredient that supports immune system defense and boosts toxin elimination. Both companies have rolled out new flavors and brand redesigns this spring. At Expo West, HFactor introduced an 8-count multipack option and a revamped look for its 11 oz. cans and 20 oz. pouches, plus a new flavor called Blackbeary. Meanwhile, Chicago-based Hellowater is also showcasing a brand makeover, while digging deep into its partnership with NASCAR and preparing to launch powdered mix versions of its drinks in Q2 2022. There’s also publicly traded hydrogen water startup NXT LVL, which has grabbed attention thanks to its affi liations with boxing legend Manny Pacquiao and UFC champion Anthony Pettis, and which was recently accepted into L.A. Libations’ SoCal Incubation Program (SIP) to expand along the West Coast.

BOTTLED WATER BRAND

DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

PRIVATE LABEL

$3,551,293,441

9.3%

AQUAFINA

$1,083,282,242

2.7%

DASANI

$974,847,826

-6.6%

GLACEAU SMART WATER

$883,356,662

2.4%

NESTLE PURE LIFE

$724,027,276

-1.2%

POLAND SPRING

$707,212,108

-3.3%

GLACEAU VITAMIN WATER

$482,205,168

-3.6%

FIJI

$443,379,026

6.9%

DEER PARK

$401,466,121

-5.4%

OZARKA

$374,544,859

-3.4%

ICE MOUNTAIN

$322,408,571

-3.2%

ESSENTIA

$291,439,363

16.2% 7.5%

PROPEL ZERO

$281,408,314

ZEPHYRHILLS

$272,316,814

-1.1%

CORE HYDRATION

$258,662,928

11.9%

GLACEAU VITAMIN WATER ZERO

$212,433,735

5.4%

LIFE WTR

$210,532,863

-8.9%

EVIAN

$167,042,423

8.4%

NIAGARA

$160,801,347

5.1%

PROPEL

$143,702,953

12.2%

SOURCE: IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm-@iriworldwide% 52 Weeks through 2/20/22

BRAND NEWS BOTTLED WATER

FIJI Water is rolling out two new formats within the U.S. this summer: a 330 mL bottle and a 500 mL bottle made from 100% recycled plastic (rPET). This commitment replaces 47% of FIJI Water’s plastic in the U.S. The new 100% rPET packaging will feature a green “100% Recycled Plastic” logo on the bottles to help make consumers aware of the initiative.

Perfect Hydration Alkaline Water is transforming the water industry with 9x purified, domestically sourced alkaline water available exclusively in recyclable and recycled packaging. Perfect Hydration offers a one-gallon bottle made with 100% recycled plastic (rPET-1), which joins the brand’s other rPET bottles in 20oz., 1L, and 1.5L bottles, as well as infinitely recyclable aluminum cans. Perfect Hydration Alkaline Water is available for purchase on Amazon and at retailers nationwide such as CVS, 7-Eleven, Safeway, Albertsons, Stop & Shop, Bashas, Ralph’s, Costco, and more.

Available in its flagship chlorophyll flavor, PLNTD has launched at Erehwon with distribution through Pod Foods. The company claims the water will boost energy, fight disease, reduce inflammation, and restore glowing health.

Every can of PLNTD is made without any sweeteners, additives, or artificial ingredients.

GIVN Water was recently picked up by foodservice distributor Vesta in California to expand its distribution footprint across San Francisco and Los Angeles markets. The brand has also signed on with Natural Direct in Chicago to expand its presence in foodservice across the midwest.

Finishing 2021 with its second straight year of triple-digit revenue growth from online distribution, Susosu Water has solidified its focus on e-commerce. The brand is looking to expand into additional online marketplaces and continue to capitalize on the success it has seen since launching online with Walmart in Q1 2022.

GEN Z – the water brand with “weird, colorful” aluminum bottles that can be resealed, refilled and easily recycled – is launching an additional bottle design. The new design breathes life into a fantasy ocean-scape with friendly critters abound, including a blushed sunfish and a stout seagull (nicknamed Buff Seagal), the company said.

48 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

QURE Water has signed a multi-year partnership with the Los Angeles Marathon and MOTIV Sports. QURE is infused with ionic alkaline minerals and electrolytes and has a pH of 10.

The product will be available to marathon and triathlon athletes throughout the events.

Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Water recently introduced the world’s first OceanPlast bottle, which removes up to five plastic bottles from an oceanbound waterway or beach per bottle. The company claims it has the lowest eco-footprint of any beverage packaging in terms of carbon emissions, energy use, water use and assumption of infinite recycling economy.

Icelandic Glacial launched a new 6-pack of 330 mL PET bottles intended for on-the-go occasions that will be rolling out to Publix stores in May. The new format features the brand’s recently updated packaging and includes call outs for its naturally alkaline attributes and carbon neutral operations.

Water brand Alkaline88 introduced a new CBD infused beverage with its A88CBD FreshCap which infuses 25mg of CBD and additional functional vitamins and supplements just by twisting the cap. This allows the brand to forgo preservatives and maintains the quality of the CBD. The new product is available in Resistance (Orange Tangerine), Rest (Strawberry Kiwi), Relax (Peach Mango), Refresh (Lemon Lime) and Reenergize (Berry Black Tea) functions.

ZenWTR has recently received the Plastic Negative Brand Certification from the Plastic Credit Exchange (PCX) for its bottles made of 100% recycled, ocean-bound plastic. With this milestone, ZenWTR has committed to making its entire portfolio plastic negative and supporting programs that recover and recycle at least 200 percent of its annual plastic footprint for 2021 and the years to come.

Boxed Water announced a new partnership with Alaska Airlines to launch the airline’s first inflight, plastic-free water service. This partnership will remove 1.8 million pounds of plastic from landfills. Based on an ISO-certified, independent life cycle analysis, Boxed Water is the most renewable brand in the water category when compared to both plastic and aluminum, the company said, noting its packaging is 92% plant based (including the cap) and made from

Strategics and Investors Lean Deeper Into the Functional Powder Set

By Brad Avery

Once a category that had appeared stagnant, an influx of functional innovations has turned powdered beverages into a fast-growing space and a hotbed for M&A and investment activity.

In just the last few years, strategics have made moves on the functional powder space; in 2020, Unilever purchased single-serve hydration powder brand Liquid I.V., while Nestlé has acquired a number of players in the category, including majority stakes in collagen-based Vital Proteins and plant-based protein brand Orgain, and an outright purchase of hydration tablet producer Nuun.

Recent dealmaking doesn’t mean the powder category is all wet, either, notes Timothy Sousa, director at investment bank Whipstitch Capital. The powder beverage category – which ranges from simple flavor modifiers to innovative functional products – has undergone a renaissance in recent years, driven by the convenient single-serve stick form factor and consumer demand for better-for-you, on-thego beverages, he said.

“Net category dynamics are positive for the category,” Sousa add50 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

ed. “I think the mega-strategics have made their near term bets, but I do expect M&A volume to pick up over the next coming years.”

Once thought of as so much Kool-Aid, by focusing on the science of hydration, brands like Liquid I.V. and Nuun have provided a stronger health halo around the format.

Both companies have continued to gain momentum in mainstream channels: According to SPINS data, Liquid I.V. has been a significant growth driver at Unilever, with the brand up 350% to $137 million in the 52-week period ending February 20, mainly driven by improvements in MULO (98.1% of retail revenue). Nuun, meanwhile, has grown 21.5% in the same period to $29 million in retail, with 81.6% of retail revenue derived from MULO (up 23% year-over-year) and 18% of sales from natural (up 14%).

At Natural Products Expo West 2022 in March, functional powder drinks were prominent on the show floor. Startup brands like Protein2O, Reneva, MANTRA Labs, Sunwink and Cure Hydration displayed new or re-branded powder-format products at the

show, while Orgain – known primarily for protein – introduced a new hydration powder line rolling out to stores this year. Meanwhile, companies like CELSIUS and LIFEAID, which introduced powder stick lines within the past two years, have continued to move forward with those products in mainstream retail.

Sousa said that the category’s expansion and the top-down influence of Nestlé and Unilever’s acquisitions provide an optimistic outlook for future investment in powder-focused brands as well.

“In terms of pure play hydration, we do expect an increase in investment activity within the space, and that really correlates to what the strategic buyers are doing,” Sousa said. “At the end of the day, if you're a private equity professional, you're monitoring the strategics for what areas you should be putting your dollars in, because they're going to give you the highest multiple on your cash.”

INNOVATION CREATES OPPORTUNITIES Health and wellness focused private equity firm WM Partners has invested heavily in the powder category: the group has acquired a portfolio of powder beverage producers, including hydration brand Ultima Replenisher, in 2019, collagen products maker Great Lakes Wellness in 2020 and protein drinks company Vega in 2021. Vanessa Gabela, managing director at WM, told BevNET that the firm did not initially set out to focus on powder brands, but the portfolio grew naturally as WM targeted functional food and beverage brands with high growth metrics. As well, subcategories like hydration and collagen, she said, have similarly seen double-digit growth in recent years, making Ultima and Great Lakes attractive targets.

“All of the sectors that [we focus on] – natural personal care, functional foods, natural remedies, pets – are high growth categories and they're highly fragmented, so there's an opportunity for consolidation,” Gabela said. “They've shown to be defensive, certainly in the last financial crisis and certainly during COVID, and they've grown.”

Ultima, which was founded in 1996 as an athlete-focused brand, is now among the stronger brands in the hydration powder set thanks to mainstream consumer adoption. According to SPINS, retail sales of Ultima were up 37% in the 52-weeks ending February 20. The brand is still mainly positioned in the natural channel where it is among the leading products in the category; natural accounts for 82.5% of Ultima’s retail revenue, compared to 17.5% from MULO. Ultima SVP of sales Skeet Freeman told BevNET that the brand’s total points of distribution are up double digits in mass and natural over the past year, and the brand has now added over 1,400 Walmart stores nationwide.

Gabela cited innovation as a key pillar of the powder renaissance, noting that a focus on flavor and variety has helped Ultima break out of the limited high-performance athlete segment and position itself as an everyday product.

Ultima is also differentiated as a sugar free product – a trait that the brand has increasingly emphasized in its messaging.

According to Ultima VP of marketing Loretta Reilly, the company is now rolling out a new visual system that uses “splashes of contrasting colors” to convey the brand’s zero

sugar, calorie and carbs position.

Sousa noted that despite leading the new wave of functional powder brands, Liquid I.V. still contains sugar, which leaves room for competitors like Ultima to build around healthier positioning.

Although the sugar in Liquid I.V. is a key part of its rapid hydration functionality, health-minded consumers may still gravitate towards zero sugar alternatives.

Meanwhile, Great Lakes is competing against another Nestlé investment – Vital Proteins – which has been front and center in the collagen trend. Similar to Ultima, under WM, Great Lakes rebranded from Great Lakes Gelatin Company to Great Lakes Wellness last year to help mainstream the brand. The company is now launching a “Benefits” line with additional functional attributes.

“I think with many of these large strategics, from an M&A perspective, some of [their acquisitions] are brands that are definitely growing, have high velocity, and some of which have been stronger in certain channels like Amazon or retail, but there's definitely white space,” Gabela said. “So I think that as we see some of the same trends, we just need to continue to differentiate our brands by their positioning, their formulation, their branding. And innovation for us is definitely key.”

Looking at the broader powder category there is one key place, at least within hydration, where Sousa sees notable room for growth: ultra-premium positioning. While Ultima, he said, is currently performing well as a healthier product, there’s still opportunity for companies to build on zero sugar and improved technology over “category captains” like Liquid I.V. SPORTS DRINK MIX BRAND

DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER 355.4%

Liquid I V

$130,793,431

Gatorade

$66,966,702

23.9%

Propel

$47,809,225

42.4%

Nuun

$19,200,605

41.5%

Pedialyte

$6,478,625

799.7%

Private Label

$4,886,534

-16.8%

Vitaminhydrate

$4,352,932

329.2%

Biosteel

$3,667,921

453.2%

Celsius

$3,103,354

473.6%

Hydrant

$1,344,273

435.0%

Drip Drop

$1,039,347

2549.9%

SOS

$947,485

177.4%

Cure Hydration

$714,641

247.1%

Stur

$518,430

4545.2%

Bitsys

$467,456

-

Emergen C

$377,587

-62.1%

Skratch Labs

$364,566

-7.3%

Hydralyte

$328,016

2719.1%

Halo Sport

$279,762

-

IF16 : 8

$132,908

-

SOURCE: IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm-@iriworldwide% 52 Weeks through 2/20/22

52 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

“Whether that's some sort of different hydration technology, where maybe they're using different different mechanisms to hydrate the body more efficiently, rather than just pure-play sugars, a brand would probably have a chance to supersede the category and become mainstream there,” Sousa said. “I think the science is just lagging within this category and I think the marketing is just coming into play and kind of getting consumers over the shelf with a Liquid I.V.-like product.”

CHANNELING GROWTH At Expo West, ready-to-drink protein water brand Protein2O introduced an expanded line of functional single-serve powders containing 20 grams of whey protein with additional benefits varied by SKU. The flavors – which include Orange Mango and Mixed Berry (electrolytes), Orange Pineapple (energy) and Black Cherry (immunity) – are sold in 6-packs online and will launch in 20-count pouches for Costco stores. The company’s president, Andy Horrow, noted that the expansion into powders should make Protein2O more retail format agnostic. The brand can open and grow new retail channels, including gyms, food service and hospitality where limited cooler space demands high premiums for RTD products, he said, and the versatility of powder allows for more placements.

One issue: distributors, Horrow said, have also become more interested in powdered products thanks to high velocity, strong margins and the rising retailer interest, but in conventional retail, some stores are still figuring out how to merchandise the functional powder category.

“I think for us, powders are still – outside of a gym or GNC environment – a little bit of the Wild West,” Horrow said. “And you could say that because retailers are trying to figure out right now where they should be shelved … they're scratching their heads saying, ‘Wait, should this be in the nutrition section? Should it be in a powder section? Should it be in the beverage section? Should it be a new section? They’re still figuring that out.”

Of course, the other important retail channel that powder formats allow brands to sell in is ecommerce. In particular, Sousa noted the high cost of freight in recent months has made the low weight and production costs of powders more appealing, and the format has long been strategic for online-focused businesses.

As mainstream consumers catch on, however, some smaller brands are preparing to focus on retail as the influx of brands sold online has made cyberspace more competitive and costly.

Paul Janowitz, founder and CEO of Mantra Labs – a maker of functional powdered beverages built around daypart use occasions – said that expanding into retail has become more important for startup brands in all CPG categories over the course of the pandemic as the influx of ecommerce products has lead to a more competitive space for online ads. Citing customer acquisition costs and lifetime value as metrics for digital marketing spend, some entrepreneurs Janowitz has spoken with told him they have seen the price of ads rise between two to four times their pre-Covid costs and, as a result, retail launches no longer feel like an imposing cost-intensive strategy.

As well, other changes to the social media landscape have impacted the ability of startups to break through the white noise.

Janowitz noted that Apple’s decision to allow consumers to opt out of app tracking with its latest iPhone operating system update has 54 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

had a significant impact in brands’ ability to target new consumers and a rise in spam and clutter from political actors has only added to the clutter on users’ social feeds.

“You're having stuff dumped into people's news feeds that they're trying to clean out whether it has to do with real news or misinformation news,” Janowitz said. “It's just become a very routed feed, and you'll see it in your Instagram, Facebook and everywhere in between. So it's just become a bit of a convoluted marketplace that’s not nearly as targetable or actionable as it was, say, five, six years ago.”

But that doesn’t mean ecommerce isn’t still growing, it’s just more challenging, Janowitz said. The control of data, relatively light shipping costs for powders, and discovery opportunities continue to make online a key channel for Mantra and other startups, even as the company, which last year raised $1.5 million in a seed funding round, is slowly stepping into the retail space via independent accounts with a focus on sporting goods stores and other outdoors retailers.

ENERGY DRINK MIX BRAND

DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

Crystal Light

$52,213,705

-7.7%

Private Label

$38,237,299

1.2%

Zipfizz

$12,718,596

-30.3%

True

$6,896,595

56.1%

4C

$6,023,167

16.2%

Liquid I V

$4,663,564

382.3%

Jel Sert

$4,339,677

-2.8%

Gatorade

$2,063,800

7970.0%

SOS

$1,929,232

246.2%

Nuun

$1,238,005

-42.2%

Hydrant

$1,045,864

241.0%

Drip Drop

$503,617

-

Made To Boost

$274,133

-21.4%

Power Edge

$197,291

1.9%

Ethans

$155,867

-

Bitsys

$141,496

-

Healthy Mama

$88,009

13.2%

Propel

$37,679

-

Strike Force

$18,634

-63.8%

Myhy

$16,995

109.1%

SOURCE: IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm-@iriworldwide% 52 Weeks through 2/20/22

BRAND NEWS POWDERS

QULA is launching a new product line, a real fruit pre + probiotic Drink Mix which will be ready for retail/distributor sales in early April. The first flavor, Electric Berryland Pre + Probiotic Drink Mix, is available now via sale D2C and wholesale.

Each mix is loaded with pre + probiotics, apple cider vinegar and is made from allnatural, non-GMO ingredients.

Created as a low-sugar alternative to pills, gummies and sugar-dominated supplements, full-spectrum multivitamin and electrolyte drink mix brand Root’d announced a new partnership with Whole Foods bringing its beverage to 360 locations nationwide.. Root’d is also available online and nationwide at Sprouts Farmers Markets and MOM’s Organic Markets.

Hydrant’s newest product is SLEEP Hot Cocoa, made with Melatonin, Magnesium, L-theanine and GABA. The new instant Hot Cocoa powder is intended to be mixed with water, milk or a milk alternative and consumed 30 minutes prior to going to sleep. Hydrant’s SLEEP Hot Cocoa is available exclusively online in a 10-pack for $14.99.

stores throughout 2022 including CVS, Whole Foods and Erewhon.

Rasa’s new super-functional adaptogen mushroom powder and daily well being boost, called Magnificent Mushrooms, is now available. The brand sources premium mushrooms for its line of adaptogenic coffee alternatives and created the new product with certified organic mushroom extract powder featuring six functional mushrooms – Turkey Tail, Reishi, Cordyceps, Lion’s Mane, Tremella and Poria – for vitality, energy, focus and immune support. The powder is made using only 100% fruiting bodies and no fillers with each 1 oz. bag containing 30 servings.

Rolling out to retailers this Spring, Stur Drinks is introducing a new formulation featuring more intense flavors for all of its water enhancers. In addition to the new formula, the brand has refreshed its design to better capture its natural positioning and flavor variety. All Stur products are naturally sourced, contain zero sugar and are high in antioxidants. Both Fruit Punch and Lemon Lime flavors are available in 8-count stick packs with additional flavors coming soon.

Nuun Hydration is launching a new line – Nuun Daily – for everyday use and water enhancement. The line is available in four flavors including Raspberry Lemonade, Orange Sunrise, Wild Strawberry and Lemon Splash. The new tabs contain electrolytes, no sugar and were specifically formulated for no-sweat activities. Nuun Daily Hydration is available nationwide at retailers such as Target, Whole Foods, Amazon, Dick’s Sporting Goods, REI and more.

iiCiNG Flavour Shots is launching two new flavors in Q1 2022: Kreamsicle and Limoncello. The two new SKUs join the current line up of Pina Colada, Raspberry Grapefruit, Root Beer, Cherry Burst and Blueberry Bang. iiCiNG is a flavor shot designed to be added into alcohol including spirits, beer or wine to give it a boost of flavor. The shots work like water enhancers and are designed to mix and dissolve quickly into alcohol.

Functional drink mix brand Cure recently launched rebranded packaging to better communicate its value proposition of premium, plant-based ingredients and allow the brand to expand its portfolio beyond hydration. Alongside the packaging update, Cure also launched a new Lime flavor, which brings its portfolio to five Hydration and two Energy drink mixes with plans to expand to additional categories this year.Cure’s rebranded packaging will be rolling out into over 6,500 retail

Zolt launched a mushroom adaptogenic drink mix as an alternative to mushroom coffee. Formulated to improve cognition and focus, Zolt Peak + Mushroom Complex boasts doses of reishi, lion’s mane and cordyceps, and is caffeinated with green tea extract. Zolt only uses 100% organic fungi, extracted from the fruiting body of the mushroom and scientifically verified for beta-glucans – the active compound essential for the mushrooms’ efficacy within the human body.

56 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

CBD Drinks Keep Growing, Despite Wait for Regulatory Clarity

By Martín Caballero From a global pandemic to war in Ukraine to a raft of economic challenges, 2022 is something of a golden age for anxiety and stress. In other words, it’s a good time to be selling CBD. That may be simplifying the premise a bit, but the numbers seem to back that up. According to data from research fi rm Brightfield, CBD beverages are projected to continue growing, with the momentum generated after a dip in 2020 showing significant legs. In 2021, the U.S. CBD drinks market grew by 50%, while that metric is set to reach 62% this year and 65% in 2023, at which point it will be valued at around $657 million. Because of the attention and scrutiny the category has received in a short time, it can be easy to forget how young the space is -- and how much room it still has for growth, considering the obvious issue of its federal status.

Yet, those statistics can obscure a more nuanced picture: many of the leading CBD beverage companies by brand share — names like VYBES, Weller and Recess — are now no longer exclusively in the CBD business. Even as their hemp-infused products are still in early stages, these brands have already gone platform, attempting to build brand awareness and burnish product credibility through adjacent functional RTDs featuring ingredients like magnesium and immune-boosting adaptogens. Meanwhile, the FDA’s inaction on CBD is also 58 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2021

having an effect on distributors. Having seen little traction for change from Washington, major beverage alcohol suppliers like Southern Glazer’s and Breakthru Beverage have simply stopped waiting and made the jump into the CBD category already.

RELAXATION RISING Within an overall U.S. CBD market that generated $4.7 billion in retail sales last year, beverages remain one of the most attractive product segments. Driven by strong adoption from higher income Gen Z consumers, drinkable CBD products represent the fastest growing product type since 2018, reaching $245 million in sales last year.

As you might expect, CBD products promising antianxiety and relaxation are attracting consumers with above-average levels of stress, but that over-indexes for drinks. In a Q4 2021 study, 24% of overall CBD consumers self-identified as “stressed out millennials,” compared to 33% among CBD drink consumers. Among the latter group, 10.3% identified as “chronic symptom attackers,” compared to 7.8% for overall CBD consumers. Nearly half of all CBD drink users in the study were daily consumers, while a dosage of 51-100 mg was preferred over a 0-20 mg dose — as found in many current

RTD products — by almost double.

What are they expecting from that kind of dosage? According to Brightfield data, relief from anxiety, depression and joint pain are the three most sought-after effects among CBD drink consumers, and they are willing to pay a premium to get relief throughout the day. However, under pressure from a widening field of functional drinks, CBD beverage brands have looked to squeeze margins and push promotions to reach a price point more amenable to driving trial and fostering bulk purchasing habits, even amidst spiraling inflation and input costs.

“We’re seeing pricing in the category consistently decline over the last 18 months or so in the midst of the largest inflation that we’ve seen as a country in decades, so it’s interesting that we see kind of these divergent trends in cannabis and CBD, while the overall beverage market is having to pass on cost increases to consumers. So with CBD coming down and everything else coming up, that may give the category the opportunity to align more closely with what’s happening in the overall functional beverage space as well.”

Without the support of a national retailer, CBD beverages are still primarily an online game: this year, the segment is expected to generate $146 million in sales via ecommerce, compared to just over $20 million in grocery and $44 million in convenience and gas accounts. Independent accounts and natural food stores showed the largest growth, but some larger chains have thus far been willing to enter the 60 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

arena: Circle K and Yesway have both taken on Kill Cliff’s CBD drinks in some areas, while Mad Tasty is sold in some locations of stores like 7-Eleven and Sprouts Farmers Market.

The entrance of powerhouse national spirits distributors like Southern Glazer’s, Breakthru Beverage and Republic National over the past year has also altered the retail landscape, proving that it’s possible for wholesalers to build a CBD beverage portfolio that covers a range of use occasions and product types. Case in point: over the past year, alongside distributing Canopy Growth’s Quatreau line, Southern Glazer’s has picked up sparkling waters from Mad Tasty, sports recovery drinks from Defy, low-calorie sodas by CENTR and Kill Cliff’s line of CBD-enhanced energy drinks. Those moves have also helped stimulate appetite within traditionally more risk-averse beer houses, creating opportunities for those small and mid-sized brands to fi nd partners, to say nothing of the commitments that major alcohol conglomerates like Constellation Brands and Molson Coors have made to CBD via their relationships with cannabis producers Canopy and HEXO, respectively.

Yet even with those deep-pocketed companies involved, the market hasn’t developed as some have expected.

“What we see in the market now is that so many companies were hoping that the market would consolidate, and we would see a smaller number of bigger

players taking a larger percentage of the market and really allow for these economies of scale to develop. Unfortunately for everybody operating in the category, we’re really not seeing that happen yet,” said Gomez. “There’s still more and more of these smaller to midsize drinks brands that are kind of popping onto the scene, as well as many brands that are creating both CBD beverages and also adaptogen-based or other functional beverages, so they can play on both sides of the CBD and more mainstream functional beverage markets.

But this means that the market remains very, very fragmented and difficult for a lot of these players to really scale.”

That goes back to the fundamental question: when will the FDA provide a definitive answer as to CBD’s legal status as a food and beverage ingredient? Considering the country’s fraught political climate and array of geopolitical challenges, it’s unlikely to be a priority for either party during a grueling election year. And while regulatory changes on a state level that recognize CBD as an additive, as seen last year in California, offer another potential solution, most states are still looking to the federal government for an indication of when it’s safe to move forward.

“Quite frankly it doesn’t feel like we’re that there is anything imminent on that,” Gomez noted. “While we initially had been projecting that we would see regulations, especially with a lot of the safety studies being done on the category and things like that. But just with the competing priorities, we don’t see a lot of urgency

or momentum on these regulatory shifts.”

AN EXPANDING PLATFORM When the CBD beverage market first started bubbling up in the late 2010s, a host of upstart brands jockeyed to position themselves as the hero ingredient’s new champion by developing an identity and voice that distinguished them from other types of functional beverages that came before. But in 2022, as the industry still waits for movement from the FDA, many of those brands have looked to stake a claim elsewhere in the meantime.

For some, moving beyond CBD and hemp has been part of the plan all along.

Built on the belief in relaxation beverages as the next multi-billion dollar category, Recess has enjoyed a strong start for its first non-CBD line extension, the magnesium-enhanced Mood, since launching in April. Two of the CBD category’s other top-sellers, Vybes and Weller, also introduced hemp-free drinks over the past two years, but with different results. For the former, its zero-CBD, adaptogen-fueled Mood

Enhancer drinks has given it a foothold with broad-line giants KeHE and UNFI, and is expected to generate up to 65% of company revenue this year, according to founder and CEO Jonathan Eppers.

But for Weller, the three-SKU line of immunity-focused drinks that it introduced in 2020 is being quietly phased out in favor of a new line of THCinfused sparkling waters set to arrive this spring in Colorado. Speaking at this year’s Natural Products Expo West show in March, Weller CEO John Simmons noted that the move brings the brand back to its core competencies of creating approachable and effectively dosed cannabinoid-infused drinks. All flavors of the three-SKU line will feature a 1:1 ratio of 5 mg of THC and 5 mg of CBD per 12 oz. can.

Brands’ ability to stretch from CBD into other categories can also help solve one of the ingredient’s biggest challenges: educating consumers about how and when to use the ingredient. Sports drink brand Defy has marketed its core CBDinfused line as a post-exercise sports recovery drink since its launch, for

example, but pairing it with hemp-free extensions — water and a caffeinated pre-workout beverage — gives it a place within a broader health and wellness context. The same goes for U.K.-based TRIP, which rolled out sparkling drinks in the U.S. off the back of seeing its CBD oils become a hit at some of London’s trendiest department stores.

While these extensions underscore how CBD has become part of the fabric of the overall functional space, they are also helping independent brands to steel themselves for the battles ahead. Beyond the aforementioned beer and spirits players, PepsiCo has been notably active in seeking potential avenues to enter the category, whether through an existing IP — see the hemp seed extract-infused Unplugged from Rockstar Energy — or a new in-house developed brand like Soulboost or Driftwell.

From that position, Pepsi’s ability to make a game-changing leap into CBD beverages doesn’t seem like much of a reach — but without the FDA’s green light, it’s unlikely they’ll take a step off the edge.

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BRAND NEWS CBD BEVERAGES

Rhythm (formerly Rhythm CBD Seltzers) has just announced a fresh new look alongside its simplified branding. The liquid now boasts 25 milligrams of nanoemulsified, broad-spectrum hemp extract per 12 oz. aluminum sleek can, a 66% increase from the 15 milligrams in the previous formula. Additionally, rhythm Dream, now called rhythm Sleep, contains 3 mg of CBN isolate, replacing the melatonin found in the previous formula.

The reformulations were developed using emulsions from rhythm’s advanced infusion technology partner, Vertosa.

Realize Hemp Drinks has released new fast-acting hemp drink mixes containing enough THC to give consumers a joyful “buzz” and are legal nationwide. Realize Hemp Drinks are available in select regions nationwide with each stick pack making one drink containing 5 or 10 mg THC. Sold as six packs, this product is below the 0.3% limit the DEA allows for THC in hemp products. Realize also recently signed a nationwide distribution agreement with cDistro, a subsidiary of the publicly traded Marijuana Company of America (MCOA).

MYND Drinks have begun to roll out across the U.S. Available in Lemon Ginger, Elderberry Passionfruit and Orange Mango flavors, the plant-based elixirs are first landing in Chicago and are also available internationally in Ireland and the U.K. The beverages contain 25 mg of hemp extract and are available in buildyour-own 3-pack, 6-pack and 12-pack formats online.

Cann-Ade will expand its reach to hundreds of retail locations in New York City through its recent partnership with Gold Coast Distributors Ltd. to service the Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan markets. Cann-Ade is gluten-free, vegan, bottled in glass and flavored with organic fruit juice. The brand has also teamed up with federal non-profit Amvets and their Heal program to expand research and advocacy for safe cannabis access for veterans nationwide.

Jeng, makers of alcohol-free, CBDinfused, ready-to-drink cocktails, is 62 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

adding a new line of CBD-free beverages including a paloma, Moscow mule and “jeng & tonic.” The new cocktails are available in Illinois and Michigan through Oath Distributing. Jeng is also available in New York, where the company currently self-distributes its products, and online at sipjeng.com.

Zenly launched in St. Louis, Missouri earlier last year and has since transitioned to 12 oz sleek cans that are currently rolling out to its distribution partners. The company is also in the process of updating its website and replacing the old can images with its new slim cans. Zenly CBD beverages offer hydration-support, contain 20 mg of broad spectrum CBD per can and are available in four flavors: Bliss Berry, Blood Orange, Honeycrisp Apple and Lime Mojito.

Daytrip has revamped its formulations to include a blend of 25 mg CBD and botanical terpenes, specifically added for mood-boosting and stress-reduction support creating the company’s flagship “The Daytrip Effect.” The products are meant to focus happiness, and are designed to offer maximum absorption, powerful enough to give consumers a mood-elevating chill while encouraging mental clarity.

CURE Brand re-formulated and rebranded its entire product lineup alongside a new product launch. The new 3 oz. Focus shot began to roll out late last year and joins Cure Brand’sChill and Sleep SKUs. The entire line gained distribution with Lakeshore Beverage in Chicago and Bounty Beverage in Nashville with several other markets slated to take effect by Q2 2022.

Combining the best attributes from its clean energy drink and CBD lines (Ignite),the newest flavor in Kill Cliff Octane is Laser Lemons, which contains 125 mg of caffeine and 25mg of CBD. Shimmerwood Beverages is continuing to expand its distribution throughout New England to a variety of brick-andmortar stores. These locations include medical and recreational dispensaries, as well as on-premise restaurants and bars and off-premise liquor stores, health food

BRAND NEWS CBD BEVERAGES

and natural marketplaces. The company has also recently secured event partnerships including all Rhode Island Rhode Races and SeaWeed Co.’s Wellness Workshop Series.

DRAM has launched new packaging made of fully compostable plant fiber can rings. The brand claims to be the first in the world to build a custom machine to apply the compostable rings at high speeds and noted that the change will prevent 10,000 pounds of plastic from entering the marketplace annually.

Aurora Hemp elixirs are now distributed across the West Coast after securing new distribution partnerships throughout California and Washington State. Aurora is also rolling out to the Chicago area this Spring. In addition to expanding its retail presence, the brand is re-releasing its collaboration drink with Artet this Summer.

Aprch introduced a new Blackberry flavor in its CBD Sparkling Water line with 25 mg broad-spectrum hemp extract, vitamin and L-theanine, and with no calories, sugar or sodium. In addition to the new flavor, Aprch has introduced a new “simple and classy” redesign which includes updated label artwork to bring the branding to the forefront and highlight its key ingredient: broad spectrum hemp extract. The company has also expanded distribution across the West Coast with Morris Distribution (Bay Area), Coast Distribution (San Diego) and Watkins Distribution (Idaho).

CBD beverage maker CENTR launched its instant drink powders earlier this year in Unflavored, Cucumber Yuzu and Pomegranate Hibiscus flavors. According to a recent report from market research firm Brightfield Group, CENTR was ranked as the top selling CBD beverage brand in the U.S. during the second half of 2021.

Launched in late 2021, James & James is a new seltzer line made with full spectrum, hemp flower-derived CBD extract. The beverages are packaged in 12 oz. glass bottles and feature 25mg of CBD sourced from the Colorado 64 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

farm of James & James parent company, CFH Ltd.. James & James craft sparkling hemp beverages are available online and in select retail stores and restaurants throughout Colorado and Wyoming inCucumber Mint and Cherry Vanilla flavors.

Oh Hi Beverages, the Colorado-based company making THC- and CBDinfused sparkling seltzers, unveiled updated branding and packaging to reflect its bright flavors and relaxation benefits. Since the debut of its new look in August 2021, Oh Hi has launched its CBD seltzers in retail stores in 13 states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Tennessee and Virginia.

Weller added a new Peach Mango flavor to its CBD Sparkling Water lineup which includes Black Cherry, Tangerine and Watermelon. Each can contains 25 mg of CBD and is carb-free, caloriefree and sugar-free. Later this year exclusively in Colorado, Weller will also launch a line of THC-infused sparkling waters with a 1:1 ratio of 5 mg THC and 5 mg CBD with strain-specific terpenes added to each formulation. The brand also added Mother’s Markets and Jimbo’s to its retail partners and added new distributors in Houston, San Diego, NorCal, Tennessee and Connecticut.

U.K.-based CBD drink brand TRIP recently signed a distribution agreement with Erewhon. The brand, which launched in 2019, has since gained distribution in over 7,000 locations and is the leading CBD brand in Europe, the company said.

Flower Power Coffee launched a new line of K-cup products available in Light, Medium and Dark roasts with 25 mg CBD in each brewed cup. The company aimed to maintain the amount of CBD often lost during the brewing process, which it called a “categorywide problem,” with its new patent pending process that guarantees 25 mg of lab-tested hemp-derived CBD in every brewed cup.

BEER INDUSTRY STORYLINES TO WATCH IN 2022

Entering 2022, the beer industry remained in a state of recovery.

In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic had wiped out an entire sales channel and shifted purchasing to off-premise retailers, which fueled a growing number of at-home occasions. Eighteen months removed from those events, the industry was still mounting its comeback.

As a relative normalcy returns this year, here are four storylines that will help shape the industry’s hopes for recovery in 2022.

The Blurring of Non-Alc and Bev-Alc (and Cannabis) Pick your partners and saddle up. Soda giants Coca-Cola and Pepsi, energy drink maker Monster, and global cannabis firm Tilray have entered beverage alcohol in various fashions, some deeper than others.

Monster made a dramatic commitment to bev-alc in January with the $330 million acquisition of the CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective, giving it not only a top 10 craft platform with top brands Cigar City and Oskar Blues but also a built-in infrastructure to produce its own alcoholic beverage brands -- just not under the Monster name. And Monster may not be done, with rumors of a potential tie up with Mexican beer and spirits giant Constellation Brands seeming to be unending.

66 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

by Brewbound Staff Meanwhile, Pepsi’s entry into the alcohol space via a partnership with Boston Beer Company on Hard MTN Dew just began rolling out to Florida, Iowa and Tennessee, with additional states to follow in early spring. Pepsi is making its own commitment with a distribution business called Blue Cloud Distribution to sell, deliver and merchandise the product.

Pepsi CEO Ramon Laguarta has said the company is open to licensing more of its brands to bev-alc producers, and Blue Cloud could be leveraged to distribute alcoholic beverages from other producers.

For its part, Coca-Cola has eased into bev-alc through partnerships with Molson Coors (Topo Chico Hard Seltzer, Simply Spiked) and Constellation Brands

(Fresca Mixed). Topo Chico Hard Seltzer is now a top five seltzer brand.

Beyond beverage makers, Canadian cannabis firm Tilray continues to expand distribution of the SweetWater beer brand across the U.S. -- and has added to its bev-alc portfolio with bolt-on acquisitions of the Green Flash and Alpine beer brands and Breckenridge Distillery. Those moves come as the wait for federal legalization of cannabis slowly lurches forward.

Mark these partnerships as only the start of a trend that’s not about to abate anytime soon.

Flavor-Forward Offerings Drive Beer Category Growth The search for growth in 2021 led to more flavor-forward offerings, according to Bump Williams Consulting.

“Flavors clearly stand out as a common thread when it comes to answering the question of ‘Where is growth coming from?’” Williams wrote in a report. “Whether it jumps off the page like ‘Beyond’ Beer and RTD Spirits do below, or it lurks throughout the list of ‘Top Growth Brands’ for any of the core category segments … the incremental contributions from flavor can’t be discounted, particularly as of late.”

The flavor-driven segments that posted the largest growth in dollar sales in 2021 included hard seltzer (+11.4%), hard tea (+23.1%), hard kombucha (+31.2%), hard lemonade (+2.5%) and hard coffee (+12.1%), according to data from market research firm NielsenIQ that includes off-premise sales at chain and independent retailers for the full 2021 calendar year. All outpaced “core beer,” which posted a -4.8% decline in dollar sales for the same time period.

Several flavor-forward brands drove growth in both traditional beer and beyond beer last year, including Mark Anthony Brands’ Cayman Jack Margarita flavored malt beverage (+39.6%), Constellation Brands’ Modelo Chelada Mango Y Chile (+85%), Anheuser-Busch InBev’s Busch Light Apple (+278.8%), Heineken USA’s Dos Equis Lager with Lime and Salt (+3,905.9%) and Boston Beer Company’s Twisted Tea Original (+23.4%).

The beyond beer segments of the category have gotten increasingly crowded, Williams noted. Last year, nearly 300 beer category suppliers registered sales of beyond beer offerings and the number of beyond beer brands (1,300) and SKUs (2,000) both increased.

“Still, even with the massive influx of new suppliers/brands/ SKUs, the ‘Beyond’ Beer landscape remained primarily a twohorse race between Mark Anthony and Boston Beer, which collectively accounted for 73% of all ‘Beyond’ Beer dollar sales in 2021 (41%, 32% respectively),” Williams wrote.

Within craft, IPA and imperial/double/triple IPAs were the two fastest-growing style subsegments, increasing offpremise dollar sales 10.4% and 9.7%, respectively, according to NielsenIQ data. Both hazy and imperial increased their dollar share of craft by a little more than 1% last year. Helping drive that growth is Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA, which was the second best-selling craft brand in 2021 and the top-selling IPA in the beer category.

In the spirits category, ready-to-drink offerings “also multiplied exponentially” with more than 230 suppliers and

“well over” 1,000 SKUs, Williams wrote. E. & J. Gallo’s High Noon Sun Sips accounted for nearly one-third of the segment, followed by Cutwater Spirits maker A-B, Beam Suntory, Monaco maker Atomic Brands and Diageo.

The RTD segment’s remaining roughly 220 suppliers account for the final third of the segment’s sales, including Dogfish Head, Fisher’s Island and Finnish Long Drink.

Growing Number of Companies Chase Non-Alc Beer Sales Beer category growth wasn’t limited to products that will give you a buzz. The non-alcoholic beer segment increased dollar sales +24%, to $236.4 million, last year in off-premise channels tracked by market research firm IRI. A growing number of companies are looking to keep that momentum going in 2022, led by Athletic Brewing and several other craft breweries, as well as Heineken USA. Following a year of explosive growth, non-alcoholic craft brewer Athletic Brewing is launching Athletic Lite, a nonalcoholic light beer that checks in at 25 calories, 0 grams of sugar, and 5 grams of carbohydrates. The beer has been in development “in earnest for the better part of two years,” cofounder and head brewer John Walker told Brewbound. Athletic Lite is brewed with all organic grains – malt, wheat and a proprietary rice product – and Hallertau and Saaz noble hops.

Athletic Lite is the most requested new style from the brewery’s wholesale and retail partners, according to cofounder and CEO Bill Shufelt. And for good reason: The three biggest light beer brands (Bud Light, Coors Light and Miller Lite) earned $9.412 billion in off-premise sales in 2021, according to market research firm IRI. Combined, they accounted for 21.27% of beer category dollar sales at multioutlet food and convenience stores through December 26.

However, dollar sales of all three declined last year, as did dollar sales of the broader domestic premium segment (-5.9%, to $12.1 billion), according to IRI. Athletic, which crossed the 100,000-barrel threshold in 2021, sees an opportunity to create more occasions and attract the beer industry’s largest consumer base with its light beer.

Athletic Lite is available through the company’s direct-toconsumer website. The beer launches too late for spring resets at major chains, so Athletic is looking at independent retailers for now. But the beer will be available at Whole Foods Market and Total Wine. Eventually, Athletic Lite will roll out to bars and restaurants.

“We expect this to potentially be a big on-premise beer,” Shufelt said.

Meanwhile, Alberta, Canada-based Partake Brewing raised $16.5 million in a Series B funding round led by Californiabased investors PowerPlant Partners and Amberstone, as well as existing investors CircleUp Growth Partners (San Francisco), Barrel Ventures (Chicago) and McLean & Associates (Ottawa, Ontario).

The latest funding will be used to continue Partake’s growth in the U.S. and Canada, “specifically by building brand awareness and consumer love,” according to a press release.

The company will “expand [its brands’] retail presence” this year, and intends to “reach new geographic markets while 67

expanding distribution across key channels.” Additionally, Partake will expand its regional teams, including adding “key leadership roles.”

The round comes two years after the company raised $4 million in Series A funding.

Partake entered the U.S. market in December 2020 with distribution in Arizona, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington. In March 2021, the company expanded into 11 additional states. Its brands are now available in more than 5,000 retail locations across the U.S., including Total Wine, Whole Foods, Wegmans, BevMo!, Ralphs, Vons, and Pavilions, as well as through direct-to-consumer shipping nationwide.

As existing non-alc craft beer brands level up – and existing craft brands add their own NA offerings, new competitors are joining the fray. Known for its four-SKU line of RTD hopped teas, Boulder, Colorado-based Hoplark is entering the nonalcoholic “beer” market with Hoplark 0.0, a zero-calorie, zero-ABV craft brew line that arrives in stores this month.

Launched in 2018 with hopped teas and hop-infused sparkling waters, Hoplark is now courting non-alc beer consumers. Cofounder and CEO Dean Eberhardt said Hoplark 0.0 aims to deliver “in-your-face craft beer experiences,” starting with the double dry-hopped Citra Hops.

With no fermentation involved, it should be noted that Hoplark 0.0. isn’t technically a beer. But with just three ingredients — Citra hops, sparkling water and citric acid — the product is distinguished as much by what is left out than what is included.

“As amazing as what everyone has done in NA beer, they aren’t diet products. They have calories and gluten,” he said. “We view this opportunity as this totally unique fl avor technology and what we’ve been able to do in our brewery to pull fl avor and aroma out of hops without any of the bitter or off fl avors. That can be applied to this problem in a really powerful way.”

The product is rolling out to BevMo, Natural Grocers, Sprouts, Fry’s Food Stores and King Soopers locations, with an initial focus on the West Coast, Southeast and Northeast, all “large craft beer geographies,” Eberhardt said.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) are most likely to focus on: anticompetitive conduct, mergers and transparency.

Within anticompetitive conduct, Mather and Heltzer predicted more scrutiny of category management, which drew “many complaints of large producers and distributors acting as category captains and eroding the independence of retailers (through inducements or simply by controlling the planogram software).”

“This conduct may be hampering competition, reducing consumer choice and resulting in higher prices,” they wrote.

Tying, the practice through which suppliers or distributors require distributors or retailers to purchase certain undesirable items in order to purchase desirable ones, was the second anticompetitive practice likely to receive more scrutiny from the TTB, according to Mather and Heltzer. Although the TTB has historically investigated such arrangements, it has not done so in recent years. However, tying comes into sharper focus in light of the convergence of bev-alc and non-alc brands.

Mather and Heltzer also called out exclusionary conduct, such as “a dominant distributor us[ing] exclusive contracts with suppliers to impede effective competition by smaller distributors.” Recently, the TTB accepted offers in compromise from wholesalers in Iowa and Illinois for exclusionary practices at venues and events for which those wholesalers had sponsorship agreements.

With increased trade practice enforcements already ongoing, the federal government appears now to have license to go even harder after anti-competitive practices and take a more critical look at M&A activity, which there will be no shortage of in the months and years to come.

CRAFT BEER BRAND

DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

Blue Moon

$367,048,301

-10.6%

New Belgium

$355,504,396

10.8%

Sierra Nevada

$317,866,569

-4.4%

Samuel Adams

$231,845,759

-4.4%

Lagunitas

$179,068,748

-14.5%

Shiner

$139,909,027

-9.2%

Treasury Issues Report on Alcohol Industry Competition

Firestone

$120,815,722

0.0%

Elysian

$118,397,573

-5.1%

The U.S. Department of the Treasury released a 60-plus page report in February on competition in the beer, wine and spirits industries, which took aim at several anti-competitive practices, offered recommendations for leveling the playing fi eld within the alcohol industry and called for increased scrutiny of mergers and acquisitions. Whether that report will directly affect the business is still unclear.

However, many expect a more critical eye on deal activity and certain practices, such as category management, tying and sponsorships.

McDermott, Will & Emery partners Alva Mather, head of the fi rm’s alcohol regulatory and distribution group, and Gregory Heltzer, who specializes in defending mergers and acquisitions, penned a reaction to the report and hosted a webinar in which they zeroed in on three areas that the TTB,

Founders

$117,690,943

-15.5%

Bells

$107,096,511

-10.2%

Leinenkugel Specialty

$103,805,807

-12.2%

Kona

$83,522,488

-3.3%

Stone

$70,143,039

-17.1%

Goose Island

$67,402,070

-10.0%

Deschutes

$65,271,084

-8.1%

Sweetwater

$57,492,516

-13.0%

Cigar City

$55,897,470

-4.2%

Karbach

$50,919,048

-7.6%

Dogfish Head

$48,662,368

-14.0%

New Glarus

$43,970,498

1.5%

68 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

SOURCE: IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm-@iriworldwide% 52 Weeks through 2/20/22

FUNCTIONAL BEVERAGE GUIDE • 2022

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BRAND LISTINGS Natural, Vitamin-Enhanced Cellular-Level Hydration A-Game Beverages, Inc.

AMAZ Your Best new Mate Amaz Project, Inc

Aqua ViTea Kombucha

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

Authentically brewed with premium ingredients and live probiotics, our kombucha is organic, low in sugar & calories, and always verified non-alcohol compliant.

NEW Organic, Probiotic Kombucha Seltzer – Better-For-You-Bubbles

Fresh • Functional • Delicious™ - Alkaline88®, water for all occasions Alkaline88®

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Organic, Sustainable, Low Sugar Probiotic Tea

Ardor Organic Functional Sparkling Water for Focus, Energy, Hydration

Aqua Seltzer

Ardor Organic, Inc.

With low sugar & calories, our fullflavored probiotic seltzer is infused with kombucha and packed with probiotics for immune and gut health.

Crafted by Aqua ViTea.

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.

ASPIRE Healthy Energy Drinks, Smooth Sustained Energy for Every Day Aspire Brands Inc.

BRAND LISTINGS BAWLS Guarana ZERO, Now Available in 10oz. Iconic Bottle BAWLS Guarana

Organic Sparkling Tepache Soda Big Easy

Organic Single-Batch Kombucha

Organic, sustainable, delicious kombucha. Big flavor. Small footprint.

Clean. Healthy. Hydration.

Brewery on a creek in Austin brews Wild Kombucha & New Sparkling Kefir

Better Booch

BioSteel

Blue Ridge Bucha

Buddha's Brew

Better Booch is a brewed, not blended, single-batch kombucha that is raw with live enzymes and probiotics. Morning Glory has a strong note of peach jam with black tea along with L-theanine to sharpen your focus.

Originally developed for professional athletes, BioSteel offers zero sugar Sports Hydration filled with premium ingredients to hydrate your active lifestyle.

The best kept secret in sports is no longer a secret - and is now available to all.

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!

The overachieving beverage squeezed from the pulp of the cacao fruit

Your day begins at night with Blue Bear Sleep

bevCacao

Blue Bear Wellness

Cacao provides 3x the antioxidants of other superfruits, more electrolytes than coconut water and an energy boost without the jitters. bevCacao tastes like the tropics after a storm.

Banana, white peach, lychee – spliced with a spritz of lemon.

The first ready-todrink melatonin nighttime tea is here. Made with natural & organic ingredients, Blue Bear Sleep supports rest & relaxation with a zero sugar, lightly sweetened, peach flavored organic white tea. Get ready for a new nightly routine.

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.

New Flavor! C4 Smart Energy Watermelon Burst C4 Energy C4 Smart Energy delivers energy and focus to help you conquer any task. Made with InnovaTea® Naturally Derived Caffeine, brain-boosting Cognizin®, natural flavors, no artificial colors, and contains zero sugar. Try our new flavor Watermelon Burst.

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BRAND LISTINGS Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar Prebiotic Shots Bragg Live Food Products, LLC

Stevia-Free CBD Seltzer from Wrestling Superstar Goldberg Bravago Bold Seltzer

Get your daily dose of wellness on-the-go. Each 2-ounce, ready-to-sip shot contains one tablespoon of our raw, unfiltered Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with gut-healthy proteins, enzymes, and good bacteria. We blend our ACV with functional ingredients for an instant prebiotic immunity boost.

Available in 4 delicious flavors - Honey, Ginger Turmeric, Pineapple Cayenne, and Carrot Ginger.

Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar Prebiotic Refreshers Bragg Live Food Products, LLC

Get your daily dose of wellness on the go. Our ready-to-drink prebiotic Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar Refreshers feature a hand-picked selection of organic fruit juices, teas, and spices mixed with the gut-healthy, immune-boosting power of Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar.

Available in 6 delicious flavors - Apple Cinnamon, Concorde Grape Hibiscus, Ginger Lemon Honey, Honey Green Tea, Lime Citrus and Pomegranate Cherry.

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Meet water’s bubblier and more energetic best friend!

BUBBL’R

BRAND LISTINGS C4 Energy x Skittles™ C4 Energy

Sip To Align Your Body And Mind Cann-Ade Corporation

New Electrolit Zero. Zero Calories. Zero Sugar. All the Taste.

Clean Energy – Shelf Stable, Energy Boosting Smoothie

CAB Enterprises, Inc.

Clean Energy

Electrolit is scientifically formulated to quickly rehydrate and refuel your body. Whether it’s after a hard workout, prolonged exposure to heat, or excessive drinking, Electrolit helps replenish your electrolytes so you can bounce back faster and keep your life moving.

Clean Energy provides the nutrition and energy of a homemade smoothie with single-serve, RTD convenience. It’s organic, plant-based, and clean label, meaning no added sugars or lab created additives. It’s perfect before or after a run or workout!

The Future of Drinking Is Here

Home of the Best Tasting CBD Products on the Market CBD Living

Midwest's Best Bucha.

Cann

Cultured Kombucha Co.

Cann is the #1 THC-infused drink in California (BDSA).

Cann is reshaping social drinking with their microdosed tonics that deliver a light, uplifting buzz.

Each Cann has 5 clean ingredients with a strength that is similar to a beer or a glass of wine

Cultured is the fastest growing and most in-demand craft kombucha in Michigan. Our proprietary 7 step process creates a flavorful kombucha to nourish you from the inside out. Cultured Kombucha is certified organic, certified vegan, and women owned.

76 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

Hydrate and refresh with five 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.

BRAND LISTINGS Sparkling Beverage with 25 mg of Hemp Extract Cloud Water Brands

Supercharge your water. Functional drink mixes that feel & taste good.

CURE

At Cloud Water, we create sparkling wellness beverages with the perfect balance of functionality and mouthwatering taste. Our Cloud Water + Hemp beverages are made with 25 mg of pure hemp extract and sweetened with organic wild flower honey, never stevia. With our two newest hemp Clouds, Watermelon + Ginger and Half Tea + Half Lemonade, we aim to introduce familiar flavors to those who are curious about CBD and haven’t yet taken the leap.

NEW! Confidence: Mood-Boosting Refreshment | Drink the Feeling Confidence

Functional CBD Beverages Designed to Help You FOCUS, CHILL, and SLEEP. Cüre CBD

Cüre CBD is a lifestyle brand created to meet the modern needs of CBD consumers. With a foundation rooted in beverage and pharmaceutical formulation, CÜRE’s proprietary blend of CBD & functional herbs help to achieve multiple levels of relaxation, relief, and sleep.

Packed into delicious elixirs, wellness shots, and discreet gum, these moods have been a hit.

With just over 2 years in the market, Cüre now sells in over 2,000 stores—and growing. Our commitment to tasty, safe, and practical products will continue fueling our growth, and we hope you join us on this mission.

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BRAND LISTINGS Daydream - Adaptogen infused sparkling water (All natural, 0 sugar) Daydream Drinks

DEFY BOOST : Performance Drink DEFY

Meet Tepache - A Fermented Pineapple Probiotic De La Calle Co.

Elements Plant-Based Drinks with Benefits you Feel Elements of Balance

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BRAND LISTINGS Harness The Power Of Plants!

Elixir Shots

Organic & Dairy-Free Drinkable Yogurt

Good Idea, Clinically Proven to Boost Metabolism & Balance Blood Sugar Good Idea

Effervescent Organic Botanicals with Prebiotic Plant Fiber

The Original Craft Brewed Sparkling Hop Water - 0 Alc 0 Cal 0 Gluten

NEXTY Best New Beverage Finalist

Forager Project

Gist

H2OPS LLC

heywell

The ultimate gutbooster, Forager Project’s Drinkable Cashewmilk Yogurt contains one billion unique, live probiotics.

It’s traditionally cultured and deliciously creamy with sweetened and unsweetened flavors available in 28oz. or 8oz. bottles.

Gist is a prebiotic sparkling botanical made with 4g of plant fiber to fuel the life in you. With elegantly balanced flavors and no sugars, sweeteners, or preservatives, Gist is an always functional, truly clean, and refreshingly simple daily drink.

Our award winning refreshing alternative to beer is merchandised in the sparkling water category and is authentically craft brewed in a brewery using premium hops for that plant based goodness you can taste. Available in 3 flavors. Twist off cap.

Delicious sparkling adaptogenic waters made to meet the demands of modern life. With adaptogens, antioxidants and organic ingredients for extra energy, hydration, immunity, focus or support for occasional stress.

Non-GMO, low in calories and sugar.

Tsamma Watermelon Juice

Optimum Nutrition ESSENTIAL AMIN.O. ENERGY + ELECTROLYES

Frey Farms Tsamma Watermelon Juice is made from 1 1/2 pounds of Frey Farms watermelons.

This natural hydration drink provides nutrients and electrolytes without added sugar.

Now available in watermelon, blueberry and coconut, as well as a 25.3 multi-serve.

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Glanbia Performance Nutrition Energy + Hydration!

Helps fuel active adults on the go. Each deliciously refreshing flavor provides hydration and energy from 100mg of natural caffeine and electrolytes plus amino acids for recovery.

this just might be the world's healthiest drink

Hoplark Hoptea: The Mile-High-Biscus One

Happy Being

HOPLARK

we took the best stuff from a cold-pressed juice, cut out the sugar & multiplied the nutrients to get a drink that's nutritionally equivalent to 900+ cups of blueberries with only 25-40 calories & 0g added sugar. introducing your new favorite drink.

Tea & Hops: Crafted Pure & Simple. This sparkling hibiscus tea brewed with Cashmere and Lemondrop hops is the newest addition to the Hoplark HopTea line. 0 Calories, 0 Gluten, 0 Sugar, 0 Alcohol, 0 Caffeine and Full Flavor brewed in Boulder, CO.

BRAND LISTINGS Naturally Alkaline, Hawaiian Lava Filtered, Ultra Premium Water Hawaii Volcanic Beverages

Introducing Holy Tepache: Kombucha’s Bubbly Cousin Holy Kombucha, Inc

Award-Winning Hydrogen Infused Water HFactor Water

HOP WTR is The Healthy Way to Hops HOP WTR

HFactor Water (OTCMKTS: HWTR), is the manufacturer and distributor of the award-winning HFactor® hydrogen infused water. Since launching in 2017, HFactor has become the favorite of professional athletes and active consumers looking for a go-to functional beverage. Water infused with molecular hydrogen has been shown to offer multiple anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. enhancing how their body recovers— whether from an intense workout or a night out.

HFactor’s patented hydrogen infusion process and environmentally friendly ergonomic pouch deliver the fitness, health, lifestyle, recovery, and wellness benefits of molecular hydrogen. Over 1,000 published scientific papers have shown that molecular hydrogen acts to reduce oxidative stress in the body and may have significant therapeutic potential. HFactor is available in over 5,000 retail stores in the U.S., including Albertsons, Safeway, Walmart and Walmart.com, Giant, Sprouts, Gelson’s, Erewhon, and Amazon.com.

For more information, visit www.HFactorWater.com

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HOP WTR, a non-alcoholic sparkling hop water crafted with crisp, bold hops and mood-boosting ingredients, is leading the charge in the non-alcoholic beverage category. The brand’s Classic, Blood Orange, Mango and Lime flavors feature a proprietary blend of stress-busting hops, adaptogens and nootropics that burst with mood-boosting benefits while tasting light, crisp and satisfying. Citra, Amarillo, Mosaic and Azacca hops deliver a citrusy, piney flavor that evokes a tasty IPA. The stress-busting stack of adaptogens and nootropics, including ashwagandha and L-Theanine, is specifically formulated to help you unwind and destress, providing guilt-free, hop-filled relaxation without the alcohol, calories, carbs, sugar, or gluten. HOP WTR is available nationwide at HOPWTR.com, goPuff, Amazon and Thrive Market. HOP WTR can also be found at Erewhon, BevMo! and select Ralphs, Wegmans, HEB and HyVee locations. For more information, please visit HOPWTR.com and follow on Instagram @HOPWTR.

BRAND LISTINGS HUMANITEA - "The first RTD Tea in Tetra Pak"

Deep Hydration® for Skin & Cellular Health

HUMANITEA Company

Jove Wellness Water

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. "Great Tea with a Great Cause"

Jove Alkaline Wellness Water is making waves with consumers by providing noticeable skin and cellular health benefits.

Backed by clinical studies, these benefits are derived from its exclusive ACH Technology® (Advanced Cellular Hydration Technology).

Low Sodium, Sugar Free, Multinutrient Electrolyte Powder Packets

Karma CBD Water- Blood Orange Papaya

Hydronique Hydration

Karma Culture LLC.

Physician founder's solution to remedy PPE-related headaches. Contains MORE nutrients than the typical beverage.

NO sugar, keto friendly, plant-based and gluten/dairy free.

Hydronique offers a rare LOW SODIUM option, unlike most electrolyte powders.

Karma CBD Water is meticulously formulated with 25mg of Broad Spectrum CBD distillate, 4 nourishing adaptogens and 100% of 7 essential vitamins. Karma's patented Push Cap protects the active ingredients, assuring optimal potency.

The Future of Functional Ichor

CUT Energy + Weight Loss Sparkling Beverage Iovate Health Sciences

Organic Superfood Juices & Smoothies Karviva Beverages

Karviva™, formerly Karuna, is an award-winning innovator in making organic, great tasting juices and smoothies with natural ingredients offering health benefits backed by science. Formulated from the belief that Food is Better Medicine™, Karviva’s beverages offer benefits ranging from restoration of digestive and immune health to delivering clean protein and providing sustained energy. The founder’s strong passion for natural healing is rooted in a life-long belief in Far East herbal science and profound experience in medical research, her inspiring story won 2021 Mid-America Emmy Award. Distributed nationally by C&S Wholesales, KeHE, McLane, UNFI and available at retailers including Whole Foods Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, Schnucks, H-E-B, Ahold, Tops Market, and selected c-stores and airport venues.

Visit mykaruna.com for more details.

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BRAND LISTINGS WONDER LEMON™ - 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Juice Kayco Beyond

It’s kombucha, only better.

Koe Organic Kombucha Koe is kombucha without the weird. We blend organic fruit juice, live probiotics, vitamin C, and refreshing sparkling water into a craveable drink with real benefits. It’s a healthy drink that keeps your taste buds and your gut happy!

Introducing Wonder Lemon™, a first-of-its-kind, 100% organic cold-pressed juice crafted with a blend of fruits and vegetables with zero added sugar and a delightful reduction of the acidity of the citrus.

MAKA Wheatgrass - Superfood Drink Living MaKa P.B.C. 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.

You’ll love the sweet taste of less sugar!

Koia

Wonder Lemon is available in three refreshing and delightful flavors: Lemon Ginger, Lemon Mint, and Lemon Basil Jalapeño. Each of the lemon blend flavors is made with only five to six ingredients, with less than 110 calories per bottle, and made up of 100% natural fruits and vegetables.

With the pairing of tart lemons with other dynamic flavors, Wonder Lemon juices are sweet and thirst-quenching, and customers can feel confident in knowing that they contain no added sugar, artificial flavors, preservatives, additives, or artificial coloring.

Wonder Lemon is a member of Kayco food company. Kayco is one of the largest manufacturers and suppliers of kosher foods. Its expanded Kayco Beyond Division sources and distributes new products to the general market beyond kosher, to meet the demands of consumers looking for products that are healthful, convenient, and/or for restricted diets and lifestyles. These brands include Absolutely® Gluten Free, Beetology™, Mighty Sesame®, Dorot Gardens®, Wonder Melon™, and the new Wonder Lemon™.

Kill Cliff®, The Best Tasting CBD Drink Kill Cliff®

OOH LA Lemin Sparkling Lemonades

Founded and created by a former Navy SEAL as a way to provide ongoing financial support to the military community, Kill Cliff® makes the world’s best tasting clean energy and CBD drinks. Kill Cliff® CBD products offer customers 25mg of CBD derived from 125mg of broad spectrum hemp in each can. The formulation includes b-vitamins, electrolytes and plant extracts and is available in five knockout flavors: Mango Tango, Joe Rogan’s Flaming Joe (Spicy Pineapple), Strawberry Daze, Orange Kush and The Grapest of All Time (The G.O.A.T.). Kill Cliff® has established an unprecedented national distribution network to serve retailers and on-premise outlets with its top selling CBD drinks.

Also check out our industry-leading clean energy drink - Kill Cliff® IGNITE; made with 150mg of clean green tea caffeine, b-vitamins and electrolytes, but zero sugar.

Kill Cliff® has also supported the Navy SEAL community with over $1 million to date in donations to the Navy SEAL Foundation.

Learn more at KILLCLIFF.com 84 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

USDA Organic Sparkling Yerba Mate Blend with Benefits - New Flavor!

Kona Gold Beverage

Marquis

All new OOH LA LEMIN SPARKLING LEMONADES available in 6 delicious flavors!

These 12oz sparkling lemonades are ALL NATURAL, zero sugar, GMO free, Gluten free, 10 low calories and filled with Vitamin C!

Carefully calibrated, our tri-blend of plantbased caffeine is first of its kind. Marquis is packed with 100% vitamins B & C, four types of antioxidants, and has the power to set you free -- free from sugar, free from calories & free from fatigue.

BRAND LISTINGS Hemp Infused Adaptogenic Sparkling Beverage L8 Life

Hydrate + Energize with Love Beets’ Organic Beet Juice!

Love Beets

Zero Sugar, Vegan, Gluten-Free Performance Liquid Core Gum Company

USDA Organic Lucky Jack Oatmilk lattes Lucky Jack, LLC

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BRAND LISTINGS HUZZAH Probiotic Seltzer Molson Coors Non-Alc LLC

Sparkling Superfruit Tea - Real Botanicals - Why Pocas Ginger Brew? Meet All Natural

By Women from Crop to Can Ginger Brew with Superfoods!

Needs & Wants

Pocas

Needs & Wants combines antioxidantrich Cascara, real fruit juice & organic botanicals for crave-worthy flavor that supports immunity, stress relief & digestive health.

Ethically-sourced ingredients. Womenled supply chain. No tradeoffs required.

Pocas Ginger Brew is an all-natural, non-GMO, caffeinefree ginger drink that's been shaken and infused with superfoods like turmeric, moringa, and ginseng. Indulge in rich flavors of ginger and sweetened with cane sugar; it is a true game-changer.

Organic Blends of fruit and botanicals to nourish with nature

Sparkling Water with a Kombucha Twist Mother Kombucha

Immunity Boosting Positive Energy®

Plants by People

Positive Beverage

Plants by People blends are rooted in holistic health and sustainability, supported by ancient wisdom and modern science, packed with superfoods and adaptogens. Mix a convenient sachet with water - hot, cold, or bubbly! Stir and relax.

Experience the "ONLY" immunity boosting energy beverage packed with vitamins, zinc and organic green tea to remain zero calorie and great for the entire family.

Want positive growth in your set.... Add Positive Beverage!

Nirvana HMB + Vitamin D3 Supports Immunity And Muscle Wellness Nirvana Water Sciences Corp.

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BRAND LISTINGS Nuun Launches 4 Flavors of New Daily Hydration Drink Tablets!

Nuun Hydration

Finally, soda that’s actually good for you.

OLIPOP

Mushrooms Never Tasted So Good with Functional Mushroom Elixirs Odyssey Wellness LLC

No More Weak, Sour, & Bitter Coffee – Authentic Vietnamese Cold Brew Omni Bev

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BRAND LISTINGS the future of bottled water PATH

Phocus: Caffeine + L-theanine. A power combo.

Phocus

Refresh your taste buds with this caffeinated sparkling water that enhances clarity and drives focus by delicately balancing tea caffeine with L-theanine for a jitter-free boost. Our 75 mg of tea caffeine brings the energy, while L-theanine (also from tea) takes the edge off and enhances focus, along with providing a variety of health benefits. It’s your healthy boost with no sugar, calories, or jitters.

Petal - Organic Sparkling Strawberry Lemongrass Dandelion Petal Sparkling Botanicals

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Agua Plus Premium Alkaline Water featuring All-Scratch!™ Technology Plus Brand

BRAND LISTINGS Organic Dairy-Free Lattes Pop & Bottle

NEW Whey Protein Isolate Stick Packs Protein2o No more chalky shakes! All the benefits of 15g whey protein isolate in refreshing, convenient packs that you add to water. Only 70 cals with electrolyte, energy and immunity varieties from America’s #1 Protein Water. In 6-pack boxes this June.

Discover the Taste

Nutrient Dense Cold-Pressed Juices & Wellness Shots Pressed

Rambler Yaupon Energy Rambler Sparkling Water Yaupon, North America's only native caffeinated plant, is known for its moodlifting and focusing properties. Rambler introduces Yaupon Energy, Spring 2022.

Available in four delicious flavors, all under 50 calories and made with organic ingredients.

Delicious, nutrient-dense functional beverages

Ralph&Charlie's Juice

REBBL

We consider ourselves to be category of our own! Discover our revolutionary taste with our award winning 18oz fruit&Vegetable drinks.New release of our delicious shelf stable Smoothies,low in calories and carbsEnvironmentally friendly glass bottle!

Organic REBBL is packed with deliciously satisfying, nutrient-dense functional ingredients to help support your need for Immunity, Wellness, Protein, Digestion, and Energy.

We ethically source our ingredients and use 100% recycled plastic bottles.

The First FDA-Compliant Psychedelic Blend Psychedelic Water Inc.

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BRAND LISTINGS Delta 8 THC Infused Seltzer

Sparkling Live Cultured Kombucha & Drinks with No Sugar

Rebel Rabbit

Remedy Drinks

Rebel Rabbit's High Seltzers are an all-natural, low-calorie sipper designed to sparkle your senses—without any of alcohol's nasty side effects. Unlike the hard stuff, this hydrating concoction is infused with the perfect amount of Delta 8 THC.

Remedy Drinks is the only no sugar, organic and shelf stable, live cultured drink that is good for your gut, while also tasting deliciously light and refreshing.

Authentically brewed with real ingredients.

Craft-made in small batches.

REZ "Great Taste with Benefits" Where Flavor & Function Meet

Probiotic Seltzer Revive Drinks

Find Your Remedy With Remedy Organics

Recovery Brands LLC

Remedy Organics

REZ is a natural, Immune Supporting beverage that is Keto & Diabetic Friendly.

REZ has more functional ingredients than any other beverage and has 0-sugar, 10-calories, 1-carb. REZ offers your customers "Great Taste with Benefits"

We produce a delicious line of plant-based beverages with purposeful function.

Our mission is to bring convenient functional nutrition to the world in the form of plant-based food and beverages and connect all to the healing power of plants.

Summer Arrives Early With Red Bull® Summer Edition Strawberry Apricot Red Bull

With bright summer days on the horizon, Red Bull® unveils the latest in their Red Bull Edition series with the launch of Red Bull Summer Edition: Strawberry Apricot. The limited time offering will be available on April 4, in Walmart, and nationwide on May 1 just in time for the warmer weather ahead.

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100% Plant Powered. Radically real ingredients. Addictively Refreshing RIOT Energy

BRAND LISTINGS ADAPTONIC Immunity - Sparkling Tonics With Reishi Mushrooms Rowdy Mermaid

ALL NEW 32oz RISE Cold Brew Coffee & Lattes RISE Brewing Co.

Our new 32oz Multi-Serve Cold Brew Coffee and Lattes are brewed with the same amazing all organic coffee and oat milk that we use for our award-winning nitro cans. Shelf stable for 12 months and perfect for your restaurant, office, at home or on-the-go!

ALL NEW 32oz RISE Cold Brew Coffee & Lattes

John Ferolito's Saint James Organic set to launch in West Coast market

RISE Brewing Co. Our new 32oz MultiServe Cold Brew Coffee and Lattes are brewed with the same amazing organic coffee and oat milk that we use for our award-winning nitro cans. Shelf stable for 12 months and perfect for your restaurant, office, at home or on-the-go!

Power Burn Pink Lemonade

Chai Cherry with Chaga and CBD

Organic Berries from Our Farm + Herbs/ Spices + ACV + Sparkling Water

Saint James Brands LLC

Shimmerwood Beverages

Shrubbly -Hinesburg, Vermont

Founded by Arizona Iced Tea co-founder John Ferolito, Saint James Organic Green tea was created in honor of Father James Haggerty. With Saint James he is carrying that legacy into the next generation with a low cal, nutrient dense, eco packaged tea

To achieve the spiced flavor, we get some help from a friendly mushroom known as chaga. Somewhat bitter and savory, this fungi blends seamlessly with the warmth of chai and woodsy flavor of our cherry bitters. All combined with CBD for R&R in a can.

Shrubbly is a lightly sparkling, ready-todrink beverage with refreshing flavor from an old-time mixer called a "Shrub" made modern with wellness shot ingredients like organic fruit + herbs/ spices + ACV. Low Calorie, Low/No Sugar, & Whole30 Approved!

Sapsucker Organic Sparkling Tree Water

100% of Your Daily Vitamin D + Vibrant Flavor Zero Sugar All natural

Top Selling Plant-Based Nutrition Shakes

Rowdy Energy

Sapsucker

ShineWater

Soylent Nutrition, Inc

Clinically proven to burn 150 calories per can! It has 5 calories, zero sugar and 160mg of natural caffeine from green tea & green coffee bean. It’s packed with amino acids, electrolytes & contains no artificial sweeteners, flavors, or preservatives.

Sapsucker isn't like any other water. The subtle bubble and hint of natural sweetness make it delicious & unexpectedly refreshing. Sapsucker is plant-based, certified organic, & sustainably harvested in Canada. Grab a Sapsucker. Refreshing

by Nature.

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!

Soylent Nutrition Shakes are the perfect combination of complete nutrition and great taste.

Now available in 6 delicious flavors including top selling Creamy Chocolate and Banana, along with Strawberry, Mint Chocolate, Vanilla, and Cafe Mocha.

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BRAND LISTINGS Naturally Functional Healthy Soda Säti Soda

Delicious Sparkling Water Beverages with Ingredients That Vibe Soulboost

People will do anything to make their day a little bit better - from crystals under a full moon to hang-gliding in Costa Rica. And while those things can be great, sometimes, all you really need is a can of soulboost that has been chilling in your fridge the whole time.

Soulboost is a sparkling water beverage made with a splash of real juice and functional ingredients that let you feel the moment. It comes in four delicious flavors and two functional varieties to lift your spirits with Panax Ginseng or ease your day with L-theanine, whatever works for you!

Soulboost Lift is made with 200mg Panax Ginseng to help support mental stamina, for those days when you’re having trouble conjuring basic charms, or you just want to go from blah to boss. It is available in Blueberry Pomegranate and Black Cherry Citrus.

Soulboost Ease is made with 200mg L-theanine to help support relaxation and uncomplicate your unwind. Perfect for those days when your roll could use some slowing. It’s also available in two delicious flavors: Blackberry Passionfruit and Strawberry Rose.

Head to getsoulboost.com for more info and to find soulboost near you. The feeling you want out of your day might be nearer than you think.

Som Sleep 8.1oz Original & Zero Sugar Som Friends Inc.

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Formulated for Flavor and Function & Naturally Unsweetened!

Sparkling Botanicals by Rishi

BRAND LISTINGS Introducing ALO Organic ZERO – No Calories. 100% Flavor

Unlock your body's NXT LVL with NXT LVL Hydrogen Water

SPI WEST PORT, INC

Takeover Industries Inc.

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.

Bounce Back: Designed by Biochemists for Overnight Replenishment

Supplemented Coconut water - Recharge and Hydrate at the same time.

The Karma Kollective

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.

True Nopal Prickly Pear Cactus Water

Stewart's Enterprises, Inc.

True Nopal Ventures LLC

Based on vitamins, amino acids, and minerals, this 40 cal. vegan supplement includes zinc, selenium, vitamins B6 and B12, and 13 other active ingredients to ensure restful sleep, support immune and gut health, and provide mental acuity upon waking.

The original cactus water! True Nopal Prickly Pear Cactus Water is 100% all natural with no added sugar or sweeteners.

True Nopal has less than 1/2 the calories & sugar of coconut water while providing electrolytes, potassium & magnesium.

10 pH Alkaline Water from America’s Purest Springs TEN Alkaline Spring Water

Natural Taste. Natural Wellness.

The Naked Collective

Made from all-natural plant-based ingredients, Mude is a new range of healthy functional sparkling beverages crafted with botanicals and brewed to refresh your mood.

Whether you want to Play, Chill, Work, or Sleep, there is a Mude to support your every mood.

Mude is Vegan, Carbon Neutral, and Non-GMO Certified.

Each 12 oz can has only 6g Sugar, 40 Calories, and is packed with Vitamins and Minerals including: Selenium (25% DV), B12 (20% DV), Zinc (15% DV) and Folate (8% DV).

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BRAND LISTINGS The Plug Drink 3.0 Launch - NOW All-Natural with Electrolytes The Plug Drink

All Natural, Plant Based, Clinically Proven Calming Tonic Ü Calming Co.

VUE Drink

Ü Relax is a one-ofa-kind formula made with 5 clinicallytested, plant-based ingredients proven to reduce stress, improve your mood, and keep you calm for hours, naturally.

VUE Vitamin Tea is made with clean ingredients that you can trust in sustainable packaging. Each tea is loaded with essential vitamins, plant extracts, and minerals that enhance memory and focus while fueling your body naturally for the day.

Plant Based Functional Botanical Shots (Daily Herbal Wellness)

Spare Tonic Upcycled Sparkling Probiotic Beverage The Spare Food Co.

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Vitamin-Packed Tea-Based Functional Beverage

Oaza Cold Brew Coffee - Energy, Upgraded

URBL

Oaza

Energy & stress-relief (adaptogens) + brain health (nootropics) + liver function + gut boosters & antioxidants (natural collagen boost) + pantry spices. 24 botanical superfoods across 3 SKUs. NGPV. Shelf-stable for 24 months. NHP licensed in Canada.

With 200mg caffeine, electrolytes for energy, L-theanine for focus, zero sugar and smooth flavor at only <30 calories, Oaza delivers a nextgeneration functional edge over traditional cold brew. Oaza has 3 flavors: Black, Oat Milk and Cacao Mocha.

Ultima Replenisher Premium Hydration Electrolyte Powder Mix Ultima Health Products, Inc

BRAND LISTINGS Organic Prebiotic Soda With Plant Fiber and Minerals Vina

Wellness Shots Well Canada

Canada’s leader in cold-pressed juice, wellness shots, and functional beverages. Potent wellness shots that pack a punch!

NOCCO Sugarfree BCAA Energy Drink Vitamin Well USA LLC

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Wellie Organic Flavored Water Wellbev LLC

BRAND LISTINGS Introducing Tropical Zevia Energy Flavors

XL Energy Drink XL Energy Drink Corp

Zevia

Lightly carbonated and refreshing, XL Energy Drinks give a classic taste and a boost of energy containing caffeine and taurine. XL helps you to achieve your best every single day and is a perfect alternative to coffee at an everyday low price.

Taste the tropics with Zevia’s Pineapple Paradise and Strawberry Kiwi Energy drinks. Zero sugar and 120 mg of caffeine, these flavors keep you energized all day.

ZOA - #1 New Brand in Energy ZOA Energy

On a mission to help prevent ocean pollution ZenWTR Alkaline Water

#1 New Brand in Energy ZOA Energy Founded by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, ZOA is a healthier option for energy - with natural caffeine from green tea and green coffee, no preservatives, 100% DV Vitamin C. Now available in two new flavors Tropical Punch and White Peach.

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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 Manufacturer 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 beverages, dairy, confectionery, food, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceutical applications.

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.

Connecting Nutrition & Health BENEO Inc.

Cans Supplied Nationwide CanSource

From energy drinks to protein and meal replacement beverages, low glycemic Palatinose™ (isomaltulose) opens the door to nutritionally optimised beverages. Its slow release of glucose, the main fuel for body and brain, supports blood sugar management while keeping you supplied with sustained energy, whether for exercising, training/competitions, or simply for those long, demanding days.

With a decade of experience, CanSource is your one-stop-shop for cans. Sleeved, brite & printed cans - we have them all plus a team dedicated to customer service! We leverage 6 locations (CA, OR, CO, IN, PA, NC) to dependably provide short lead times & high on-time-delivery. Call us today to ensure your cans look as great as your beverage tastes and ask about our 1/2 pallet minimums.

Beverage Industry Navigators BevSource

We Make Your Packaging Work Closure Systems International

Launching a functional beverage? Nothing slows down a beverage creator more than getting swallowed up by the details. BevSource has the innovation, procurement, and operational expertise to help you successfully usher your project from concept to shelf-ready product with custom solutions tailored to YOUR needs. Let us manage the operational details, while you focus on building your brand.

CSI is a global leader in designing and manufacturing innovative closures for a wide range of applications in consumer and industrial markets. In addition to high quality closures and capping equipment, CSI provides unparalleled customer and technical services for high-speed application systems.

Organic Functional Ingredients Applied Food Sciences (AFS)

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SUPPLIER & SERVICES LISTINGS Functional Branded Ingredients Bioenergy Life Science (BLS)

Shopify + Development Strategy Chelsea and Rachel Co.

BLS creates scientifically based, functional ingredients for healthier living. We are best known for the only patented & FDA GRAS-certified D-Ribose: Bioenergy Ribose®. Bioenergy Ribose is the true source of sustainable, cellular energy and is crucial to ATP production. Without sufficient ATP, nutrients entering the body may not be as well absorbed or as effective.

Your body makes Ribose naturally but the process is very slow. Adding Bioenergy Ribose to your diet helps bypass that slow process and build ATP faster. This makes Bioenergy Ribose essential for people of all ages and gives them the energy needed for an active, healthy lifestyle.

Bioenergy Ribose is easily incorporated into beverage formulations for many reasons. It is fully soluble and slightly sweet with no aftertaste. It is compatible with many ingredients and systems including other sugars, carbohydrates, fibers and sweeteners. It is a simple, 5-carbon monosaccharide that actually lowers blood sugar. It is a “good sugar” that creates natural energy.

BLS wants to be your total solution provider by using our innovative ingredients to create applications and finished concepts; partnering with you to develop or refine new formulations and line extensions; and offering marketing support to further strengthen our partnership with you.

Contact us to advance your business to the next level.

Your Tropical Fruit Partners Brothers International LLC

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Functional Ingredient Chemi Nutra

SUPPLIER & SERVICES LISTINGS Add a New Flavor to the Mix with El Dorado® Hops CLS Farms, LLC

Flavor & Taste Development Custom Flavors

Stand out by flavoring with El Dorado® hops. Bright pineapple and lemon, juicy peach, and hard candy come together for a tropical juice bomb. Highly concentrated total oils make El Dorado® the ultimate flavoring hop, creating a unique experience for every drinker. Learn more at www.eldoradohops.com.

Speciality Hydrocolloids CP Kelco

Functional Beverage Creation 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 specializes in creating natural, functional beverages and can successfully take your product from concept to commercialization (and anywhere in between).

We exist to help and to educate every step of the way. We have the most competitive rates in the industry because we believe that creating a great tasting functional beverage should not be a barrier to entry.

Natural Energizing Beverages Doehler North America

Perfect Purees!

Endless Harvest

Functional beverages continue to grow and At Endless Harvest, our all-natural aseptic we know how to drive this success. Doehler’s purees are the perfect choice for your beverage functional beverage concepts containing tea, needs. Always free of added sugars and coffee and botanical ingredients with natural additives, our purees will prove to be a valued caffeine perfectly meet consumer preferences. addition to any recipe. With distribution centers Our development expertise and comprehensive in Minnesota and Texas to better reduce your natural ingredient portfolio will bring unique shipping cost. Raspberry, Blackberry, Mango, Döhler Multi-Sensory Experiences® to excite your Peach, Strawberry, and more in stock. Samples consumers time and again. available.

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Probiotic Ingredients Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes

SUPPLIER & SERVICES LISTINGS ECS Brands HempCell Technology ECS Brands

Leaders In Natural, Organic & Plant-Based Flavors Flavor Producers

Crafting with a palette of nature’s ingredients, Flavor Producers has been artfully deconstructing natural and organic taste for over forty years. Driven by our creative spirit and a passion for discovering the flavors of nature, Flavor Producers has established one of the largest certified organic portfolios in the industry. Our breakthrough Transparent Technologies™ utilize the power of plants to showcase the true taste of nature in a transparent form. For example, our Rutz® plant-based portfolio provides the consistent and complex taste profiles of our natural flavors while adding in and flexibility in labeling options. This transparency enables our customers to meet the growing demand for authentic clean and clear label options. Accelerating innovation with unique flavor tools that shorten the time to market for our customers while inspiring new artful expressions of taste is our mission. That passion and commitment to authenticity makes us the valued partner you expect for your flavor needs. Curious to see how Flavor Producers can help you make your products come to life? Contact us at sales@flavorproducers.com or visit our website at www.flavorproducers.com.

Clean Label Ingredients Farbest Brands

Custom Beverage Development Flavorman

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.

The Beverage Architects at Flavorman are ready to formulate your custom beverage. With nearly 30 years of technical expertise in beverage development, Flavorman can craft your beverage from the ground up and make it as flavorful as it is functional. Benefit from value-added services and resources designed for your success. Partner with the best in business. Change what the world is drinking.

Custom Flavor Development Flavor Dynamics, Inc.

FONA Flavor & Taste Solutions FONA

Custom Flavor Solutions FOODAROM

We personalize flavor solutions to meet your needs and create flavor profiles that help your products to stand out above the rest.

Our experienced team knows the functional beverage market and understands the impact your active ingredients have on taste. Our flavor development capabilities will help you stay ahead of the competition.

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.

We understand the complex issues manufacturers are facing and we offer support and coaching in formulation development.

OUR JOB IS TO MAKE YOUR PRODUCT TASTE LIKE HEAVEN!

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SUPPLIER & SERVICES LISTINGS Coconut Beverage Ingredients Franklin Baker, Inc.

Gusmer Brewing Solutions Gusmer Enterprises

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.

Prickly Pear Cactus Ingredient GAIA fruits

Ingredients & Processing Aids HYDRITE

Prickly Pear strengthens the Immune System. It is been attributed with healing properties since it is rich in Bioflavonoids that have strong antioxidant properties and give this fruit its distinctive bright red-violet color, and help the body detoxify and reduce inflammation. GAIA fruits is your trusted supplier of prickly pear puree and concentrate as a functional ingredient with an exotic flavor

Hydrite offers expertise in manufacturing/ distribution, offering a variety of liquid and dry food/beverage ingredients, food/beverage plant sanitation, processing aids, commodities, foam control and water treatment chemistries.

Hydrite provides creative solutions by offering an extensive product line coupled with technical support to address food safety and help maximize efficiency and quality.

Coffeeberry® Natural Caffeine FutureCeuticals

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.

Ingredient Distributor & Custom Ingredient Systems Manufacturer IFPC

Over the last two generations, our family-owned company has grown from a sugar supplier to a one-stop ingredient shop. We’ve built strong relationships with the top ingredient manufacturers around the world, making us the #1 distributor to work within the US. From the ingredients we distribute out of our warehouses across the country, to the custom ingredient systems we manufacture in our world-class Aviator facility, we always ensure the highest quality with every order. From bakery and snack to beverage and confectionery, we supply manufacturers across all industries with the ingredient solutions needed to create the best products.

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SUPPLIER & SERVICES LISTINGS Mobile Canning Solutions Iron Heart Canning Co

Beverage Industry Recruiters Kinsa Group

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!

For more than 35 years, Kinsa Group has matched top food and beverage professionals, managers, and executives with leading employers, nationwide. Our recruiters are discerning industry experts in all disciplines.

Connect with us. No matter what corner of the food and beverage world you reside in, we’ll help you thrive—in your business or in your career.

Clean Label Extracts Javo Beverage Company

Premier Contract Manufacturer Nor-Cal Beverage Co

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®, which 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:

Founded in 2001, Javo is an extraction company that uses a proprietary process to produce fresh, clean-labeled coffee, tea and botanical extracts providing unsurpassed fresh notes to functional beverages and foods. Our production facilities located in Vista, Calif. and Indianapolis, Ind. are Safe Quality Foods (SQF), QAI organic and kosher certified.

Nor-Cal Beverage Company, Inc. is a full-service Contract Manufacturer with two production facilities in Northern and Southern California.

Both locations offer a range of production capabilities and certifications. We also offer finished goods and distribution service centers positioned to supply West Coast fulfillment needs. Family-owned, operated since 1937, and Women's Owned Business.

Line Time Available Keller Logistics Group

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• • • • • •

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/.

Trust the monk.™ Monk Fruit Corp.

SUPPLIER & SERVICES LISTINGS Enhance And Fortify MORRE-TEC Industries Inc.

Instant Delivery for Beverages Ohi

MORRE-TEC Industries is a multifaceted manufacturer and supplier of ingredients to the pharma 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 range from 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.

Juice Solution Specialists Northwest Naturals

Ingredients Matter NutriScience Innovations

Your go-to team for formulation and processing of turnkey fruit bases for the cannabis and alcohol industries. We've long been recognized as a leader in the production of specialty blended, all natural, fruit juice concentrates, WONF concentrates and frozen dairy-style bases, essences, and other value-added fruit products.

Let us help you turn your next product from ordinary into extraordinary.

Beyond traceability and purity, ElderMune® is bursting with benefits. It is a 65:1 elderberry juice concentrate, leading the way in delivering more fruit per gram than other elderberry ingredients. It is a purple-red powder, highly soluble in water and has a natural berry taste making ElderMune® the perfect immunesupporting, antioxidant ingredient for use in RTDs and powdered beverage.

Custom Branded Marketing Nugogo Branding Solutions

Ideal Flax for Beverages Pizzey Ingredients

Call Nugogo for custom branded trade marketing, field marketing, sales and promotional merchandise and supplies. We provide the tools you need to elevate brand awareness, engage with customers, and increase case sales. Printed POS, Custom Product Displays, Dealer Loaders, Tents & Table Covers, Cooler Barrels, Shelf Management, Sampling/Demo Supplies, Sales Kits, Apparel, SWAG and so much more!

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.

Sustainable Packaging Handles PakTech

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SUPPLIER & SERVICES LISTINGS Rhode Island’s #1 Beverage Co-Packer Palate Pack

Extracting the Essentials PROVA

Filling and Closing Solutions Pneumatic Scale Angelus

Creating Your Perfect Beverage Sovereign Flavors, Inc.

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.

As the masters of finished beverages and high quality flavors, our skilled team of application technologists formulate beverages that deliver extraordinary value to our customers. Whether it is sourcing commercially viable ingredients or masking off notes from additives such as vitamins and minerals, our team allocates resources, facilities, and experience to bring your beverage concept to life.

Beverage & Food Development PTM Food

Blending and Process Experts Statco-DSI Process Systems

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!

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.

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Functional Beverage Ingredients Stauber

SUPPLIER & SERVICES LISTINGS Fruit & Vegetable Ingredients Stiebs

Turnkey Beverage Services US Beverage Manufacturing

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.

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.

Upcycled, Nutritious, Tasty The Coffee Cherry Co.

U.S. Aluminum Can Solutions West Coast Container, Inc.

Coffee Cherry is ideal for functional beverages, loaded with antioxidants, multiple beneficial nutrients, protein, fiber and a hint of caffeine.

Upcycled ingredients are hot with consumers, and deliver flavor, nutrition and sustainable benefits. 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 deliver competitively priced packaging solutions to customers of all sizes and our customer service is second to none. We sell BPANI Printed and Brite cans, along with glass, plastic and closure solutions to meet your everyday packaging requirements. Delivery options include direct full truckloads or purchasing pallet quantities from our convenient warehouse network. Call us for a quote, today.

Premium Agave Products The Tierra Group

Helping Make Beverages to Serve the World TechniBlend Inc

Beverage Premix Solutions The Wright Group

At TechniBlend, we supply beverage companies with the highest-quality turnkey, technologically advanced liquid processing systems & equipment. Our success comes from providing innovative technology & solutions, and industry-recognized service and support, to companies ranging from craft beverage producers to Fortune 500 customers like Boston Beer and Pepsi. TechniBlend designs, engineers, and manufactures batching and blending systems with patented LoDO (Low Dissolved Oxygen) technology, Membrane and Spray Deaeration technology, HTST Flash Pasteurization solutions, ProCarb Inline Carbonation & Nitrogenation technology, Ethanol Cut Skids, ProFill Can mechanical and volumetric can fillers, and more. With over 150+ years combined engineering and manufacturing experience, TechniBlend, now a part of the ProMach family of industry-leading experts, focuses on supporting our customers through advancements in liquid processing that generate higher yields, superior products, and a greater return on investment. Visit www.techniblend.com for more information.

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.

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SUPPLIER & SERVICES LISTINGS Clean, Plant-Based Ingredients Top Health Ingredients, Inc.

Natralysis Process™ Is Alkaline Water Future, Ionisation Is The Past Wet Holdings (Global) Ltd

The Natralysis Process™ (NP) is an award-winning disruptive water technology that has mastered the art of infusing alkalised elements into water, producing a stable alkaline pH level. It is capable of receiving ozonated water at the inlet and at post-production, whilst retaining its alkaline pH. There are no complications using either ozone or any UV treatments- these will not alter the pH of the NP water. Furthermore, the alkaline water produced by the NP technology can sustain the addition of flavourings and minerals without losing its alkaline pH USP; contrary to unstable alkaline water produced by electrolysis (ionisation), which utilises a CIP system, is diluted, and requires additional salts for taste. The NP is eco-designed and manufactured by alkaline drinking water experts to provide the human body with a safe, great-tasting functional water experience. The NP water can be used to reduce the use of sugar and chemical sweeteners in flavoured soda waters. Compared to the leading electrolysis systems, no caustic mixing is required as a pre-mix. The NP is an alkaline pH-exchange system, suitable for RO or natural spring water to achieve a targeted pH; environmentally-friendly, with low power & no production waste. We welcome your interest, and offer a production trial with our ‘Plug & Play’ mobile Natralysis Process™ unit, contact francesca,walters@wet-environmentals.com.

Win at the shelf with Trax Dynamic Merchandising Trax

PACKAGING: BOTTLES & CANS Zuckerman Honickman

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

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COMPANY CONTACT INFORMATION COMPANY A-Game Beverages A. Holliday & Company Inc. Abelei Flavors AIBMR Life Sciences, Inc. Alkaline88® Almendra Americas, LLC

CONTACT NAME

CITY

STATE

PHONE NUMBER

WEB SITE drinkagame.com

Guy Conte

Clermont

FL

(480) 650-4010

Christine Renken

Toronto

-

(416) 225-2217

teacoff.com

Info@abelei

Aurora

IL

(630) 859-1410

abelei.com

Jared Brodin

Seattle

WA

(253) 286-2888

aibmr.com

Megan Mehalko

Scottsdale

AZ

(419) 680-9079

thealkalinewaterco.com

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

Aqua Seltzer

-

Middlebury

VT

-

Aqua ViTea Kombucha

-

Middlebury

VT

-

Ardor Organic, Inc.

Allison Wilson

Napa

CA

(503) 332-0456

Aspire Brands Inc.

Eddie Hicks

Chicago

IL

(479) 200-0844

aspiredrinks.com

Axiom Foods

Kay Abadee

Bell Canyon

CA

(818) 266-2461

axiomfoods.com

-

Tempe

AZ

(480) 449-7770

azpack.com

Azpack BAWLS Guarana Beliv

Kellie D'Amato

Twinsburg

OH

-

Gabriela Ramirez

Los Angeles

CA

(305) 979-0805

aquavitea.com aquavitea.com ardororganic.com

bawls.com drinkoca.com

Beneo Inc.

Kyle Krause

Parsipanny

NJ

(973) 867-2140

beneo.com

Better Booch

John Weaver

Dallas

TX

(248) 563-6370

betterbooch.com

bevCacao

Jason Walter

Wilmington

NC

(910) 443-0133

bevCacao.com bevsource.com

Kathy Evgen

Saint Paul

MN

(866) 956-4608

Big Easy

BevSource

Alexis Korman

New Orleans

LA

-

Bioenergy Life Science (BLS)

Penny Portner

Ham Lake

MN

(763) 746-3926

BioSteel

Marlene Bairos

Evergreen

CO

(416) 561-6639

biosteel.com

Alex Vialy

Encino

CA

(818) 208-2622

bluebear.com blueridgebucha.com

Blue Bear Wellness Blue Ridge Bucha Boxed Water Is Better® Bragg Live Food Products, LLC Bravago Bold Seltzer Brothers International LLC BUBBL’R Buddha's Brew C4 Energy CAB Enterprises, Inc. Caliper Foods Callisons Cann

drinkbigeasy.com bioenergylifescience.com

Erin Kath

Waynesboro

VA

(540) 221-6841

Robert Koenen

Grand Rapids

MI

(616) 856-0558

boxedwaterisbetter.com

-

Santa Barbara

CA

(805) 968-1020

bragg.com

Matthew D'Andria

Marina Del Rey

CA

(310) 493-4253

DrinkBravago.com

Andy Keane

Rochester

NY

(585) 343-3007

brothersinternational.com

Zach Lastrilla

Windsor

WI

(608) 354-4359

drinkbubblr.com

Kimberly Lanski

Austin

TX

(512) 736-4815

buddhasbrew.com

Greg Moran

Austin

TX

(800) 870-2070

c4energy.com

Brenda De Anda

Houston

TX

(713) 588-1635

electrolit.com

Jolene Jacobs

Denver

CO

(720) 273-3824

caliperingredients.com

Kim Carson

Cincinnati

OH

-

callisons.com

-

Venice

CA

-

drinkcann.com

Benjamin Mogul

Fort Lauderdale

FL

-

cann-ade.com

CanSource

Dan Reese

Longmont

CO

(833) 228-3959

cansource.com

CBD Living

Sean McDonald

Corona

CA

(800) 940-3660

cbdliving.com

Chelsea and Rachel Co.

Chelsea Jones

Lake Arrowhead

CA

(833) 267-2620

chelseaandrachel.com

Cann-Ade Corporation

Chemi Nutra

Chase Hagerman

Austin

TX

(512) 823-2500

cheminutra.com

Clean Energy

Ted Volz

Ann Arbor

MI

(617) 981-5859

cleansmoothie.com

Clint Rush

Indianapolis

IN

(317) 503-1277

csiclosures.com

Closure Systems International Cloud Water Brands CLS Farms, LLC Confidence CP Kelco

Sonia Ortiz

New York

NY

(281) 731-9644

cloudwaterbrands.com

Claire Desmarais

Moxee

WA

(509) 952-7911

eldoradohops.com

Oliver Cole

Beverly Hills

CA

(714) 916-2306

drinkconfidence.com

-

-

GA

(678) 247-7300

cpkelco.com

Courtney Lorenz

Traverse City

MI

(517) 206-1960

drinkcultured.com

CURE

Emily Sklar

New York

NY

(310) 869-7374

curehydration.com

Cüre CBD

Saf Sadiq

New York

NY

(631) 229-6657

thecurebrand.com

-

San Clemente

CA

(949) 276-7995

customflavors.com

Cultured Kombucha Co.

Custom Flavors 116 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

COMPANY

CONTACT NAME

Daydream Drinks

Alex Simonelli

Toronto

-

(647) 984-0700

drinkdaydream.com

De La Calle Co.

Megan Abbott

Los Angeles

CA

(810) 569-8289

delacalle.mx

Leanne Levy

Kennesaw

GA

(800) 697-8179

deerland.com

Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes DEFY Doehler North America Drink Me Taste Solutions

CITY

STATE

PHONE NUMBER

WEB SITE

Mark Jacobs

Denver

CO

(310) 748-1226

drinkdefy.com

Customer Service

Cartersville

GA

(888) 367-8327

doehler.com

Rachel Dannemeyer

Reno

NV

(949) 677-5369

drinkmetastesolutions.com

ECS Brands

Arthur Jaffee

Denver

CO

(833) 327-4361

ecsbrands.com

Elements of Balance

Daniel Stockel

Bryn Mawr

PA

(914) 960-5286

elementsdrinks.com

James

Newport Beach

CA

(866) 397-7865

elixirshots.com

Endless Harvest

Elixir Shots

Dan Murphy

Detroit Lakes

MN

(218) 844-6258

maltwerks.com

Farbest Brands

Cheryl Pasiut

Park Ridge

NJ

(201) 573-4900

farbest.com

Colleen Roberts

South Plainfield

NJ

(908) 822-8855

FlavorDynamics.com

Vera Silva

Valencia

CA

(866) 754-1631

flavorproducers.com

Phil Icsman

Louisville

KY

(502) 289-5549

flavorman.com

Flavor Dynamics, Inc. Flavor Producers Flavorman FONA FOODAROM Forager Project Franklin Baker, Inc. Frey Farms FutureCeuticals GAIA fruits Gist Givaudan Glanbia Performance Nutrition Good Idea Gusmer Enterprises H2OPS LLC

John Fishel

Geneva

IL

(630) 578-8638

fona.com

Noemie Loiselle

Saint-Hubert

-

(450) 443-3113

foodarom.com

Tina Rose

San Francisco

CA

(855) 729-5253

foragerproject.com

John Slade

Memphis

TN

(901) 881-6681

franklinbaker.com

Debbie Wildrick

Keenes

IL

(214) 912-1676

freyfarms.com

Ryan Wories

Momence

IL

(888) 452-6853

futureceuticals.com

Roberto Garfias

San Luis Potosí

-

524441595829

gaiafruits.com

Elizabeth Haucke

Viroqua

WI

(917) 592-2791

drinkgist.com

-

-

OH

-

givaudan.com

Jean Terminiello Sr.

-

IL

-

optimumnutrition.com

-

-

CA

-

goodidea.us

-

Mountainside

NJ

(866) 213-1131

GusmerBeer.com

Paul Tecker

Anaheim

CA

(714) 823-3010

h2ops.com

Happy Being

Dutch Buckley

Wayne

PA

(610) 306-8291

drinkhappybeing.com

Hawaii Volcanic Beverages

Jason Donovan

Princeville

HI

(808) 639-9394

hawaiivolcanic.com

heywell

Britt Dougherty

Hinsdale

IL

(312) 218-7733

livingheywell.com

HFactor Water

Steve Torres

New York

NY

(347) 416-0776

hfactorwater.com

Theresa Pham

Dallas

TX

(469) 828-1572

holykombucha.com

HOP WTR

-

Los Angeles

CA

-

Hoplark

Heather Gonzales

Boulder

CO

(651) 472-1925

Hoplark.com

Joe Garza

Riverside

CA

(951) 966-9432

drinkHUMANITEA.com

HYDRITE

Jeff McShane

Brookfield

WI

(262) 792-1450

hydrite.com

Hydronique Hydration

Holy Kombucha, Inc

HUMANITEA Company

hopwtr.com

Kedar, Founder

Toronto

-

(514) 913-6577

hydroniquehydration.com

Ichor

John Powers

Chicago

IL

(872) 267-0095

ichorbrand.com

IFPC

ifpc.com

Mathew Brady

Fenton

MO

(314) 422-2324

Iovate Health Sciences

Dan Grasso

-

-

(401) 266-4776

cut-energy.com

Iron Heart Canning Co

Roger Kissling

-

-

(908) 619-5449

ironheartcanning.com javobeverage.com

Javo Beverage Company

Joanne Sheean

Vista

IL

(760) 330-1141

Jove Wellness Water

Tammy Hobbs

Boca Raton

FL

(561) 706-4446

drinkjove.com

Karma Culture LLC.

Shanna Pagan

Pittsford

NY

(585) 218-0022

drinkkarma.com

Karviva Beverages

Angela Zeng

St Louis

MO

-

mykaruna.com

Kayco Beyond

Mike Stamper

Bayonne

NJ

(718) 369-4600

www.kayco.com

Keller Logistics Group

Julie Wanstedt

Defiance

OH

(419) 782-6583

kellerlogistics.com

Kill Cliff

Connie Cambre

Atlanta

GA

(678) 793-2029

killcliff.com

Kinsa Group

Laurie Hyllberg

-

-

(414) 421-2000

kinsa.com

Koe Organic Kombucha Koia

BreeAnna Marchitto

Vernon

CA

(253) 208-6309

drinkkoe.com

Hero Nguyen

Encinitas

CA

(323) 381-9944

drinkkoia.com 117

COMPANY CONTACT INFORMATION COMPANY

CONTACT NAME

CITY

STATE

PHONE NUMBER

WEB SITE

Kona Gold Beverage

Bill Stineman

Melbourne

FL

(414) 550-9119

oohlalemin.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 Company

Scott Schaible

Denver

CO

(720) 795-5547

liquidcore.store

Brian Hill

Arlington

VA

(888) 690-7058

livingmaka.com

Living MaKa P.B.C. Love Beets

Maggie Scott

Philadelphia

PA

(267) 815-0046

lovebeets.com

Daiga Celmalniece

Las Vegas

NV

(702) 331-3888

luckyjackcoffee.com

Marquis

Cassandra Like

Los Angeles

CA

(602) 418-0777

drinkmarquis.com

Lucky Jack, LLC Molson Coors Non-Alc LLC

Brian Schmidt

Chicago

IL

(312) 496-5568

drinkhuzzah.com

Monk Fruit Corp.

Paul Paslaski

Libertyville

IL

(847) 367-6665

monkfruitcorp.com

MORRE-TEC Industries Inc.

Maria Mendoza

Union

NJ

(908) 688-9009

morretec.com

Victor Donati

St. Petersburg

FL

(727) 470-0365

motherkombucha.com

Jenny Bonchak

Raleigh

NC

(919) 961-7798

drinkneedsandwants.com

Mother Kombucha Needs & Wants Nirvana Water Sciences Corp.

Mark Zettle

New York

NY

(239) 207-0134

nirvanawatersciences.com

Nor-Cal Beverage Co

Pete Grego

West Sacramento

CA

(916) 372-0600

ncbev.com

Northwest Naturals

Brittney Zigler

Bothell

WA

(425) 285-2619

nwnaturals.com

Todd Gatzow

Pasadena

CA

(626) 379-1700

nugogo.com

(203) 372-8877

nutriscienceusa.com/eldermuneinsights

Nugogo Branding Solutions NutriScience Innovations

Bill Atkinson

Milford

CT

Nuun Hydration

Nathan Underwood

Seattle

WA

(206) 219-9237

nuunlife.com

Oaza

Siva Dhamotharan

Sugar Land

TX

(713) 851-3045

drinkoaza.com

Margie Adelman

Fort Lauderdale

FL

(916) 220-3500

odysseyelixir.com

Ylan Kunstler

New York

NY

-

Leah Dockstader

Oakland

CA

(949) 525-3698

Omni Bev

-

San Jose

CA

-

PakTech

-

-

OR

(541) 461-5000

PakTech-opi.com

Sam Ronkin

Lincoln

RI

(617) 538-4004

PalatePack.com

Odyssey Wellness LLC Ohi OLIPOP

Palate Pack

ohi.com drinkolipop.com omnibev.com

PATH

Gulshan Kumar

Fremont

CA

-

drinkpath.com

Petal Sparkling Botanicals

Candice Crane

Highland Park

IL

(847) 344-2858

drinkpetal.com

Phocus

Ryan Smith

Louisville

KY

(502) 295-0104

drinkphocus.com

Pizzey Ingredients

Mary Ekman

Rockford

MN

(651) 797-3168

pizzeyingredients.com

Plants by People

Jing Dipiero

Hillsboro

OR

(503) 367-8247

plantsbypeople.com

Plus Brand Pneumatic Scale Angelus Pocas Pop & Bottle Positive Beverage Pressed Protein2o PROVA Psychedelic Water Inc.

Agua Plus Sales

-

-

(800) 697-6700

AguaPlus.com

Gigi Lorence

Stow

OH

(800) 992-0491

psangelus.com

Tom Kang

-

-

(201) 941-7900

pocas.com

Jessica Pratt

San Francisco

CA

(760) 685-2624

popandbottle.com

Zachary Muchnick

Costa Mesa

CA

(856) 979-2093

PositiveBeverage.com

John Wahl

Los Angeles

CA

(925) 209-1006

pressed.com

Sales Team

Chicago

IL

(847) 253-3061

drinkprotein2o.com

Julie Pickette

Beverly

MA

(978) 739-9055

provaus.com

Brandon Samuel

Wilmington

DE

(647) 669-1147

psychedelicwater.com

PTM Food

Don Rodgers

Wall Township

NJ

(888) 736-6339

ptmfood.com

Ralph&Charlie's Juice

Paul Catalano

Brooklyn

NY

(917) 682-9963

ralphandcharlies.com

Rambler Sparkling Water REBBL Rebel Rabbit Recovery Brands LLC Red Bull Remedy Drinks Remedy Organics Revive Drinks 118 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

Dave Mead

Austin

TX

(512) 657-2726

ramblersparklingwater.com

-

Emeryville

CA

(855) 732-2500

rebbl.co

Pierce Wylie

Greenville

SC

(864) 616-5774

drinkrebelrabbit.com rezbev.com

Larry Edinger

Hillsdale

NJ

(201) 358-9000

Karina Brennan

-

-

-

Erin Costa

Lafayette

CO

(720) 437-0505

Henry Kasindorf

Englewood Cliffs

NJ

(201) 540-9868

remedyorganics.com

Sean Lovett

Petaluma

CA

(707) 536-1193

revivedrinks.com

redbull.com remedydrinks.com

COMPANY

CONTACT NAME

CITY

STATE

RIOT Energy

Laura Jakobsen

Marina del Rey

CA

(206) 369-3228

riot.energy

RISE Brewing Co.

Jarrett McGovern

Stamford

CT

(646) 400-0410

risebrewingco.com

Rowdy Energy

Bella Tumini

San Diego

CA

(619) 609-4348

rowdyenergy.com

Rowdy Mermaid

Sheila Rosen

Boulder

CO

(303) 396-0498

rowdymermaid.com

David McLaughlin

Boulder

CO

(303) 619-4100

satisoda.com

Roy Warren

Boca Raton

FL

(561) 424-7280

saintjamesicedtea.com

Säti Soda Saint James Brands LLC Sapsucker Shimmerwood Beverages ShineWater Shrubbly

PHONE NUMBER

WEB SITE

-

Flesherton

-

-

Josh Ahadian

Boston

MA

(508) 662-8999

shimmerwood.com

sipsapsucker.ca

Larry Long

Bay City

MI

(989) 891-6513

shinewater.com

Matt Sayre

Hinesburg

VT

(802) 343-6482

shrubbly.com

Som Friends Inc.

Griffin Nichols

Northborough

MA

(978) 660-5147

getsom.com

Soulboost

Nora Quartaro

-

NY

-

David Ames

Santa Ana

CA

(714) 437-1996

Sovereign Flavors, Inc. Soylent Nutrition, Inc Sparkling Botanicals by Rishi SPI WEST PORT, INC Statco-DSI Process Systems Stauber

getsoulboost.com sovereignflavors.com

Todd Feider

Los Angeles

CA

(206) 605-5104

Soylent.com

Customer Service

Milwaukee

WI

(877) 552-7977

sparkling-botanicals.com

Brian Choi

South San Francisco

CA

(800) 223-4438

alodrink.com

Randy Smith

Huntington Beach

CA

(714) 375-6300

statco-dsi.com

Becki Schwietz

Fullerton

CA

(714) 441-3900

stauberusa.com

Stewart's Enterprises, Inc.

Anne Gibbs

Atlanta

GA

(404) 323-5010

stewartspiked.com

Stiebs

Brian Nova

Madera

CA

(559) 455-8606

stiebs.com

Michael Tzanetatos

Pasadena

CA

(954) 347-8960

Nxtlvlusa.com

Roxanne Gorham

Waukesha

WI

(262) 278-4944

techniblend.com

Takeover Industries Inc. TechniBlend Inc TEN Alkaline Spring Water

George Sandrini

Boca Raton

FL

(678) 438-9341

tenspringwater.com

The Coffee Cherry Co.

Carole Widmayer

Seattle

WA

(131) 295-2910

coffeecherryco.com

The Karma Kollective

Jodie Evins

Sydney

DE

61410491140

kokoandkarma.com

The Naked Collective

Kelly Rourke

-

FL

(813) 233-6278

thenakedcollective.com

Justin Kim

Los Angeles

CA

(818) 271-9171

theplugdrink.com

The Plug Drink The Spare Food Co.

Jeremy Kaye

Dobbs Ferry

NY

(415) 858-8778

sparefood.com

The Tierra Group

David Goulet

Minneapolis

MN

(844) 825-8282

thetierragroup.com

The Wright Group

Customer Service Teams

Lafayette

LA

(337) 783-3096

thewrightgroup.net

Brittany DeMarco

Edmonton

-

(780) 439-1425

tophealthingredients.com

Top Health Ingredients, Inc. Trax

Lee Barwin

Boulder

CO

(079) 669-2016

traxretail.com

True Nopal Ventures LLC

Tom Zummo

Scottsdale

AZ

(480) 636-8044

truenopal.com

Nick Yates

San Diego

CA

(619) 273-0667

drinku.com

Ü Calming Co. Ultima Health Products, Inc

Loretta Reilly

-

-

(914) 907-2245

ultimareplenisher.com

URBL

Suhas Verma

Dallas

TX

(281) 687-0416

urblicious.com

US Beverage Manufacturing

Zach Mosesian

Las Vegas

NV

(702) 476-1021

usbeveragemanufacturing.com

Vina

Megan Abbott

Los Angeles

CA

(810) 569-8289

drinkvina.com

Jennifer Sunnfors

Los Angeles

CA

(310) 795-3616

-

Miami Beach

FL

-

vuedrink.com

Jeff Tumbach

Toronto

-

(760) 797-5480

drinkwell.ca

Vitamin Well USA LLC VUE Drink Well Canada Wellbev LLC

nocco.com

Loic Jasmin

Coral Gables

FL

(305) 898-6169

drinkwellie.com

West Coast Container, Inc.

Kevin McInerney

West Linn

OR

(614) 420-1830

westcoastcontainer.com

Wet Holdings (Global) Ltd

Francesca Walters

Kenilworth

-

447400482052

wet-global.com

Maja Sponring

New York

NY

(212) 594-3080

xl-energy.com

XL Energy Drink Corp ZenWTR Alkaline Water

-

-

NY

-

zenwtr.com

Zevia

-

Los Angeles

CA

(310) 202-7000

zevia.com

ZOA Energy Zuckerman Honickman

Rich Schuttenhelm

-

-

-

Jon Zuckerman

King Of Prussia

PA

(610) 962-0100

zoaenergy.com zh-inc.com

119

PROMO PARADE

INDUSTRY PROMOTIONS & EVENTS

Riff Announces Energy+ as America’s First Certified Carbon Neutral Energy Drink

In response to the increasing urgency of the current climate crisis, Riff, a purposedriven coffee company, announced today that their latest offering, Riff Energy+, has officially been certified carbon neutral by Carbonfund.org Foundation’s Carbonfree Product Certification Program. With this certification, Riff Energy+, a tasty plantpowered climate-friendly energy drink made from upcycled, nutrient-rich, cascara (coffee fruit) and other plant based ingredients, becomes the nation’s first energy drink and functional beverage to be certified carbon neutral. Riff is the first packaged beverage brand in the Carbonfree Product Certification Program to hold this distinction. The first drink of its kind, Riff Energy+ is proving to be a groundbreaking good-for-you alternative in the energy drink category.

“We’re all super passionate coffee lovers at Riff, but as we learned more and more about coffee’s impact on the environment related to food waste, along with the challenging conditions coffee farmers face every day, there’s no way we could remain complacent,” said Paul Evers, Riff CEO and Co-Founder. “Our focus shifted quickly to developing a product that would generate a positive impact. Riff’s purpose became reducing greenhouse gas emissions, avoiding nutrient-rich food waste, and helping vulnerable coffee growing communities.”

Paving the way for others in the coffee industry to engage in environmentally friendly practices, Riff Energy+ was considered carbon neutral prior to this certification based on the cross-correlation of two Riff-sponsored studies conducted in 2020: a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) conducted by University of Oregon and an Environmental Impact Study conducted by Oregon State University. Dr. Christina Schlachter conducted the Environmental Impact Study which was supervised by Dr. Dominique Bachelet, a Senior Climate Change Scientist. Dr. Schlachter has also continued to update the LCA in response to incremental product formulation improvements. One key finding of the Environmental Impact Study revealed that an estimated 70 billion pounds of cascara is thrown to waste each year around the world. Food waste represents approximately 10% of food-related global emissions which accounts for 20-40% of total global greenhouse gas emissions.

After learning about the massive negative impact decomposing wasted cascara has had on the environment over the 400+ year life of the coffee industry, Riff was moved 120 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

to adopt a mission to utilize 100% of the coffee plant’s agricultural value. To complement its award-winning cold brew coffee brand, Riff launched its upcycled cascara-based Energy+ beverage line in late spring of 2021. Riff’s excitement for cascara was cemented after learning about its exotic fruit flavor profiles, naturally occurring caffeine, and rich nutrient content including high levels of antioxidants, potassium, iron, and magnesium. Riff argues that cascara is likely the better half of what the coffee plant has to offer, but due to lack of awareness and demand it’s been historically thrown to waste, ironically contributing to the coffee industry’s greatest threat– rising temperatures resulting from climate change. Energy+ is also a part of 1% For The Planet—donating 1% of revenue to forest preservation and reforestation projects in coffee growing regions. The addition of the certified carbon neutral seal further supports Riff’s mission to bring more visibility to cascara and reduce the carbon impact of food and beverage production.

Eric M. Carlson, President of Carbonfund.org Foundation, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Riff on this partnership to go carbon neutral. Forward thinking companies are continuing to prove that new products, such as energy drinks, can be part of the fight against climate change. Riff is taking their environmental responsibility seriously which is an important step toward a more sustainable future for all of us.”

Based in Bend, Oregon, Riff was founded in 2017 by coffee enthusiasts with the goal of creating a unique yet sustainable packaged beverage. Since its founding, the company has grown to support a circular economy by converting waste streams into revenue streams for struggling coffee farmers, becoming carbon neutral, and practicing sustainability. Sourced through a Portlandbased importer, the company began experimenting with cascara in late 2019.

Containing a daily dose of vitamin C and powerful antioxidants, Riff’s Energy+ contains clean-label, good-foryou ingredients.

PROMO PARADE HOP WTR Leans Into the Positive Power of “No” With “Up To No Good” Campaign HOP WTR – the non-alcoholic sparkling hop water crafted with crisp, bold hops and mood-boosting ingredients - has launched its first-ever brand campaign, “Up To No Good.” The campaign showcases the positive power of “No” while spotlighting how HOP WTR’s “No’s” (no alcohol, no calories, no carbs, no sugar, no gluten, no GMOs) help consumers live life to the fullest.

Along with the hashtag mantra #GetUpToNoGood, HOP WTR will be rolling out the year-long campaign via a compelling longer form video, social strategies and consumer communications starting today. The overarching narrative features early morning risers, outdoor adventures and emotionally present moments with friends and family – all while showcasing how HOP WTR can support a variety of key usage occasions.

Like the moving consumer trends toward “sober curiosity” and improved relationships with alcohol, HOP WTR does not see “No” as a knee jerk or binary action. Rather, with their campaign they encourage using “No” as a way to prioritize needs, set healthy boundaries and give yourself space and time.

“The word ‘No’ is typically regarded as restrictive or punitive.

In actuality, it’s a quite liberating tool when applied to support and protect our better interests,” notes Lily Badger, Vice President of Marketing for HOP WTR. “Saying ‘No’ is a declaration of self-care.

It’s permission to live your life boldly and on your own terms.”

Launched in Los Angeles in August 2020, HOP WTR has seen 500% year-over-year growth with its roster of non-alcoholic sparkling hop waters available in: Classic, Mango, Blood Orange and (recently introduced) Lime. In addition to featuring all of the best assortments of “No’s” (no alcohol, no calories, no carbs, no sugar, no gluten, no GMOs), HOP WTR says “Yes” to a proprietary blend of stress-busting hops, adaptogens (ashwagandha) and nootropics (L-Theanine) that delivers healthy benefits while offering a taste experience that’s light, crisp and satisfying.

Vita Coco Teams Up With The Big Ten Conference Leading coconut water brand Vita Coco is teaming up with The Big Ten Network to bring the power of clean hydration to Big Ten Conference fans as the brand expands to reach the audience for college athletics and its surrounding communities.

The sponsorship marks Vita Coco’s first collegiate sports partnership and bolsters Vita Coco’s marketing efforts into the Midwest. Vita Coco will be featured at select upcoming Big Ten Conference events throughout the 2022-2024 seasons, including the Big Ten Football Championship Game, Big Ten Men and Women’s Basketball Tournaments and more.

With natural attributes and high levels of potassium known to reduce cramping, Vita Coco is championed as a nutrient-rich beverage. Acclaimed as a brand for the workout occasion, Vita Coco is ideal for Big Ten Conference fans with active, on-the-go lifestyles.

“We’re excited to offer feel-good fuel to consumers in new markets who are exploring and expecting new functional beverage options,” said Jane Prior, Chief Marketing Officer at The Vita Coco Company. “The demand for better-for-you beverages continues to sweep the nation, with no exception in the world of collegiate sports. We’re proud to make Vita Coco more accessible to passionate fans in the Midwest, giving them the boost that they need to cheer on their teams to a Big Ten Championship.”

The partnership will showcase Vita Coco in signage at select games and tournaments, including on broadcast video boards, scoreboards, courtside and more.

“As a network and conference, we are thrilled to welcome Vita Coco into collegiate sports,” said Jack Brown, Vice President of Ad Sales at Big Ten Network. “It’s only fitting that we have the opportunity to introduce Big Ten fans and alumni to Vita Coco during the Big Ten Men’s and Women’s basketball tournaments, as they will surely need it to keep up with the championship-level basketball over the next two weeks.”

Monster Energy’s Zero-Sugar Ultra Partners with Coi Leray Monster Energy’s Zero-Sugar beverage line, Monster Ultra, is partnering with platinum-selling artist Coi Leray to give away the ultimate Ultra experience for 50 lucky winners. Fans will be living the Ultra life flying to Miami to experience an unforgettable exclusive party experience and live performance by the rising star.

“I am so excited to be teaming with Monster Energy for this ultimate prize for my fans,” said Coi Leray. “I only partner with brands I feel really represent me.”

Coi Leray has quickly become one of the most talked about artists following a string of buzzing projects. In 2021, she lit up a viral firestorm with anthems such as the platinum-certified “No More Parties,” gold-certified “Big PURR(Prrdd) ft Pooh Shiesty,” and TikTok anthem “TWINNEM.” In just a short time since she arrived on the scene, her music has already crossed 1 billion

122 BEVNET MAGAZINE – MARCH/APRIL 2022

streams and counting. This year, the momentum continues as Coi will release TRENDSETTER, her highly anticipated full-length debut album. The album will include Coi’s recently released new single “Anxiety.”

“Monster Energy is excited to welcome Coi Leray to our brand,” Monster Energy’s CMO Dan McHugh added. “We’re looking forward to being a part of Coi Leray’s journey as she continues to grow and reach new heights.”

To enter the sweepstakes, purchase any Monster Energy Product and upload a photo of your receipt on Monsterenergy.com. Each Grand Prize includes: two (2) roundtrip airfares for Grand Prize Winner and his/her guest; a three (3) night luxury hotel stay for the Grand Prize Winner and guest, $500 spending cash; and the cherry on top: a live performance by Coi Leray in Miami, Florida.