BevNET Magazine November/December 2019

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2019

SOMETHING'S BREWING Innovations in format, function and flavor aim to extend kombucha category growth into the new decade.

2019

NEW BEVERAGE GUIDE

HOW DAIRY AND THE COLD CASE ARE CHANGING

WHERE HARD CIDER IS FINDING GROWTH

NATURAL PRODUCTS EXPO EAST AND NACS IN REVIEW

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Contents / November – December 2019 / Volume 17 / No. 6

NEW BEVERAGE GUIDE • 2019

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38

46

57

COLUMNS

FEATURES

4 First Drop My new #Family

28 Something’s Brewing Innovations in format, function, and flavor aim to extend kombucha category growth into the new decade

6 Publisher’s Toast A beverage birthright that’s now all the rage 26 Gerry’s Insights Roll over Beethoven

38 Sacred (Cold) Space In the battle for the refrigerated set, no one wants to be put out to pasture

DEPARTMENTS

46 Leading National Cider Brand Sales Decline Smaller producers find growth

8 Bevscape/NOSHscape/Brewscape Coke Energy hits the U.S., Misfit pivots to meat, Rhinegeist plans ESOP for 2020 18 New Products Even more CBD

SHOW COVERAGE 52 Natural Products Expo East Review

22 Channel Check Bottled Fruit Drinks Spotlight 102 Promo Parade Matthew McConaughey and Wild Turkey, Nuun partners with LA Marathon

54 National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Review

SPECIAL SECTION 57 New Beverage Guide with services and suppliers

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3

THE FIRST DROP

BY JEFFREY KLINEMAN

My New #Family I know there were people out there who lived to regret panning the iPhone.

Steve Ballmer, for example, threw some memorable shade its way, calling it the most expensive phone in the world.

Now, I don’t want to be remembered as Steve Ballmer, but he’s not exactly a cautionary tale: the former Microsoft CEO has, if nothing else, really great seats for Clippers games.

Still, history tends to make fun of those who sit on the wrong side of business evolution (note Gerry Khermouch’s column in this issue for warnings about too much adherence to tradition). We can’t stick to the old ways, or we might find ourselves on the sidelines, maybe still cheering for our teams but not in the hot seat anymore.

And yet, I’m willing to risk it when it comes to LifeFuels.

Perhaps you’ve seen the incredible, Instagram-ready snippets of this gadget, which calls itself “The Smart Nutrition Bottle that Adapts to Your Day.” It’s a plastic water bottle that, when you hit a button, shoots flavored nutrient mixes from a base that contains three differently flavored and enhanced “FuelPods.”

According to the company, the brand has a couple of purposes – first, to automatically release nutrients into a bottle and track them throughout the day to understand what you’ve consumed, and second, to eventually eliminate single-use plastic bottles.

For the tracking component, of course, it’s got an app.

On camera, the sight of a red geyser of electrolyte nutrition spewing into clear water is affecting indeed, especially when the scene is set against the mountain that the bearer of the LifeFuel presumably just climbed.

On the desk, it’s a bit less impressive.

I request one for trial. I receive a cheery, handwritten note, welcoming me to the #FuelFam. I also get instructions on how to plug in and charge my bottle and how to insert my FuelPods into the base. One confusing instruction tells me to “Set the FuelPod cap aside for later use.” I reach out to relatives in the #FuelFam to learn what that “later use” might be – I am sup-

4 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 2019

posed to screw them back onto the empty FuelPods when I send them back? Useful!

I download the app. It confuses me and I move it to the folder where apps that confuse me reside. That folder runs four screens deep.

When loaded and filled, the bottle weighs in the neighborhood of 2 ½ lbs.

That’s not light. It takes me a little while to be able to get that weight because I initially forget to put in the gasket that seals the attachment between the water bottle half to the base, so all my added water drains out. Eventually, I get that right, even without the help of the app.

There are issues right off the bat. Will my water bottle shock me if there’s a breach of the gasket? I can’t find an open mini-USB port in my house, so I can’t charge my water bottle. My bottle’s base is hand-wash only. I find this particularly distressing for the company because it is selling to a millennial generation that cannot be bothered to put a cereal bowl into the sink, let alone to hand wash an electric bottle. The unit comes with a special brush, however, and soon, at least, my travel coffee mug is substantially cleaner.

From an experience standpoint, there are flaws. My bottle cannot go into the refrigerator because it will drain the battery.

My water, even when it has been mixed with the fruity contents of my FuelPod

is, therefore, warm. Due to the size of the base, my water bottle can only hold about 16.9 oz. of water. That’s a two-chug model. A four-chugger would be more thirst-quenching for sure, but the size and weight would be ludicrously inappropriate for my daily mountain hike.

Meanwhile, from a taste perspective, maybe my palate isn’t as refined as the rest of my #FuelFam’s, but I would say that there’s a lot of eau du Propel in there.

I know it’s giving me crucial electrolytes.

I just wish it wasn’t as part of a room temperature electrolyte soup.

As for the app, it’s not that I don’t want to live a quantified life. It’s just that … I don’t want to live a quantified life.

Not if it weighs as much as a large can of whole peeled imported tomatoes and can shock me to death.

The moguls over at Keurig Dr Pepper are apparently more sanguine on the LifeFuels concept than I am: at the start of the year, they sank untold millions into the company’s Series A round. I’m sure they know gadgets better than me – they knew enough, for example, to avoid the Juicero and keep the Keurig. But still – wouldn’t it have been a surer thing to double down on BodyArmor? Maybe I can bring it up at the next #FuelFam Thanksgiving.

Meanwhile, I guess I’ll see you at the Clippers game.

Photo by Samara Doole on Unsplash

© 2019 BA SPORTS NUTRITION, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

PUBLISHER’S TOAST

BY BARRY NATHANSON

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www.bevnet.com/magazine

A Beverage Birthright That’s Now All the Rage 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 EDITOR, BREWBOUND jkendall@bevnet.com Carol Ortenberg EDITOR, NOSH cortenberg@bevnet.com Erin Cabrey EDITORIAL ASSISTANT ecabrey@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 SENIOR BRAND SPECIALIST jlandis@bevnet.com

I grew up in New York, on Long Island.

I’ve spent the last 50 years in Manhattan.

I can rightly say that I’m a dyed-in-thewool native. I did take off after college and travel for 7 years, but that’s for another and longer discussion. For now, I want to say that watching a “new” beverage category take off has a special meaning to me – and a surprisingly nostalgic one.

Growing up in the fifties, there were certain rituals and customs in our life styles that we held dear. One of my favorite memories is when we got home delivery of our assortment of beverages.

In those days you had a distributor – or as we called him, the “soda guy” – come to your home, go into your garage and drop off your order. We were a Coca-Cola, Ginger Ale, 7-Up family. We would put our old bottles in the crates and miraculously a new batch would appear. But more relevant to this column, we were seltzer bottle aficionados. They were the cornerstone of our deliveries. There was nothing like receiving our “two cents plain” in those glass bottles with the spray nozzles.

Nothing captured life for a Jewish boy from Great Neck more than those deliveries, and those bottles.

So, imagine my joy to find that seltzer has come back to prominence. Over the past few years, the bubbles have come back, and with a vengeance. Never before 6 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

Kwaku Adu-Gyamfi SALES & MARKETING ADMIN kadugyamfi@bevnet.com

has seltzer taken such an important role in beverage marketing. There has always been the occasional brand or two in the marketplace, usually in a secondary position, as a cute addition to one’s portfolio, but never as a headliner.

Today, seltzer and sparkling water have taken front and center in the beverage universe. What started as a trickle, with entries such as Sparkling Ice, a long time innovator, has led to a full- scale invasion.

They were so ahead of the curve, and were followed by the likes of La Croix and dozens of other brands that are now competing for consumer’s palettes and dollars. You cannot go into any store, be it a grocer, warehouse, convenience store, drugstore or restaurant without seeing dozens of seltzer-based offerings. They are everywhere, and I couldn’t be happier.

Even the alcohol players have jumped in, and these hard seltzer brands offer a great alternative to harder and heavier drinks.

Health and wellness are the mantras today as our society tries to live better.

Diet is a major aspect of that move toward better-ness. Seltzer should be lauded, as one of those better-for-you products that is pouring into the market. I’ll take a low-tono-calorie, tasty and refreshing beverage any time. While there is no perfect drink other than water, these seltzer options are the next best thing, even better than the nostalgia.

Photo by David Hurley on Unsplash

ART & PRODUCTION

Matthew Kennedy CREATIVE DIRECTOR Aaron Willette SENIOR DESIGNER Nathan Brescia PHOTOGRAPHER

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BEVSCAPE

THE LATEST BEVERAGE BRAND NEWS

Danone Deepens Plant-Based Dairy Holdings With Forager Project Investment Plant-based food and beverage brand Forager Project announced in October that it has received a minority investment from Danone Manifesto Ventures. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Launched in 2013 initially as a HPP juice brand, Forager Project has pivoted away from the juice category to develop a portfolio of cashew-based dairy-alternative products, including milks, creamers, shakes, drinkable yogurts, yogurt cups, and sour cream. The company also makes a line of kale and spinach chips.

Although the company is preparing to launch several new products in the coming months, including cashew butter and cereal, Forager Project founder and CEO Stephen Williamson told BevNET the investment will mainly be used to sustain Forager’s current growth, including expanded distribution and increased brand awareness.

According to Williamson, Forager investor and board member Gary Hirshberg – the founder and former CEO of Stonyfield Farm – recommended Danone based on his own experience with the multinational, which invested in Stonyfield in 2001 before later acquiring the company. Williamson said Danone, which

also owns dairy alternative brands such as Silk and So Delicious, gives Forager access to “deep expertise” in production, distribution, sourcing, marketing and sales methods for the U.S. market.

Danone Manifesto Ventures has previously invested in dairy alternative products with oat milk yogurt maker Halsa Foods and Harmless Harvest, which makes a line of coconut-based drinkable yogurts.

Peet’s Closes Coldcraft Unit to Focus on Shelf-Stable Coffee Innovations Peet’s Coffee has ceased operations of its Coldcraft direct store distribution network and discontinued its bottled cold brew line as it focuses on developing shelf-stable RTD products.

Speaking with BevNET at the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) show in October, Peet’s senior director of marketing Gretchen Koch said the company closed its Coldcraft unit earlier this year. Announced in the spring of 2017, Coldcraft was a business unit that focused on cold brew coffee innovation and established a West Coast DSD network to distribute the company’s refrigerated products, including kegs

and Revive Kombucha.

Koch said Peet’s business had “splintered” in trying to expand its shelfstable RTD coffee offerings while also growing its cold brew business,

8 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

leading the company to cut the latter in order to focus on becoming a “national player” through the former.

At NACS, the company showcased new shelf-

stable innovation with its Peet’s Blended Coffee line of iced coffees made with cream, sugar, and single-origin Colombian beans. The line, set to launch in California in

January, features flavors including Coffee & Cream, Caramel Dulce, Chocolate Truffle and Vanilla Creme, and will retail for $2.99-$3.49 per 13.7 oz. bottle.

New to our lineup in 2020.

Coconut Limeade

+Caffeine Cherry Vanilla

Zero sugar. Flavor for all. ©2019 Talking Rain Beverage Company • SPARKLING ICE® is a registered trademark of Talking Rain. 2019103770

BEVSCAPE Coke Energy Set for U.S. Launch in January The Coca Cola Company in October announced January 2020 as the U.S. launch date for its first energy drink, Coca Cola Energy.

The line, currently available in a full and a zero calorie SKU, debuted in Hungary and Spain earlier this year and is now available in over 25 countries in Europe.

Two new flavors, Cherry and Cherry Zero Calorie, will be U.S. exclusives.

The entire line will contain 114 mg of caffeine per 12 oz. single-serving can, plus guarana extract and B-vitamins.

Coke Energy’s U.S. debut is the longforecasted endgame to the soda giant’s dispute with Monster Energy; the Atlantabased soda giant owns a 16.7% stake in Monster and distributes the brand’s products through its network of franchised bottlers in the U.S. and Canada.

The two companies split over the interpretation of terms of their 2015 distribution agreement, which prevents Coke from launching a direct competi-

tor to Monster, unless introduced under the Coca-Cola trademark.

The matter was eventually settled in

favor of Coke in an arbitration hearing in July. Both companies have reaffirmed their partnership throughout the process.

Founder Asprey Steps Down as Bulletproof CEO In late September, Dave Asprey, founder of nutrition platform brand Bulletproof 360, stepped down as CEO and moved into the role of executive chairman, the company announced. He was be replaced by Sovos Brands CFO Larry Bodner.

Speaking to BevNET, Asprey said he chose to step aside as CEO in order to focus on being an “evangelist” for the brand, opting to hire a new leader with extensive CPG experience as the company transitions from a primarily ecommerce platform to a broader omnichannel retail business. In this past year, the company’s cold brew coffees

and various supplement products have launched nationwide into mass and grocery chains including Walmart, Target, Sam’s Club, Costco, and Kroger.

“I’m a tech entrepreneur from Silicon Valley and I know an awful lot about biology and what to eat,” Asprey

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told BevNET. “I don’t have 25 years of CPG experience. So I hired someone to help me do that. My office isn’t moving. What I do on a daily basis isn’t actually changing that much because I’ve always been our head evangelist, the face of the company and the face

of the movement. I just want to be better at that and be better at leading the company.”

Asprey’s decision to step down follows a wave of c-suite and leadership exits at Bulletproof throughout 2019, including president and COO Anna Collins, VP

of product management and strategy Karen Huh, director of financial planning and analysis Brian Hawkins, director of marketing Sandy Blumberg, VP of retail operations Amy Jo DiMeglio, and director of sales planning and strategy Cynthia Hamilton, among others.

Asprey declined to call this wave of exits a “layoff,” noting that Bulletproof was not downsizing and had posted job openings online to fill the vacated positions.

Bulletproof has raised nearly $70 million in investment over three rounds, including a $40 million series C financing round led by CAVU Ventures in August, 2018.

NOSHSCAPE

For more stories, check out nosh.com

THE LATEST FOOD BRAND NEWS

Misfit Pivots from Juices to Meat To Save the Planet Misfit Foods has pivoted away from its signature juice line — and the use of imperfect produce — and into the meat counter with the launch of a new line of veggie and meat sausages.

Established in 2014 by Georgetown University graduates Ann Yang and Phil Wong, Misfit was built around the concept of using “ugly” or imperfect produce as the raw ingredients in its cold-pressed juices. At first the co-founders decided to launch a food product as a second line, but ultimately decided to shutter the juice business due to complexities in that format and what they felt was a misalignment with the company’s ultimate goals and values.

“What we really wanted was a product that could match the ambition of our brand and the impact that we wanted to have,” Wong said. “So we made the choice to focus all of our resources to match that ambition.”

The sausages launched this fall in three varieties — Kale Citrus Chimichurri, Sweet

Potato Andouille and Squash Sweet Italian — with an MSRP of $7.99 for a 12 oz. pack. Launched on FoodKick (the on-demand arm of Fresh Direct) and in Fairway markets, the sausages are made of 50% humanely-raised, antibiotic-free, hormone-free chicken and 50% vegetables.

Although the sausages are made with vegetables, they no longer feature the imperfect produce Misfit used in their juices and sourced, in part, via its partnership with Baldor.

Although Wong believes the market for imperfect produce is “out there to be had,” the issue, he told NOSH was with con-

sumers’ perception of sausages — which is largely is that they are made from lesser quality ingredients (exactly how people view imperfect fruits and vegetables). Adding in messaging about why imperfect produce was just as good as regular fruits and veggies, just “added another layer of complexity.”

VMG to go Retail with Velocity Snack Brands Launch, Acquires Popchips Leading food and beverage fund VMG is moving from investor to operator with the launch of a new corporate entity that will acquire, run, and create snack brands.

Velocity Snack Brands (VSB) kicked off last month with the acquisition of salty snack brand Popchips; the company will be led by Amit Pandhi, the former CEO of frozen treat brand Arctic Zero.

Terms of VMG’s acquisition of Popchips were not disclosed. Moving forward, VSB will look to acquire sweet and salty snack brands, nutrition bars, cookies and confectionary brands. In addition, VSB will launch brands of its own.

So what brands are on the target list?

Wayne Wu, general partner at VMG, told NOSH that brands have to possess a voice that resonates with consumers, the ability to solve an unmet consumer need, and a clear path for VMG to help the brand scale to the next level.

Founders who want to remain involved with their companies can, Pandhi said, as will team members who can contribute to unmet VSB roles. Deal sourcing will likely come through VMG team members, although VSB will have its own experts to help explore deals. After acquisition, all brands will likely have their own market-

12 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

ing teams, but will use shared resources for functions like operations, corporate finance and sales.

Wu added that retail buyers will eventually be able to turn to VSB’s sales team to supply them with a variety of brands, rather than having to hold several one-onone meetings with multiple companies.

If a buyer needs a specific product that doesn’t exist in the better-for-you space, VSB can also partner with them to create the brand. Anchor brands like Popchips will give VSB immediate retail distribution and access to buyers, who can then hopefully add those smaller brands as well.

Milk Bar Founder: Investment Will Help Us ‘Cannonball’ into Retail Christina Tosi, founder of the whimsical New York City-based bakery Milk Bar, attributes visiting the grocery store as a child as what “ignited her imagination” and encouraged her to pursue a career in food. So she’s going back.

The award-winning pastry chef and Master Chef judge will try to inspire the next generation of chefs when she launches a line of brands based on Milk Bar into retail stores next year, helped by an investment from Sonoma Brands and the firm’s CEO and founder Jon Sebastiani.

Financial details of the round, which was in October, were not disclosed. Milk Bar previously closed a round of funding in November 2017 from RSE Ventures.

Speaking with NOSH, Sebastiani said Sonoma was the only institutional investor in this round.

Milk Bar currently has 16 store locations and the chain also sells products on

its ecommerce website. In 2011, the brand introduced a line of premium baking mixes in high-end culinary store Williams Sonoma. When that partnership ended, Tosi then executed a test of the mixes in Target, which she said allowed the brand to reach a more mainstream shopper.

Sebastiani and Tosi plan to focus on snacking when the brand launches into retail sometime in 2020. Although exact products are still being determined, Sebastiani referenced classic cookie brands such as Oreo, Tate’s and Chips Ahoy as possible competitors.

Beam Raises $5M for Functional CBD Platform Boston-based CBD brand Beam closed a $5 million round of funding led by investment firm Obvious Ventures. Other firms and investors contributed about $1 million of the round, including cash from C2V Ventures and Camwood Capital, alongside notable angel investors such as Yasso co-founder Drew Harrington, the founders of Kitu Life and Freshly CEO Carter Comstock.

Beam co-founders Kevin Moran and Matt Lombardi met while attending Boston College before both went on to careers in professional baseball and hockey, respectively. After being sidelined by career-ending injuries, the duo founded Beam in 2018. The brand had previously raised $800,000 before meeting with Obvious, which, Moran said, was looking for a CBD investment to back.

Lombardi added that the capital was needed for product innovation and marketing. Beam plans to launch several new products at the end of November, one of which will be a CBD powder. All products

will combine CBD with other functional ingredients, in an effort to offer consumers more specific health benefits for different day parts and need states instead of broad functional claims.

Beam uses broad spectrum CBD which the co-founders say gives the products the benefit of being more functionally effec-

tive then a CBD isolate, but without even trace amounts of THC. While the company currently sells topicals, tinctures and protein bars, the goal is to find new ways of integrating CBD into food and beverage products that the average wellness consumer is already using — and not vapes, gummies and patches, Lombardi said.

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BREWSCAPE

For more stories, check out Brewbound.com

THE LATEST CRAFT BEER BRAND NEWS

Rhinegeist Plans to Implement ESOP in 2020 Fast-growing Cincinnati craft beer maker Rhinegeist Brewery plans to implement an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) in mid-2020 that will eventually transfer 100% ownership of the company to its employees.

“It’s what always felt right,” Rhinegeist co-owner and president Bob Bonder told Brewbound. “We had an idea and catalyzed Rhinegeist into existence, but our employees built it, and molded it into what it is today.

They deserve to share in the rewards.”

Bonder estimated that the full transfer of ownership to Rhinegeist’s workforce will take up to 20 years. He added that staff-wide discussions took place to ensure that the transition was employee-driven.

“You’d have 10 different departments represented at each table, brainstorming ideas on how to create more opportunities for personal growth, recognition, and

cross-departmental bonding,” he said.

Bonder, who co-founded the company in 2013 with Bryant Goulding, said alternatives to an ESOP, such as selling the company or taking on outside investment, typically “only serve to enrich ownership, typically at the expense of the employees and community.”

“That would be both disingenuous and counter to our personal philosophy,” he said.

Odell Brewing Founders to Retire from Daily Operations in January After three decades, Odell Brewing’s founders – Wynne, Doug and Corkie Odell – will exit the brewery’s day-to-day operations starting in January 2020, as part of a planned leadership transition.

The employee-owned, Fort Collins, Colorado-based craft brewery will turn to chief sales and marketing officer Eric “Smitty” Smith as its next chief executive officer.

Smith, a 25-year employee of Odell, has served as co-CEO with Wynne Odell since the start of 2019, and he’ll fully take over the role in January.

When the calendar turns, the Odells will no longer be involved at the operational level but will continue to serve on

the brewery’s board of directors.

Speaking to Brewbound, Wynne Odell said the founders would be involved in “just the big stuff,” such as adding a winery, entering new states and spending on capital improvement projects, among other projects.

“That’s intentional to keep us from diving back into operations because now we have the new team all seated and ready to have their chance at it,” she said.

Odell had not publicly addressed the leadership changes until Smith announced the moves during Brewbound’s Brew Talks event in Denver this past September. The company’s employees were notified of the changes at the start of 2019.

16 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

Anheuser-Busch InBev Acquires Markstein Beverage Co.

California’s beer distribution system was shaken up once again at the end of September.

Anheuser-Busch InBev announced the planned acquisition of “key assets” from Markstein Beverage Co. in San Marcos, California. The company will add those assets to its existing wholly owned distributor, Anheuser-Busch Sales of San Diego.

The move comes about 15 months after Markstein, under threat of termination, was forced to sell the distribution rights to the Constellation Brands portfolio of Mexican import brands, including Corona Extra, Modelo Especial, and Pacifico, among others, in northern San Diego County to the Reyes Beverage Group.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close upon closing requirements being met.

Markstein Beverage Co. president Travis Markstein and his family have decided to focus on their Sacramento-based beer wholesaler, which was not included in the transaction, according to the release.

Legacy Breweries Acquires Aspen Brewing, Laurelwood Brewing

Six months after acquiring a majority stake in Oregon’s Ninkasi Brewing, Legacy Breweries Inc. announced the acquisition of two smaller craft breweries, Aspen Brewing in Colorado and Laurelwood Brewing in Oregon.

As part of the transactions, Legacy will acquire all of Aspen’s assets, including its intellectual property, production facility and downtown Aspen brewpub.

Meanwhile, Legacy will acquire all of Laurelwood’s assets, with the exception of its Portland, Oregon-based brewpub.

Financial terms of the transactions were not disclosed.

In April, Legacy Breweries acquired a majority stake in Ninkasi. At the time, Legacy CEO Don Bryant said the upstart firm planned to acquire two additional “Ninkasi-sized” breweries in the Midwest and on the East Coast, as well as 10 to 15 smaller craft breweries in those regions.

Fort Point Beer Company Expands Distribution Statewide in California San Francisco’s Fort Point Beer Company has signed with eight wholesalers in California, expanding the craft brewery’s distribution footprint statewide.

“For six years, Fort Point has pretty much been sold in nine counties around the Bay Area with a couple of things being sold here and there outside of that,” Fort Point co-founder and CEO Justin Catalana told Brewbound. “But we just flipped the switch to sell through the rest of California.”

Between May and early October, Fort Point, which self-distributes its offerings in the Bay Area, has struck several distribution deals. Those include a mix of independent, craft-centric wholesalers, as well as Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors houses.

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NEW PRODUCTS

THE NEWEST BEVERAGE OPTIONS

Tea Teakoe Tea Supply Co. has announced the nationwide launch of a new line of beverages: Fizzy Tea Cans. The canned, lightly carbonated iced teas are under 30 calories with 7 grams of sugar each, and are naturally sweetened with fruit juice, herbs or raw honey. The four varieties are available at a suggested retail price of $2.49 per 12 oz. cans. For information, please contact Teakoe at (303) 658-0935.

Ocean Spray Cranberries’ innovation incubator, The Lighthouse, has launched Atoka, a line of “herbalist crafted” plant-based drinks. The Atoka line of Tea Tonics, Oatmilk Elixirs and Herbal Shots will be available in four herbal blended flavors, launching at test market in the Boston area with a plan to roll out in January 2020. For more information, please contact Ocean Spray Cranberries at (800) 662-3263.

The newest addition to AriZona’s lineup of 23 oz. cans is African Rooibos Red Tea, the company’s first red tea offering. African Rooibos Red Tea is naturally caffeine free, made with real sugar and has 70 calories per serving. Rooibos is available for $0.99 at local convenience stores, gas stations, bodegas, delis and wherever AriZona is sold. For more information, please contact AriZona Beverages at (800) 832-3775.

Juice Aura and Replenish are the latest cold-pressed juices from Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Company. Aura, made from blood orange, strawberry puree and the Indian herb ashwagandha, is formulated to help ease anxiety and improve sleep, as well as boost and regulate the immune system.

Formulated to detoxify and invigorate, Replenish is made from a blend of cucumber juice, celery juice, apple juice, lime juice with holy basil extract, aloe, jalapeno extract and sweet basil. Aura and Replenish are both available in stores and online for $99.95 per 12-pack of 10 oz. bottles. For more information, please contact Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Company at (772) 465-1122.

Odwalla’s newest release is Odwalla Zero Sugar. Available for $3.49 per 12 fl. oz. bottle across retailers nationwide and online, Odwalla Zero Sugar is sold in three flavors – Dark Choco-Berry, Strawberries & Cream and Vanilla 18 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

Matcha. Each Odwalla Zero Sugar product is vegan and gluten free, containing 5 g of plant protein, 2 grams of MCT oil and 110 calories or less per bottle. For more information, please contact Odwalla at (800)-ODWALLA.

CBD CBD-infused sparkling drink Feelz is formulated with 20 mg of CBD paired with adaptogens, electrolytes and antioxidants and contains zero calories. Feelz is available online in Peach Ginger, Lemon Lime and Blackberry Lavender varieties in 12 oz. slim cans for $34.99 per 6-pack. For more information, please contact Feelz at (562) 735-7578.

Cannabis company Cannabiniers’ latest brand launch is Just Society, a line of CBD and THCinfused ready-to-drink iced teas. The drinks contains 50-80 calories per 12 oz. can with 25 mg of CBD or 5 mg of THC per serving.

Just Society is available in five varieties: Honey Green Tea, Mint Green Tea, Raspberry Black Tea, Mango Black Tea and Lemon Black Tea. For more information, please contact Cannabiniers at (855) 436-7876, ext. 701.

Dairy/Alt-Dairy New brand OATH launched its Organic Oat Milk with Plant Protein, an oatmilk protein beverage containing 15-16 grams of protein and 6-10 grams of fiber, depending on the SKU. The product is available in four flavors: Double Chocolate, Matcha Chai, Indian Rose and Golden Turmeric. OATH Organic Oat Milks with Plant Protein are available now at select retailers. For more information, please contact OATH at info@oathlife.com.

Sparkling Water Hal’s New York Seltzer Water launched a limited-edition Cola flavored seltzer water, containing zero calories, sugar, carbs, artificial flavors or colors and 118 mg of caffeine per serving.

Hal’s New York Seltzer Water Cola is currently available exclusively at 7-Eleven Stores through December 2019 on Long Island and the New York Metro Area, as well as on OasisSnacks.com for $34.99 per 24-pack of 20 oz. bottles. For

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Sparkling Ice’s latest holiday flavor is Cranberry Frost, available in seasonal packaging at local retailers for a suggested retail price of $1.29 per 17 oz. bottle. For more information, please contact Talking Rain at (800) 734-0748 Wellness company Heywell launched its first line of ready-to-drink sparkling beverages, formulated with vitamins, adaptogens, herbs, super berries and organic caffeine. The line comes in three varieties: Energy + Immunity (Grapefruit), Energy + Focus (Strawberry Lemon) and Calm + Reset (Blackberry Ginger). Heywell drinks are available in select retailers in the Chicagoland area and for order online for $24.99 per 6-pack or $45 per 12-pack. For more information, please contact heythere@livingheywell.com.

Protein Drinks Quest Nutrition’ launched Quest Protein Shakes containing 30 grams of protein, 3-4 grams of carbs and 1 gram of sugar. Quest Protein Shakes are available in 4-packs in three flavors – Chocolate, Salted Caramel and Vanilla – at select retailers including Walmart, Target, The Vitamin Shoppe, CVS, Walgreens and QuestNutrition. com. For more information, please contact Quest Nutrition at (855) 518-7837.

REBBL introduced its Mayan Cocoa Gold Label Elixir, featuring four varieties of medicinal mushrooms, alongside adaptogens maca and ashwagandha. The Gold Label Elixir is now available at Whole Foods Stores nationwide for a suggested retail price of $6.99 per 12 oz. bottle. For more information, please contact REBBL at (855) 732-2500.

The latest addition to Soylent’s lineup is Mint Chocolate, made with 36 essential nutrients and 20 grams of plant protein. Mint Chocolate is available now on soylent.com and Amazon for $39 per 12-pack of bottles, as well as in select stores in New York. For more information, please contact Soylent at info@soylent.com Coconut beverage marker Harmless Harvest has launched Protein & Coconut, a new line of plant-based snack drinks made with a blend of plant proteins from pea, sunflower and pumpkin. Protein & Coconut comes in three flavors, Chocolate, Vanilla Spice and Toasted Coconut 20 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

and is available at national retailers, including Whole Foods, for a suggested retail price of $3.99 per bottle. For more information, please contact Harmless Harvest at (347) 688-6286.

Energy Drinks The latest addition to the Crunk!!! energy drink portfolio is Sour Apple, formulated with natural flavors and real cane sugar. Crunk!!! Energy is available in a 16 oz. can at select retail and convenience stores, and online in a 12-pack for $25. For more information, please contact Crunk!!! Energy at (877) 932-7865 CELSIUS expanded its product portfolio to include a branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) functional beverage intended to fuel muscle recovery. The three varieties– Orange Lemonade, Tart Cherry Lime and Tropical Twist – have initially launched in the fitness channel. For more information, please contact CELSIUS at (866) 423-5748.

London-based sparkling water brand Ugly has launched Energized, a caffeine-infused line of zero-calorie flavored sparkling water. The line – available in Peach, Lemon Lime, Berry and Pink Grapefruit flavors – contains 160 mg of caffeine per 16 oz. can. The product is available direct-to-consumer through the brand’s website in 12-pack cases for $49.99 each, or $44.99 for a monthly subscription. For more information, please contact Ugly at hello@uglydrinks.com.

Functional Beverages The Plug announced the launch of its 3.4 oz. recovery shot, made with a blend of 13 herbal plants and flowers including DHM (oriental raisin tree), dandelion, chrysanthemum and honeysuckle. The supplement, containing 40 calories and no added sugar, is now available online in packs of 6 for $29, 12 for $54 and 24 for $98. For more information, please contact The Plug at info@theplugdrink.com.

Coffee Califia Farm’s first shelf-stable beverage is Nitro Oat Milk Lattes, a line of nitrogen-infused cold brew lattes with oat milk. The product comes in four varieties: XX Espresso, Mocha, Salted Caramel and Unsweetened Black & White varieties. The line is now available on Amazon and the brand’s website in 12-packs of 7 oz. slim cans for $36 and

will be in convenience stores with a suggested retail price of $2.99 per can. For more information, please contact Califia Farms at (661) 679-1000

Spirits Craft distillery Tattersall Distilling has launched its first bottled ready-to-drink product: Old Fashioned. The bottled old fashioned is made with rye whiskey, made from 100% Minnesota-grown rye aged in charred American White Oak barrels and then blended with Tattersall Sour Cherry Liqueur, aromatic bitters, a dash of orange zest and sugar. Tattersall’s 70 proof Old Fashioned will be sold at select retailers for $34.99 per 750ml bottle. For more information, please contact Tattersall Distilling at (612) 584-4152 Kentucky’s Woodford Reserve has released Chocolate Malted Rye Bourbon, part of its fall Master’s Collection. The 90.4 proof bourbon has hints of dark chocolate and spice and is available for a suggested retail price of $129.99. For more information, please contact (859) 879-1812.

BET Vodka, distilled entirely from sugar beets, has launched online and in stores in the Upper

Midwest after partnering with a sugar beet farm cooperative in Minnesota’s Red River Valley.

With this release, BET Vodka is launching a new ad campaign using the slogan “Simple Neat.” The 40% ABV Vodka is available in stores and online for $41.49 per 750ml bottle.

For more information, please contact BET Vodka at info@betvodka.com San Diego’s Cutwater Spirits has added its first tequila to its lineup: Cutwater Rayador Tequila Blanco, made with 100% blue Mexican agave.

Cutwater Rayador Tequila Blanco is 40% ABV, 80 proof, and now available at select retailers.

For more information, please contact Cutwater Spirits at (858) 672-3848.

Prairie Organic has announced the newest addition to its USDA Certified Organic Spirits line, Navy Strength Gin, its first small batch collection release. With a 57% ABV, the 114-proof bold gin has citrus notes of lemon zest, floral notes of angelica root and proprietary spices with a peppery finish. Prairie Organic Navy Strength Gin will be available in 750 ml bottles with a suggested retail price of $34.99. For more information, please contact Phillips Distilling Co. at (612) 362-7500.

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CHANNEL CHECK WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT

SPOTLIGHT CATEGORY BOTTLED FRUIT DRINKS The slowdown in this category seems to parallel the slowdown in its breakout brand, BAI. Still, it’s not all bad news – with Keurig Dr Pepper owning the top three brands in the space, the shift in distribution is apparently helping Snapple pick up share.

Taken together with Hawaiian Punch, KDP has about 1/3 of the category – a big advantage when it comes to setting the shelf.

BOTTLED FRUIT DRINKS DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

BAI

BRAND

$313,384,154

-1.9%

Snapple

$245,193,564

5.6%

Hawaiian Punch

$204,211,354

-1.7%

V8 Splash

$158,711,554

-5.2%

Private Label

$121,175,320

2.4%

Minute Maid

$103,248,715

2.4%

Welchs

$94,732,574

5.7%

Tampico

$92,180,544

-8.9%

AriZona

$85,367,018

20.3%

Little Hug Fruit Barrels

$58,119,596

-5.9%

Kool Aid Bursts

$57,621,099

1.8%

Sunny D

$43,704,573

-4.3%

Lipton Brisk

$39,516,612

1.2%

Good 2 Grow

$36,276,308

11.4%

Robinsons Fruit Shoot

$31,823,674

-5.6%

Tum E Yummies

$28,873,257

-42.3%

Bug Juice

$28,490,523

-8.1%

CORE Organics

$25,471,229

-5.4%

Motts for Tots

$25,466,156

4.9%

Mistic

$23,011,457

1.0%

TOPLINE CATEGORY VOLUME Sports Drinks

$6,844,406,391

4.4%

Energy Drinks

$13,339,342,558

11.1%

Bottled Juices

$6,983,379,002

-1.7%

Tea/Coffee

$6,779,719,101

1.9%

Bottled Water

$17,408,102,554

5.4%

Liquid Drink Enhancers

$347,063,088

7.3%

SOURCE: IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm-@iriworldwide% 52 Weeks through 10/6/19

22 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

CHANNEL CHECK COFFEE BRAND

DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

Starbucks Frappuccino

$1,132,226,919

5.0%

Starbucks Doubleshot

$579,785,210

-8.4%

Java Monster

$497,953,316

11.6%

Coca Cola Dunkin Donuts

$145,542,537

-7.0%

Starbucks

$77,965,316

-2.5%

Starbucks Tripleshot

$68,820,750

N/A

Private Label

$53,117,873

4.0%

Starbucks Cold Brew

$39,394,036

-4.8%

Monster Caffe

$39,297,705

8.5%

Starbucks Doubleshot Light

$30,560,900

-1.5%

TEA BRAND

DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

Lipton Pure Leaf

$743,854,397

4.8%

AriZona

$566,046,134

-0.3%

Gold Peak

$407,138,354

1.8%

Lipton Brisk

$361,948,940

-1.7%

Lipton

$266,293,708

-7.6%

Monster Rehab

$261,880,389

-12.5%

Snapple

$207,559,155

-5.0% -3.8%

Lipton Diet

$167,833,256

Diet Snapple

$154,813,110

0.1%

AriZona Arnold Palmer

$130,135,077

3.5%

DOMESTIC BEER BRAND

DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

Bud

$7,008,348,240

-4.9%

Coors

$2,487,098,040

-1.6%

Michelob

$2,446,742,519

19.9%

Miller Lite

$2,038,310,554

1.2%

Busch

$1,470,705,098

0.0%

Natural

$1,397,675,612

7.5%

Bud Specialty

$664,363,473

-6.5%

Keyston

$499,114,160

-0.2%

Miller High Life

$449,637,228

-1.5%

Yuengling

$379,436,149

-2.4%

CRAFT BEER DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

Blue Moon

BRAND

$326,917,072

-2.8%

Sierra Nevada

$259,922,889

3.9%

Samuel Adams

$237,445,431

-9.1%

New Belgium

$215,475,478

7.5%

Lagunitas

$185,153,527

0.7%

$128,110,217

-17.9%

Shiner

Leinenkugel Specialty

$128,089,732

-4.1%

Founders

$109,083,558

9.2%

Elysian

$84,569,364

22.3%

Bells

$82,230,084

6.0%

SOURCE: IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm-@iriworldwide% 52 Weeks through 10/6/19

24 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

BOTTLED WATER

SPORTS DRINKS

BRAND

DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

BRAND

DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

Private Label

$3,082,802,291

11.3%

Gatorade Perform

$1,826,920,509

-3.3%

Aquafina

$1,061,159,712

0.5%

Gatorade

$985,408,301

1.1%

Dasani

$1,057,833,607

-1.7%

Gatorade Frost

$806,530,119

-11.8%

Glaceau Smart Water

$848,373,757

2.1%

Powerade ION4

$719,527,744

-5.7%

Nestle Pure Life

$743,402,369

-11.3%

G Zero

$470,678,866

621.3% 91.6%

Poland Spring

$704,372,329

0.5%

Bodyarmor Superdrink

$407,658,361

Glaceau Vitamin Water

$494,070,745

-0.5%

Powerade Zero ION4

$278,555,513

11.2%

Deer Park

$427,258,826

1.0%

Gatorade G2 Perform

$214,665,512

-19.1%

Fiji

$401,980,122

-13.4%

Gatorade Fierce

$208,604,742

-12.4%

Ozarka

$391,490,813

-1.0%

Bodyarmor

$167,814,727

78.8%

ENERGY DRINKS

SPARKLING WATER

BRAND

DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

Red Bull

$2,863,928,137

-1.4%

Private Label

BRAND

DOLLAR SALES $576,797,490

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER 7.3%

Monster Energy

$1,772,398,405

5.2%

Sparkling Ice

$488,658,455

18.8%

VPX Bang

$946,043,302

407.9%

La Croix

$417,187,735

-8.9%

Red Bull Sugar Free

$778,929,491

2.2%

Perrier

$290,241,457

4.4%

Monster Energy Zero Ultra

$682,562,164

3.4%

Bubly

$218,114,402

163.0% 15.4%

NOS

$455,867,618

2.1%

Polar

$189,569,881

Monster Energy Lo Carb

$268,432,463

-6.4%

San Pellegrino

$156,814,268

11.1%

Monster Mega Energy

$239,408,239

1.6%

Topo Chico

$146,940,434

38.3%

Red Bull The Summer Edition

$237,090,197

149.2%

Red Bull The Blue Edition

$227,982,088

4.5%

Sparkling Ice Lemonade

$52,935,816

2.4%

Schweppes

$52,543,265

-14.8%

SOURCE: IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm-@iriworldwide% 52 Weeks through 10/6/19

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25

GERRY’S INSIGHTS

BY GERRY KHERMOUCH

Roll Over, Beethoven “Classical marketing.” It was one of the first phrases I heard in the early 1990s after getting de-industrialized out of a reporting career covering subjects like manufacturing, robotics and electronics and making a mid-career transition to a marketing trade magazine, with zero expertise aside from the thousands of TV commercials I’d doubtless ingested over the years. (Also a longstanding fascination with beer extending back in time and geography to McSorley’s Old Ale House!) Immediately into my new career hobnobbing with ad copywriters, branding consultants and media strategists I started hearing that phrase: classical marketing. The gist was that there are certain basic precepts that a marketer violates only at great peril to the brand he or she is sworn to protect.

does stand out on the shelf, and yes, it is a brand, to the tune of over $1 billion in sales. (OK, it’s as low-priced as ever. Cheaper, counting inflation.) Of course, exceptions don’t necessarily prove that the rules they violate lack validity. Still, the striking success of AriZona made me wonder early on how ironclad those rules really could be. I visited the company’s Flatlands office one time and found it full of miniature airplanes and other constructs fans had made from the shards of used AriZona cans and mailed in to the brand they clearly loved. “No brand” indeed!

More recently, particularly as social media has exerted a greater and greater influence on marketing, and with it the potential to go viral at minimal expenditure with your message or meme, it seems that more and more of the rules of classical marketing

It so happens that I began my new career just as two guys operating out of a scuzzy building in the Flatlands section of Brooklyn began to systematically violate those classic marketing rules with a new brand they’d created. (“Systematically” may be too strong, as I suspect they had no idea what those rules were in the first place.) They put their new iced tea in a pastel can, pooh-poohed by packaging experts as too recessive on crowded store shelves.

They priced it aggressively, offering 50% more liquid at the same price as Snapple, foreclosing on any chance of ever becoming a premium brand, I was assured. The pair didn’t do much in the way of marketing, either, beyond driving inner-city bodega owners around in a rented limo in which they could use the car phone – a big novelty then – to call the family back home. (Trade marketing!) No ads? No agency? Tsk-tsk. In a few years, they’ll realize they don’t have a brand, my marketing expert friends predicted.

That brand, you may have guessed, was AriZona and, yes, it

have gone out the window. “Impossible to hate,” Vita Coco has deemed its Pressed Coconut Water extension. When a widely followed online hater said he’d rather drink piss, Vita Coco jumped at the opportunity by, shall we say, putting its marketing on a urinary track? The resulting burst of buzz and relevance seems to have more than outweighed any downside to associating the brand with a revolting image, per the rules. So far, the brand hasn’t suffered any obvious urinary track infection.

Or take LIFEAID Beverage. The Santa Cruz, Calif., company launched a series of functional entries with names like FitAid, FocusAid, PartyAid and GolferAid before ever getting around to releasing what it regards as its core, most mainstream brand, LifeAid, for which the company was named years before its launch. It’s still early, but the strategy seems to be working. So much for the rule about “always lead with your core brand.”

Another key principle: don’t overextend your core brand,

26 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

because there’s too much downside if you erode its equity with failed offerings. In the past year or two I’ve been amazed at how rapidly that last redoubt of classical marketing has eroded.

By way of perspective, I recall the ice beer craze in the 1990s, when Anheuser-Busch launched a brand delicately called Ice Draft from Budweiser. Why go with that kind of “endorsement” branding strategy instead of just calling it Bud Ice? Too risky, A-B insiders told me. What if Ice Draft fails? Or the category proves to be a fad? It would tarnish the Bud brand!

As though beer drinkers didn’t regard it as a Bud brand!

From the start, customers in a noisy bar simply yelled “Bud Ice.” Magnanimously, the company announced it was acceding to consumers’ preferences and renaming the product Bud Ice. Not long after, the category kind of sputtered into irrelevance (or semi-relevance as a more upscale malt liquor). The misfire didn’t seem to take Bud and Bud Light down the tubes.

Or fast-forward a few years to the millennium, when A-B created an elegant champagne-style bottle so its Budweiser brand could ring in the new era in style, at a $15 register ring. Nice pack, I remember saying to A-B’s marketing chief. What are you going to put inside it? Why, Budweiser, of course, he said, with astonishment in his voice. It’s the best beer ever, so why would we put anything else inside our special pack? Clearly, even for that once-in-a-thousand-years occasion, tinkering with the core Bud liquid was inconceivable.

Can we survey the landscape now? Budweiser 1933 Repeal Reserve. Bud Light Lime-A-Rita. Bud Light Platinum. Things have changed! And not just in St. Louis. Coca-Cola Life. CocaCola Energy. Diet Coke Blueberry Acai. Pepsi Wild Cherry Vanilla. Pepsi Salted Caramel.

So are there any limits any more? One could argue not really, given that all kinds of other rules are being shattered these days (presidential decorum, for instance). Certainly, for fallen celebrities, there’s always redemption, if contrition is shown on the talk show circuit. (Kind of like Coca-Cola did after the abject failure of New Coke.) Or maybe pendulums swing both ways, and at some point marketers will decide they really are eroding their brands with short-lived, promiscuous extensions and marketing campaigns. Another thought: Maybe the emergence of the cannabis sector will bring this branding issue to a head (pun intended). Should maryjane, at least, be a no-go zone for some brands, especially those with a broad demo? For a while, that was the thought at Jones Soda, whose brand stewards worried that, even for a once-renegade brand, they had to carefully consider any cannabis extension so as not to alienate the moms who purchase the soda for their kids. Now that Jones is joined at the hip to a cannabis company, that seems to be less of a concern. In any case, we can always return to the classics. In this fast-moving, turbulent time in consumer brands, though, I’m suspecting that won’t be happening for a while yet.

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

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SOMETHING’S BREWING Innovations in format, function and flavor aim to extend kombucha category growth into the new decade

By Martin Caballero In kombucha, the story of the 2010s has been about the category’s rise from a niche beverage to a mainstream product. Having achieved that milestone, the question facing the industry at the precipice of a new decade is how to ensure that growth continues.

Even before turning the page to 2020, there are already reasons for some concern: According to market research group SPINS, category dollar sales have slowed even as kombucha continues to climb closer to becoming a $1 billion market. After growing 39% across all retail channels in 2017, the category expanded by just 22% over the course of 2018, including a notable drop – from 22% to 5% – in the natural channel, traditionally kombucha’s strongest retail base. Distribution gains are still happening at a brisk pace with double-digit gains across channels, but velocities have declined, with natural (-14.1%) and convenience (-10.1%) taking the biggest hits. In MULO and specialty gourmet channels, velocity was down 9.8% and 6.9% respectively.

According to Bobbi Leahy, director of sales at SPINS, the combination of declining velocities and increased distribution is pushing the retailers towards the limits of their category set sizes; as such, a “reckoning” for a number of kombucha brands may soon be inevitable. Once buyers take a closer look at what flavors and formats are working at their respective stores, underperforming brands will likely face the chopping block.

With that in mind, the impetus to innovate is perhaps stronger than ever. By adding functional ingredients, reducing sugar and introducing shelf-stable products, kombucha brands from across the industry are betting that moving aggressively with on-trend releases can bolster their prospects of standing out in an increasingly

28 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

D E D N U O R R U S R O V A L F R E T A W BY e flavors)

in thes (also available

nection we already have with kombucha consumers,” he said. “I don’t think people are going to slide into kombucha because of CBD, but it adds value for those who are already on board with kombucha.”

Functional Ingredients Depending on who you ask, kombucha has always been a functional drink. Like other fermented beverages, it has long been associated with supporting healthy digestion and gut function, thanks to the presence of acetic acids and probiotics.

Yet, as seen in other categories, consumer interest in functional benefits and ingredients is beginning to influence how companies in the space consider building their respective brands.

Within that context, energy is a natural place for kombucha to go next. Aiming to stake an early claim in functional kombucha, Brew Dr. this fall launched Uplift,

oz. cans in Q1 of 2020.

CBD is enjoying a recent surge in mainstream interest after a long history of use by homeopaths and natural medicine enthusiasts. With that in mind, could kombucha be an ideal vehicle to bridge the knowledge gap with new consumers and communicate CBD’s unique benefits and uses? Some brands are hoping that’s the case. Last year, GT’s Kombucha introduced Cannabliss, a draft-only addition to its Enlightened line which contains 10 mg of CBD per 16 oz. serving. Meanwhile, a handful of small-batch brewers across the country – including Wild Kombucha, Nessalla and Booch – have all introduced CBD-infused varieties over the last year.

Jeff Weaber, CEO and founder of Vermont-based Aqua ViTea, believes that kombucha has a natural advantage over other beverages when it comes to CBD.

which the company has marketed as “the first caffeinated kombucha.” Made with Yerba mate and guayusa, Uplift contains 130 mg of caffeine per 12 oz. bottle. According to Brew Dr. founder and CEO Matt Thomas, using those two naturally caffeinated botanicals fits with the company’s heritage as a tea-focused brand.

“Where we have a goal for a product, or where we know we can get the best flavor from something that’s not in-line with the tea approach, we are willing to flex our expertise into new areas,” he said.

Uplift also has a clear commercial objective: help Brew Dr. expand its presence in convenience stores. Thomas said the product, now available in 14 oz. glass bottles, will be introduced in 16

This year saw the brand launch two varieties of CBD-infused kombucha: Green Tea and Chaga Chai, the latter of which is brewed with chaga mushrooms.

Each contain 25 mg of CBD per 16 oz. serving and is available exclusively at retailers in New England.

“If you add CBD to sparkling water, you have sparkling CBD water. There’s no craft in that,” Webber said. “Is water really the stage to be building functional beverages from? Kombucha, which is already part of that health and wellness mindset, seems to me like a better place to add the functionality of CBD.” Weaber acknowledged that this approach may have its limits, as well.

“I think it’s just deepening the con-

particularly those looking for a better-foryou alternative to carbonated soft drinks, with appealing low-sugar flavors adds a further wrinkle to the proposition. The question brands looking to cut sugar must answer is, simply, how and how much?

Looking across the category will provide different answers. Oregon-based Humm Kombucha – which introduced two new reduced-sugar flavors, Raspberry Hops and Ginger Juniper in 2018, each containing 5 grams of sugar and 25 calories per 8 oz. serving – closed the sweetness gap by pivoting from using sweeter fruits to tart and spicy ingredients like ginger and raspberry. While those products feature callouts to “reduced sugar” on the package, other brands have also

saturated market, while also staying true to kombucha’s valued traditions. It’s a difficult line to walk, but one that may prove crucial to the category’s long-term health.

30 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

Less Sweet, More Sales Amidst all the buzz around various diets and healthy lifestyle trends today, there’s one thing that everyone can agree on: the less sugar a product has, the better.

Yet for kombucha, there are clearly defined limits to how much sugar can be reduced; as an essential ingredient in the brewing process, it can’t be completely removed or substituted. As a live beverage, listed sugar content can change while products sit on the shelf, which itself has led to lawsuits targeting some of the category’s biggest brands. The challenge of bringing in new kombucha consumers,

sought to create SKUs that come in at around 5 grams of sugar per 8 oz. serving, including Health-Ade (Ginger Lemon) and Brew Dr. Kombucha (Clear Mind).

Cutting sugar was also a key decision for Revive, the Northern Californiabased kombucha brand in which Peet’s Coffee is majority stakeholder. This year the company introduced a line of sparkling kombucha in cans, each with 5 grams of sugar per 12 oz. serving. More importantly, unlike Revive’s original line, the product is shelf-stable, granting it access to distribution via Keurig Dr Pepper’s ambient DSD network. Beyond simply counting grams of sugar, shelfstable kombucha presents the question: is making the move away from exclusively cold-chain products a valid way in which the category can gain new consumers, or will kombucha’s identity and authenticity be lost in the process?

There’s reason to suggest that the former could be true. According to SPINS, shelf-stable functional beverages is the

positive response to the shelf-stable can format, but decided to reformulate to reduce sugar and calories earlier this year.

Prior to going wide at retail in 2020, KOE reduced sugar and cut calories across the line. Having started at 80-90 calories per can, depending on the flavor, each 12 oz. can now contains 35 calories and less than 9 grams of sugar, while two new fruit-forward varieties – Lemon Lime and Strawberry Lemonade

fastest growing segment of the “Natural Refreshment Beverage” category, growing 77% ($521 million) through February 2019. In contrast, the refrigerated functional beverages category, which includes kombucha, was up just 4%, albeit with significantly larger total sales.

KOE Kombucha is in the midst of discovering the answer for themselves.

The Los Angeles-based brand has spent the last several years seeding and testing product in Southern California retailers. According to chief strategy officer Louisa Lawless, the brand received a

– have been added to the lineup. For consumers engaging with the category for the first time, Lawless noted, adhering to cold-chain storage and traditional flavors may simply matter less than a good tasting, reduced sugar kombucha.

“Taking sugar down was one component, but really the main focus for us was fruit-forward flavors that were very appealing to the masses,” she said.

That example may be telling; for all the discussion and noise around ideas of authenticity in kombucha by those who make it, the attributes with which

32 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

RFG TEAS BRAND

DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

Private Label

$264,764,550

6.2%

Gold Peak

$206,983,507

0.4% 20.9%

Milos

$176,195,310

GTs Kombucha Synergy

$148,502,698

-7.2%

Red Diamond

$133,830,974

-0.5%

Turkey Hill

$114,067,098

-0.9%

Keviat

$73,442,903

18.3%

Lipton Pure Leaf

$61,431,631

3.4%

Health Ade

$48,943,395

42.1%

GTs Synergy

$47,207,080

69.0%

Turkey Hill Natures Accents

$36,282,078

-3.1%

GTs Organic Raw Kombucha

$30,142,759

-18.7%

Swiss Premium

$24,692,820

-8.9%

Humm

$21,214,793

7.0%

Brew Dr Kombucha

$19,482,509

27.4%

Readyleaf

$17,548,369

-3.3%

Bolthouse Farms Perfectly Protein H.H.

$14,985,596

19.3%

Bolthouse Farms Perfectly Protein

$12,385,904

-16.9%

GTs Enlightened Kombucha

$11,763,699

13.9%

POM Super Tea

$11,439,753

-14.3%

SOURCE: IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm-@iriworldwide% 52 Weeks through 10/6/19

consumers connect the strongest – be it convenience, functionality, sugar or something else entirely – will ultimately exert the strongest influence on the category’s future. Those customers will help determine how innovation and identity will co-exist, and, according to Jeff Weaber, it’s up to brands to be ready for the results.

“For me, the whole reason for starting the company was to help replace soda,” he said. “Whatever different formats you can put out there, as long as its accomplishing that mission of giving people a better-foryou beverage, I’m fine with it.”

BRAND NEWS KOMBUCHA & PROBIOTICS

Revive Kombucha is currently rolling out its new shelf-stable kombucha, Revive Sparkling Kombucha, across Northern California.

Wonder Drink is adding a new line of kombucha, Prebiotic Plus. Available in three functional flavors – Prickly Pear Cascara for Focus, Turmeric Ginger for Radiance, and Salted Watermelon for Hydration – Prebiotic Plus contains ingredients like ashwagandha, cascara, sea buckthorn and biotin, as well as electrolytes and vitamins. Each Prebiotic Plus comes in a 12 oz. can, contains only 8-9 grams of sugar (depending on the SKU), is certified organic, guaranteed non-alcoholic, non-GMO, vegan and gluten free.

Greenbelt Craft Kombucha is now accepted by KeHe and other national reaching 3PLs to deliver its kombucha nationwide. Two new flavors – blueberry acai, which uses Texas yaupon tea, and pineapple ginger turmeric kombucha, made with premium oolong tea – will be launching soon. The brand also plans to launch at a major national big box retailer in December.

NessAlla Kombucha launched a line of CBDinfused kombucha in three varieties: Butterfly Effect, Magic Matcha and J-Hops, each containing 30 mg of CBD per 16 oz. bottle.

Fine Health Kombucha. The newest addition to Fine Health Kombucha’s portfolio is Cherry Rose, featuring flavor notes of pink rose petals and dark cherries. The brand has also updated its logo and is now on tap in a pre-mixed cocktail at Asbury Park Distillery in Asbury Park, New Jersey.

Ferm Fatale has announced the launch of Shrub-Bucha, a shelf-stable probiotic mocktail, in Margarita and Cosmopolitan varieties. The line will first launch to the Los Angeles market, with a hard launch to come in January.

Buchi has revealed a new global visual identity, including new bottle artwork, new logo and redesigned packaging for its flagship kombucha line, as well as its kefir soda and shrub soda extensions. Updated to reflect the brand’s distinct narrative and aesthetic – an invitation to look inward, and expand outward – the new bottles hit shelves this summer.

Better Booch. Los Angeles’ Better Booch is now available nationally for the first time on 34 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

Amazon in seven vegan, non-GMO, and gluten-free flavors such as Ginger Boost, Cherry Retreat and Citrus Sunrise. A 12-pack mixed case is now available for $47.99.

Kombucha Town is now participating in 1% for the Planet, and is using Fair Trade ingredients across its entire kombucha portfolio.

The brand’s new packaging will hit store shelves in early 2020.

House Kombucha opened a kombucha taproom and cafe in Berkeley, California in October. The brand also has a new flavor, Hemp Peach, containing a blend of white tea, peach and ginger along with hemp seed oil.

Kulture Club. Retailers on and off the island of Martha’s Vineyard can now reserve kegs in advance of Kulture Club limited releases or any of the brand’s standard fruit and herb combinations for refill stations or on-tap service at bars or restaurants.

Wild Kombucha recently entered 60 new Whole Food Stores and 150 Giant Foods stores across the Mid-Atlantic. Wild Kombucha is now expanding its footprint to include New Jersey, Kentucky and Ohio. This expanded distribution follows a move to a new brewery in Northwest Baltimore and release of the new flavor UpBeet.

Wild Tonic has introduced its 5.6% ABV Hard Jun Kombucha in 12 oz. slim cans.

Blue Ridge Bucha’s five ready-to-drink SKUs are now available in colorful new packaging along with a variety of flavors in kegs. They are now available throughout the entire MidAtlantic region via Rainforest Distribution.

Brooklyn Boocha. In October, Brooklyn Boocha partnered with Baked Bazaar to ship its hemp-infused kombucha across all 50 states. The brand also plans to launch a non-infused kombucha line, available on its website in early 2020.

GT’s Living Foods. To celebrate its 25th anniversary, GT’s Living Foods is launching a new kombucha called Sacred Life in 2020. This limited edition kombucha, made of GT’s organic and raw kombucha, young coconut water, fresh pressed ginger juice and blue spirulina, will be accompanied by

BRAND NEWS a year-long campaign diving into the history of living foods, GT Dave’s journey and a celebration of what makes life sacred. GT’s Living Foods will also launch Golden Pineapple, a citrusy, herbal offering that combines GT’s organic and raw kombucha with sweet pineapple, tart lemon, and a hint of sage, nationwide in January 2020.

Boochcraft’s latest release is Spiced Pear, a limited fall release with 7% ABV, available through November 30. Its winter seasonal release is Turmeric Tangerine Ginger, featuring fresh turmeric and ginger juice sweet tangerines. The 7% ABV kombucha will be available mid-December through March.

Rowdy Mermaid. Boulder, Colorado’s Rowdy Mermaid Kombucha recently announced national availability of its new canned kombucha. The company has also expanded to a new 29,000 square foot facility in Boulder to support rapid growth throughout the Central and Western United States at more than 1,000 retail stores, including Whole Foods, Walmart, Natural Grocers and King Soopers. The brand has also cut down its recipe’s sugar content by 25%.

Humm Kombucha. Five Humm Kombucha flavors are now available in 12 oz. cans: Pomegranate Lemonade, Blueberry Mint, Coconut Lime, Hopped Grapefruit and Mango Passionfruit. The brand reformulated its 5G line and its Ginger and Raspberry varieties now have only 5 grams of sugar per bottle.

The brand has announced four new 14 oz. bottle flavors: Pineapple Turmeric, Blackberry, Ginger Joy, and Cucumber Lime Mint.

Urban Farm Fermentory has released its seasonal Elderberry kombucha again in 16 oz. bottles, in its home state of Maine as well as Massachusetts and greater New York City.

Brew Dr. Kombucha recently launched Uplift, its first-ever naturally caffeinated kombucha, containing 130 mg of clean caffeine per 14 oz. bottle. It also launched a Ginger Trio, three ginger-centric flavors including Ginger Turmeric, Ginger Lemon, and coming in January 2020, Wildberry Ginger. Its new Island Mango flavor will also hit shelves in early 2020.

Health-Ade’s latest launch is Grape Vibes, made from its signature original kombucha with cold-pressed organic California grapes and packaged in the brand’s new look in36 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

formed by brighter colors and neon. Grape Vibes is available nationally at a suggested retail price of $3.25 per 16 oz. bottle.

KÖE Kombucha has added two new flavors to its product line and introduced a new lower calorie and lower sugar formula, available in Strawberry Lemonade and Lemon Lime with 35 calories and 8 g sugar per 12 oz. can. The brand also revamped its product labels to reflect its latest better-for-you recipe, featuring a “packed with probiotics” color band, a “35 calories per can” badge, and the official non-GMO Project Verified logo.

Huney Jun launched three SKUs in 2019, including two hemp flavors: Blueberry Ginger Chaga, Hemp Jasmine Rose Ashwagandha and Hemp Watermelon Mint Moringa. Its hemp varieties now contain 25 mg of hemp.

The brand signed with five DSD Distributors. Huney Jun also signed with UNFI, and will be stocked at UNFI Ridgefield and Auburn warehouses in 2020. The brand expanded distribution in Oregon and has Safeway DSD authorization its entirel line and Walmart DSD at two locations.

Unity Vibration. Hard kombucha brand Unity Vibration has completed a complete rebrand for first time in eight years with a new release of 12 oz. cans and 16 oz tea. It has also signed with FullClip Distributing for distribution in the state of Texas.

Aqua ViTea. Vermont kombucha brewer Aqua ViTea launched AfterGlow, a new organic hard kombucha with 5% ABV available in three varieties: Citrus Rush, Ginger Blue and Hops & Dreams. The brand has also introduced Pineapple Lemonade Kombucha, an organic flavor now available on tap and in bottles by the end of the year, currently sold in 25 states.

The Bu Kombucha has updated its packaging to a cleaner, sleeker design that highlights its involvement with 1% For The Planet. This is a small adjustment to the complete rebrand that took place in early 2018.

Flying Embers. Hard kombucha Flying Embers is donating 1% of its sales to first responders and firefighters of the massive wildfire that threatened its home and brewery in Ojai, California. The brand is also expanding its line with a Pineapple Chili at 6.8% ABV and Black Cherry at 7.2% ABV.

SACRED (Cold) SPACE

In the battle for the refrigerated set, no one wants to be put out to pasture.

BY BRAD AVERY

This past April, The Fresh Market undertook a total restructuring of its beverage set. Unlike standard category reviews, the natural grocer declared that “no one” was safe as it sought to reverse declining sales.

More than half a year later, the retailer is looking at another category reinvention: the dairy set will no longer be called “Dairy.” Instead, The Fresh Market will now call the coolers where the cow’s milk lives “Refrigerated Grocery.”

“It’s really not dairy anymore,” said director of grocery Dwight Richmond. “It’s still 50% or greater cow-based dairy, but we’re looking at it in a little different light because we’re now getting our refrigerated groceries from multiple sources, not just a cow or animal protein.”

The Fresh Market’s approach may lie outside traditional naming conventions, but there is justification for the transition. According to market research firm SPINS, sales of refrigerated milk in the natural, specialty and conventional multi outlet (MULO) channels declined 0.8% to $12.6 billion in the 52-week period ending October 6 – a loss of $106.2 million. Meanwhile, refrigerated plant-based milk alternatives grew 6% in the same period to $1.8 billion for an increase of $99.9 million.

Even with inverse growth patterns, plant-based milks still account for only a fraction of the traditional dairy market. But with eyes on the future, many retailers are following the direction of the data and have begun allocating significant shelf space to plant-based offerings. In the case of natural channel retailers like The Fresh Market, plant-based can now encompass close to half of the cold case, but even conventional grocery is increasing the space it allots to almond, oat, and other vegan alternatives in fluid milk as well as other categories such as yogurt, cheese and butter.

Greg Steltenpohl, founder and CEO of plant-based milk brand Califia Farms, told BevNET that he believes retailers are right to make the change now as the cohort of “Next Gen Shoppers” – defined as shoppers under 40 – are poised to become the majority of the working population within the next four years.

According to Califia’s own internal data, Steltenpohl said that the Next Gen shopper currently spends about $143 annually on

38 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

plant-based products, up from $100 for the older consumer.

“That’s why we have to pace [shelf] allocation, which can take two years to accomplish,” he said. “These conversations have to happen in a heavy way now.”

Even as the dairy industry continues to lobby for legislation to address the growth of plant-based products – the Dairy Pride Act, which would formally prohibit plant-based products from using terms such as “milk” and “cheese,” is still working its way through the U.S. Congress – the sea change in retail is happening. Dairy producers themselves have begun embracing plant-based; Dean Foods took a stake in flax milk brand Good Karma, Hood has released an oat milk, and even some farmers are changing course as plant-based products maker Miyoko’s Creamery announced in November it is working with California dairy farmers to convert their facilities to plant agriculture.

While dairy will remain on top for the foreseeable future, the cold case is changing today. Dairy industry leaders, however, may be more prepared for that change than anticipated.

DAIRY TURNS INNOVATIVE According to data from trade association Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), low fat milks have seen large double digit declines in the past five years. Between 2014 and 2018, 2% milk fell 25.4% to $4.7 billion, 1% milk fell 24.8% to $2.4 billion and skim milk lost nearly half of its sales, dropping 47.4% to $1.1 billion (a $1 billion loss).

At a glance, these numbers might suggest that the situation for the dairy industry is dire. But speaking with BevNET, DMI EVP of global innovation partnerships Paul Ziemnisky said that the decline has been mainly isolated to low fat products. In the same period – as consumers attitude towards fat has improved – whole milk grew dollar sales 1% to $5.5 billion with volume growth of 15.3%, maintaining its status as one of the highest velocity items in the grocery store.

Ziemnisky joined DMI in 2015 when the association created a new unit to find ways of driving innovation in the industry. Drawing from past experience as a senior brand manager at Kraft Foods,

ANTIOXIDANTS WITH

VITAMINSS VIT

39

one goal for Ziemnisky is to get dairy makers to take entrepreneurial approaches to the food and beverage business.

“We relied on the white gallon to carry everything for 40 years,” Ziemnisky said.

“Our team formed four years ago. Phase one was to get brands in the category to act like brands. My team comes from big CPG companies, and a lot of the big CPG approach was missing in fluid dairy. The category didn’t have that much emphasis on marketing and innovation.”

While whole milk’s improvements have provided a multi-million dollar silver lining to a traditional dairy industry under pressure, it has been innovative “value

coolers, giving it a presence throughout the grocery store.

Today, the rest of the industry is now following suit and embracing innovation.

In August, Borden Dairy announced Kid Builder, a line of flavored milks fortified with nutrients to benefit young children, and this fall Horizon Organic released Growing Years, an organic whole milk targeted at kids under 5. In March, Darigold released FIT, a high-protein, low sugar, lactose free milk.

In recent years, organic and grassfed milks made by brands such as Organic Valley and Maple Hill Creamery have helped drive traditional dairy milk growth,

add” milks that have seen the most explosive growth. Ultrafiltered milk maker Fairlife and its various product lines including Core Power and YUP saw 908% dollar sales growth to $457 million.

Founded in 2012 through a partnership between The Coca-Cola Company and Select Milk Producers, Fairlife launched in 2014 with premium milk products containing less sugar, more protein and functional nutrients such as omega-3. Now, the brand’s entrepreneurial approach to innovation and go-to-market strategy is providing a model for the dairy industry to maintain its dominance.

“Fairlife came in with strong velocities, although to a retailer it’s still only moving at a third of the velocity of conventional milk,” Ziemnisky said. “[It’s difficult] trying to benchmark new products against milk, where there’s nothing else as strong as it, but Fairlife is now in close to 700 million households and selling at almost three times the price per gallon of conventional milk.”

While functionality and premiumization has been a key driver to Fairlife’s growth, the brand has also benefited through format innovation, he said. The brand is able to sell its gallon jugs in the cold case, but has also succeeded in grab-and-go

while brands like Australian import The a2 Milk Company – which removes the a1 protein from cow’s milk while maintaining lactose – has gained traction in the natural channel. As well, there are opportunities for trending functional ingredients to bring in new consumers. Brands like Picnik have released dairy-based creamers featuring collagen and MCT oil, while companies such as Bulletproof have popularized butter coffee.

Meenakshi Trehan, VP of brand marketing and innovation for Organic Valley, told BevNET that her company has focused on disruption and category expansion through innovation. Organic Valley, she said, has seen significant growth in the natural channel over the past several years and is now looking to expand its footprint in conventional.

“It comes back to messaging on-shelf,” Trehan said. “It’s not just about mass communication, but how you make sure when consumers are actually choosing products on shelf that you stand out.”

Dwight Richmond, who prior to The Fresh Market has held category management positions at Earth Fare and Whole Foods, noted that milk sales tend to “ebb and flow over the course of every year.” In The Fresh Market, he noted that whole

40 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

milk sales have diminished of late in favor of grassfed and other premium products.

“The consumers drive the preferences,” Richmond said. “Recently it was all about whole milks, and now the whole milk customer has evolved into the better attribute milk consumer. But commodity milks behave very differently to the industry because [what traits are popular] really does change year to year.”

In November, the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) partnered with Silicon Valley-based innovation consultancy VentureFuel to create The Real California Milk Accelerator, a competition intended to promote innovative dairy brands. The first winner of the accelerator was Bears Nutrition, a line of milk-based nutritional shakes made with protein, vitamins, minerals, and omega 3’s packaged in 8 oz cans.

“Marketing per se isn’t going to solve [dairy’s decline],” said CMAB CEO John Talbot. “We have to have new products, we have to have new ideas in there.”

But reinventing the dairy set in retail takes more effort than simply rolling out innovations. According to Ziemnisky, DMI has worked “hand-in-hand” with education group MilkPEP to teach dairy brands traditional category management principles and marketing strategies – including tools and software, space optimizations, and consumer insights.

“Rather than taking a defensive approach, we just flipped the switch on an offensive approach,” he said. “We’re educating the industry – everybody from the farmers to our retailers to consumers – about the facts.”

SPACE IS THE PLACE As more products flood the market, shelf space more or less remains the same.

DMI has worked with retailers to explore new placement opportunities (Ziemnisky points to Kroger as an example, noting the retailer places “c-store style” graband-go sections at the front of their stores for dairy snacks) but expansion space remains limited.

Talbot noted that the rise of niche product lines, including the rise of plant-based milks, has led to out of stock issues for core dairy products in some retailers.

“The proliferation of all these new products has just jammed doors,” he said.

“So a major challenge for us has been trying to manage the space that we believe is deserved for these kinds of products.

ABUNDANTLY

AVAILABLE

41

But because they’re cold and that space is limited in supermarkets it makes it that much more challenging.”

But although the dairy industry has put considerable energy into pushing back against plant-based alternatives, the two categories have come to form a codependent relationship in retail. According to Greg Steltenpohl, a majority of households buy both dairy and dairy alternative products, a result of generational shifts (millennials and Gen Zers living with their parents influence purchasing decisions), different dietary restrictions, and growing concern about sustainability and climate change. Mooala founder and CEO Jeff Richards told BevNET that as many as 70% of his consumers also buy dairy products. Some dairy producers are even finding ways to combine the best of both worlds: Live Real Farms has embraced cross-category innovation with its Blend line, combining dairy with almond milk to provide the nutrition profile of cow’s milk with the flavor of plant-based alternatives.

Ziemnisky and Talbot both noted that although it might appear obvious that plantbased milks are stealing sales from cow’s milk, it is not the leading cause of the sales bleed. Instead, over 60% of the category loss came from bottled water, Ziemnisky said. Talbot put the loss at a more conservative 54%, but attributed the decline in milk consumption as a beverage to water’s portability and convenience factor.

“Bottled water took off like crazy in the 90’s and today it is pretty much everywhere,” Talbot said. “Milk, you typically want it cold, and it doesn’t often times come in those single serve packages, so availability is an issue from that standpoint. But water is everywhere and it’s taking volume from a lot of these other categories as well.”

PLANT MILKS STAKE THEIR CLAIM According to SPINS, almond milk accounted for $1 billion in dollar sales for the 52-week period ending October 6, rising 7.9%. Oat milk holds just a 2.7% share of the plant-based milk category’s dollar volume, but its growth has been nothing if not robust: In the past year oat-based drinks have grown 2094.9%, up from just $2.2 million in 2018 to more than $48 million.

The popularity of oat milk, sparked by the U.S. launch of Swedish brand Oatly in 2017, began in the on premise restaurant

and cafe channel RFG ALMOND MILK but has since broBRAND DOLLAR SALES CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER ken out into the Blue Diamond Almond Breeze $504,219,313 6.9% retail space. Mike Silk $433,977,545 3.8% Messersmith, U.S. Private Label $232,369,054 17.4% general manager Califia Farms $85,280,432 11.0% of Oatly, told BevHiland $3,927,458 -12.3% NET that despite All Mooala Brands LLC $1,384,002 35.7% the roughly $10 Other Smith Dairy Prods $963,330 6.2% billion lead tradiAll MALK Organics $753,732 0.4% tional dairy has over plant-based, All New Barn $659,575 -42.3% hard data is what’s All Three Foods Inc. $341,887 79.8% driving retailers’ All Pop & Bottle Inc. $267,383 -12.4% decision to bring Smiths $194,327 0.3% in more alternative All Generous Provisions $156,341 N/A products.

Anderson Erickson $108,889 584.2% “The space All Beber $98,833 17.2% allocation for plantAll Sunopta Grains & Foods Inc. $61,293 N/A based today may All Live Real Farms $53,472 N/A be disproportionate All Dakin Dairy Farms Inc. $14,268 N/A to the percentage Dream $12,047 -49.6% of the overall catOther Rockview Dairies Inc. $1,561 -81.0% egory split, but the retailers that we’re SOURCE: IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm-@iriworldwide% 52 Weeks through 10/6/19 seeing take leadership positions and separate the two categories, which led to a making bets for the future are the ones rapid decline in plant-based sales. that are balancing those traditional staples “The number of people who shop off a with products like Oatly,” Messersmith list is still the minority,” Steltenpohl said. said. “They see it as being able to deliver something new and incremental with rising “So merchandising counts, and standing growth and able to bring in new customers. out on the shelf as a clear choice is absolutely critical for this category to get the There’s always that balance retailers are momentum across the board in [multiple trying to strike of ‘current versus future,’ channels] like it has with retailers like but they’re doing it using data and market Whole Foods or Target.” trends and qualitative insights from their Expanding plant-based milk’s shelf space shoppers in a way that’s guiding that deciis also not a simple process, as the mechansion, more so than ever before.” ics of stocking can sometimes mean giving For Oatly, success in the fluid milk up an entire dairy door. Steltenpohl noted section has also opened doors to spread that one headwind Califia has faced is that across the store. Earlier this year, the for decades, many conventional grocers brand released oat-based ice cream alterhave utilized roll-on racks that come prenatives. According to Messersmith, the stocked with dairy products right off of the line has allowed Oatly to meet consumers in multiple locations but has required very truck, meaning that developing a partial door requires senior level decision making little education as the brand association is on the retailer’s part. intuitive for most consumers.

But ultimately what the consumer According to Greg Steltenpohl, stratewants, retailers will supply. gic placement and merchandising in retail “On the macro, the space hasn’t rehas been pivotal to the rise of plant-based ally changed a whole lot; The horsepower dairy alternatives. Citing Califia Farms’ within it and how it performs has changed,” internal data, Steltenpohl said there is Dwight Richmond said. “I wouldn’t say a 2x multiple in sales velocity for plantwe’ve gone out of our way to dedicate more based products when they’re shelved space to plant-based, but what we’re doing together with dairy products. He noted is using the same space more efficiently bethat in the past, some retailers – includcause consumers are dictating the change.” ing Whole Foods – have attempted to

42 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

BRAND NEWS DAIRY & ALT-DAIRY

Uproot is launching oat milk, vanilla soy milk and chocolate pea milk in bulk packages designed for food service. The soy and chocolate varieties contain 8 grams of protein and are packaged in 2.5 gallon bags. The company’s products will be carried by multiple distributors in the Northeast, launching in university dining then expanding to coffee shops and convenience stores.

Three Trees Organic unveiled a new look early this year, in conjunction with two new SKUs: Pistachio milk and Black Sesame milk. New retailer partners for the brand include The Fresh Market, Earth Fare and four Whole Foods regions – Northeast, North Atlantic, Southwest and SoPac. Milkadamia’s new unsweetened creamers launched in November. The brand’s full line of milks and creamers also made its debut in London this fall and its unsweetened milk is now available in all Costco locations in Colorado.

Hälsa. Drinkable yogurt brand Hälsa launched its 5.3 oz. spoonable yogurts available in four flavors: Plain, Strawberry, Blueberry and Mango. The brand’s drinkable yogurts are now available at New York City area airports, Wegmans, ShopRite and Fresh Direct. The spoonable yogurts will expand into Fairway Market in New York City in December.

Nutty Life has added 32 oz. oatmilk (unsweetened and date sweetened) along with 12 oz. cashew shakes to its lineup. The cashew shakes are available in vanilla, chocolate, coffee and a rotating seasonal flavor. The seasonal flavor, Pumpkin, with chai variety will launch on December 1.

OWYN has gained new distribution authorizations for an early 2020 reset including Albertsons/Safeway NorCal and SoCal, Fresh Market and select coolers in Target and CVS across the U.S. Shamrock Farms launched Rockin’ Protein Plus combining 20 grams of protein along with superfruits and milk, with no added sugar. Rockin’ Protein Plus offers functional health benefits, such as anti-inflammation and antioxidants, and is available in two flavors: Cherry Crème and Blueberry Pomegranate.

SUPERFRAU, an all-natural, Alpine-inspired hydration drink made from upcycled fresh whey, introduced its beverage in three flavors – Lemon Elderflower, Peach Mango and Cucumber Lime – to Boston this summer. The brand is currently collaborating with Ocean Spray’s Innovation Team to add another variety to the lineup using cranberries, to be released in the coming months.

Lifeway. Shipping this December, Kefir Minis are the newest extension of Lifeway’s line of kefir products. Kefir Minis will be offered in 3.5 oz. bottles in flavors such as Campfire S’mores and Unicorn Cake. Lifeway also launched Plantiful, an organic, vegan-friendly beverage with 10 g of pea protein per serving and 10 live and active cultures. Plantiful comes in four flavors free from dairy, gluten and soy. New Plantiful Kids is an extension of the adult line, available in flavors such as pineapple mango and mixed berry. Modeled after Lifeway’s ProBugs kefir for kids, Plantiful Kids comes in a soft squeeze pouch and features a no-spill spout.

Modest Mylk, a premium line of organic nut mylk bases, launched this summer on Thrive Market. Due to strong sales of the original four flavors, Thrive recently launched its fifth SKU, Vanilla Nut.

Hiland Dairy has introduced a line-up of new fruit and probiotic smoothies in seven flavors. The drinkable yogurt is packaged in a sleek 7 oz. bottle. The smoothie is available in five traditional flavors, strawberrybanana, peach, pina colada, strawberry, and mango, and two contemporary flavors, guanabana and pecan cereal.

Stonyfield launched its Dairy Free Smoothie Pouch, made with coconut cream, in Tropical Twist, Berry Cherry Blast and Strawbana Smash flavors. The new on-the-go pouches contain half a serving of fruit, no added sugar and no preservatives.

Ripple’s new Superfood Milks are available in a 32 oz. bottle in flavors Matcha, Turmeric, and Acai. The plant-based Superfood Milks combine the clean plant protein of Ripple Milk with the added functional benefit of superfood ingredients. Ripple Superfood

44 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

Milks are 100% vegan, and free from lactose, soy, nuts and gluten. The line is available exclusively in Target stores through 2019, with additional retail expansion to come in 2020.

MALK Organics has debuted its almond and cashew flavors in Canada in over 400 stores, including Whole Foods Market.

Cocoa Metro has updated its Belgian dark chocolate milk packaging along with the quality of printing to better communicate the premium chocolate position of the brand.

Sold nationally in natural channels like Whole Foods Market, Cocoa Metro has further expanded its distribution, its Belgian chocolate milk hitting shelves at several Kroger banners as well as Tom Thumb and Randalls in Texas.

Goodmylk. Plant milk brand Goodmylk Co’s frozen concentrates are now being used in lattes at many cafes in Los Angeles and New York, such as Verve Coffee, Blue Bottle, La Colombe and Intelligentsia. The brand is now available at all Erewhon locations as well as for purchase online.

Maple Hill Creamery has launched a shelfstable, single-serve milk box available in whole milk and chocolate milk. The recyclable packaging includes a leak-proof and resealable cap, designed to eliminate mess and waste, available in single packages or as a 4-pack.

Oatly launched a version of its oatmilk in stores nationwide this summer with a higher fat content than its original product. The fullfat oatmilk is the first of its products to have plant-based DHA Omega3.

New Barn Organics. In making the transition to Evergreen Plant Carton packaging, New Barn Organics has reduced the plastic in its beverage supply chain by at least 80%. The brand is now shipping most of its perishable and frozen products directto-consumer via its website, with plans to launch additional items exclusively online in Q1 and Q2 2020. The brand’s newest offering, Organic Chocolate Almond Milk, is currently available nationwide on its website and at in storesWhole Foods Market SoPac.

45

Although Leading National Cider Brand Sales Decline, Smaller Producers Find Growth

By Jessica Infante

National numbers foretell another decline for the cider category.

In the past six months, hard cider dollar sales have declined 6.1% in major national off-premise retailers tracked by market research firm Nielsen. Over the past nine months, the segment’s retail sales declined $11 million, to $491 million.

Scan data shows that 2019 hasn’t been a good year for the category’s largest players, with off-premise sales declines for Boston Beer Company’s Angry Orchard, Anheuser-Busch InBev’s Stella Artois Cidre and MillerCoors’ Crispin, according to market research firm IRI. Year-to-date volume sales of the top-selling cider brand in the U.S., Angry Orchard Crisp Apple, are down 3%, to more than 3 million cases, a decline of 93,000 cases. After a strong launch in 2018, Angry Orchard’s top innovation brand, Rosé, is down 14.6%, to 810,444 cases.

During Boston Beer’s third-quarter 2019 earnings call in October, CEO Dave Burwick said the company is not expecting a return to growth for Angry Orchard in 2020, although the company plans to launch new innovations and marketing campaigns.

The orchard might be angry, but it’s quite patient.

“We don’t want to put too much pressure on that brand next year,” Burwick said. “To be honest, we have a lot of different pathways to growth next year. Angry Orchard doesn’t have to be one of them.”

Meanwhile, volume sales of MillerCoors’ top-selling Crispin cider brands are each down double digits year-to-date. Crispin Rosé Hard Cider and Original Hard Cider declined 26% and 49.3%, respectively.

MillerCoors acquired the Crispin brand in 2012 and launched Smith and Forge, another cider brand targeted to male drinkers in 2014. Smith and Forge volumes are down 53.2% year-to-date.

As for A-B’s Stella Artois Cidre, volume sales are down nearly 19%. One bright spot in A-B’s cider portfolio is Virtue Cider, a cidery in Fennville, Michigan that the world’s largest beer manufacturer acquired in 2017. Available in just 14 states, many of Virtue’s SKUs posted positive numbers, albeit off small bases.

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Although national trends for the largest cider producers are in the red, many smaller regional and local cider producers are growing. These producers’ sales data often are overshadowed in scan data due to the size of the category’s largest players. Angry Orchard’s volume trends dictate whether the overall category shows growth or contraction.

“Those brands are hurting,” U.S. Association of Cider Makers executive director Michelle McGrath told BevNet Magazine.

“The success of the Angry Orchard Rosé had them growing temporarily, but the rosé trend has passed on from Angry Orchard to regional brands and we’re probably, I’m guessing, looking at a little wave, because a couple quarters ago national brands were up and that was due to not only Angry Orchard Rosé but Crispin Rosé.”

Nevertheless, McGrath said local and regional brands have grown considerably over the past seven years, increasing their volume share from 8% in 2012 to 34% this year.

Although national brands’ rosé styles suffered a sophomore slump, McGrath said the association’s local and regional

members have found success with the style, which was up about 200% last quarter.

“It’ll be interesting to see if that sticks around for the regional brands,” she said.

National Beer Wholesalers Association chief economist Lester Jones agreed that local producers are on the rise.

“For every national larger, companyowned brand that’s down, there’s a corresponding regional or local cidery that’s up,” he said.

Due to large retailers such as Walmart and Kroger only doing shelf resets a few times throughout the year, it can take a while for smaller producers to gain the attention of category buyers, Jones added.

“It's a little bit of a lag here for the market to respond to the whims of the retailers who are deciding what's going to stay on the shelves and what's not, and what it's going to get replaced with,” he said.

Fall Apples The NBWA publishes the Beer Purchasers’ Index, a monthly pulse check that asks buyers if they have ordered more of less of a particular category than they

48 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

did the month before. The Beer Purchasers’ Index shows steady declines in cider purchasing from December 2018 until increasing in October 2019. Jones said this shows the seasonal ebb and flow in the category at the national level.

“We're pretty much getting to the point where people are going to recognize hard ciders as a third and fourth quarter play,” he said.

Cider’s seasonality rings true for regional cider makers such as Castle Hill Cider in Keswick, Virginia, although those trends are “less pronounced” than a few years ago, cidermaker Stuart Madany said.

“Q3 is when some people who don’t think about cider the rest of the year [start to] think about it,” he said. “But at the same time I think awareness for cider – regional cider – is just on the rise.”

The Castle Hill brand sits firmly in what Madany called the “orchard-driven” segment of the market, welcoming guests to its orchard and tasting room on an 18th-century estate near Charlottesville, Virginia. Castle Hill sells about 3,000 cases annually, offering ciders mostly in

the 6-8% alcohol by volume range in 750 mL bottles, as well as ports at 18% ABV in 500 mL bottles, Madany said.

Earlier this year, Castle Hill spun off the Big Pippin brand, which offers three flavors – Prickly Pear and Orange Blossom, Elder Cherry Rosé, and Ginger – at 6.7% ABV in 16 oz. cans. Madany said the company’s goal is to distribute the Big Pippin brand more widely than Castle Hill.

This bifurcation of brands fills a need Jones sees in the U.S. cider market, which is far smaller than its counterpart in the United Kingdom. According to Jones, there are more ciders across a wider price spectrum. Here, “it’s all about the high end,” he said.

“You can’t just have everyone driving around in Mercedes-Benzes and Porsches,” Jones added. “Some people have got to drive the Ford Focus.”

In California, 7-year-old Golden State Cider’s business has doubled each year since 2016, CEO Chris Lacey said.

Golden State splits its offerings into different product lines under the same brand. Core ciders, which are available year-round, range from 5.8-6.9% ABV and come in a variety of packages that promote trial. The cidery’s Harvest Series

and California Farm series are only available for a limited time after the harvest and come in fewer packages varieties.

“Especially with cider, there's so much of an education element that's missing and that we spend a lot of our time focusing on,” Lacey said.

“The 19.2 [oz. can] offers a great entry point for people into the category.”

CIDER DOLLAR SALES

CHANGE vs. YEAR EARLIER

Angry Orchard

BRAND

$226,717,475

-5.7%

Bold Rock

$27,067,308

8.5%

Strongbow

$17,907,417

-24.8%

Stella Artois Cidre

$15,039,407

-7.5%

2 Towns

$14,148,402

27.4%

Austin Eastciders

$12,356,491

20.5%

ACE

$11,526,112

20.4%

Crispin

$8,706,644

16.2%

Woodchuck

$7,716,633

-3.4%

Citizen Cider

$6,175,899

19.0% 39.3%

Downeast Cider

$5,562,352

Seattle

$5,147,004

8.8%

Smith and Forge

$4,851,460

-49.2%

Ciderboys

$4,522,159

37.8%

Incline Cider

$4,407,286

56.9%

Schilling Cider

$3,741,466

33.9%

Golden State Cider

$3,561,359

103.4%

Consumer Blackes $3,132,857 38.6% Education Square Mile Cider Co. $2,317,518 -13.8% To educate conAtlas Cider $2,295,601 -17.5% sumers on the category, Golden SOURCE: IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm-@iriworldwide% 52 Weeks through 10/6/19 State’s head cider maker Tim GodGodfrey was among the first in the country frey has worked closely with the U.S. Asto achieve the status of Certified Pommelisociation of Cider Makers on the Certified er, the CCP program’s second level, which Cider Professional Program, Lacey said. the association introduced earlier this year.

On the East Coast, the Castle Hill staff uses Virginia Cider Week – during the third week of each November – to promote the cider category.

“Virginia Cider Week is a big deal and we get out more and do more tastings and talks and dinners,” Madany said.

Continuing these consumer education efforts will be key to cider’s long-term success for the often misunderstood category, McGrath added. At retail, hard cider is often placed with or near beer, even though it’s more closely related to wine.

Consumers often believe cider to be sweet and sugary, when many offerings run the gamut from dry to semi-sweet to sweet.

Part of the solution, she said, is the Certified Cider Professional program, the first level of which aims to educate employees who are new to the cider industry.

“It’s really designed to help those folks get up to speed so that when they are talking to customers about cider they can do it from an educated platform,” McGrath said. “Hopefully, that will create a spark of enthusiasm in the conversation and allow the consumer to connect more with the beverage that they’re about to enjoy.”

50 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

SHOW REVIEW

BY BEVNET MAGAZINE STAFF

Natural Products Expo East 2019 The Natural Products Expo East trade show graced the Baltimore Convention Center one last time in 2019, ahead of the event’s relocation to Philadelphia next year. Held from September 12-15, this year featured brands showcasing emerging trends including CBD, sleep drinks, and oat milk alongside innovations in cold brew coffee, tea, and kombucha.

With CBD being one of the most buzzed about ingredients in the natural products industry this year, Expo East debuted the Hemp Pavilion section to showcase the numerous innovations in the category, from food and beverage to tinctures and topicals. Beverage brands in

powdered sleep beverage mix at the show – said the brand’s shot is now available in more than 1,200 locations nationwide.

“I think you need to look at the lifestyle and the pace at which everyone is going; there’s the craze of travel, the need to be on at all times and people are working longer hours,” Clizbe told BevNET. “Consumers are ready to incorporate more holistic solutions into their life. So [Vital Protein’s sleep products] are a purposeful endcap at the end of the day. You can decompress and get the most bang for your buck in the time your body is in that sleep state.”

Rather than helping them fall asleep, cold brew coffee makers are seeking new

ness to look beyond the natural channel, with new innovations in the category positioned towards other retail channels such as convenience and conventional grocery. After a soft launch last year, Humm Kombucha is launching its 12 oz. can format nationally in five flavors: Blueberry Mint, Strawberry Lemonade, Mango Passionfruit, Coconut Lime and Hopped Grapefruit. The company also appointed Matt Witherell, a former Red Bull and MillerCoors executive, as its new president last month. Meanwhile, Brew Dr. is pursuing its own canned line along with new functional flavor Uplift – a new kombucha flavor made with yerba mate

particular sought to expand use occasions for CBD through innovation, including recovery drinks like O2’s new “+ Hemp CBD” line, protein drinks from DOSE and numerous tea products positioned as relaxation enhancers from brands such as Chiques Creek, Mood33 and Harney and Sons. In addition, hemp-focused brand Weller debuted a powdered CBD Drink Mix in single serve packets which can be added to any beverage.

As the CBD space promises to help consumers unwind, the market for sleep beverages showed signs of perking up.

Brands such as Vital Proteins, Nuun, Snoooze and SOM Sleep have all taken unique approaches in format and formulation to give consumers a convenient and natural way to fall asleep at night. Katie Clizbe, VP of innovation sales for Vital Proteins – which markets a 2 oz. sleep shot containing collagen and debuted a

ways to keep consumers awake. Honest Tea announced its entrance into the category with Honest Cold Brew, available in three organic SKUs – Cubano, Mocha, and Unsweete. Kitu Life, the maker of MCT-infused Super Coffee, debuted its first cold brew offering along with redesigned packaging for its Super Espresso line. Florida-based Made introduced its Cold Brew Lemonade coffee shandy, and High Brew showcased flavored lattes including Bourbon Vanilla, Toasted Coconut and Smoked Butterscotch varieties.

Coffee also intersected with the growth of plant-based milk, as brands such as Blue Bottle, Bluestone Lane and Chameleon introduced dairy-free oat milk lattes.

Plant-based milk specialists Elmhurst, which is supplying the oat milk for Bluestone Lane’s RTD product, also shared a preview of its own line of oat milk lattes.

Kombucha brands showed an eager-

and kombucha intended to play in the convenience channel where consumers are seeking out energy options.

Expo East also proved an opportune show for companies to premiere major new initiatives and restructurings. Texasbased Great Point Brands presented a revamped portfolio with established products like LIVE Soda and Daily Greens as well as new lines Rama and Farmstand Lemonade. Rama is a line of low-calorie, unsweetened teas made with butterfly pea flower and features botanicals such as rose petals, hibiscus, lavender and holy basil. Meanwhile conglomerate Novamex, coming off of its acquisition of drinkable soup brand Tio Gazpacho last year, announced it had grouped together its beverage offerings under the new Nova Naturals banner. The section includes Tio as well as C2O Coconut Water, Steaz, Waiakea, and Mineragua.

52 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

SHOW REVIEW

BY BEVNET MAGAZINE STAFF

NACS 2019 Review This year's annual National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) trade show once again served as a showcase for beverage innovation from some of the biggest names in the business, including CocaCola, PepsiCo, Nestlé Waters and others.

For The Coca-Cola Company, this year’s NACS show was a major innovation showcase, featuring its biggest-ever roster of new products set for launch early next year. The biggest news was the U.S. debut of Coca-Cola Energy in January. Available in 12 oz. sleek cans, each with 114 mg of caffeine per serving, the line is aimed at shifting legacy Coke drinkers into the energy space with a flavor profile similar to the classic soft drink taste.

bottles for grab-and-go retail in February. The company also announced MTN Dew Zero Sugar in all pack sizes, and new sugar-free flavors for its energy-focused MTN Dew Game Fuel line in 16 oz. cans.

Pepsi’s portfolio of RTD Starbucks coffee products also continues to evolve; in February, it will introduce an unsweetened nitro-infused cold brew in 9.6 oz. cans. The company will also release two new products in December – Tripleshot Energy Dark Roast containing 225 mg of caffeine in a 15 oz. can and Brown Butter Caramel Frappuccino with a Splash of Cold Brew in a 13.7 oz. glass bottle.

For Nestlé Water North America’s (NWNA), last year was about making

as a way of fuelling new growth.

Health-Ade co-founder and chief sales officer Vanessa Dew told BevNET that the brand’s push into convenience began with up-and-down the street accounts in New York and Los Angeles, where the brand already had a deep footprint. As Health-Ade begins to dip its feet into convenience, Dew said the company will maintain a focus on similar geographies.

“As I think about some of the larger [chains] within c-stores, we can’t employ those same methods [as independent accounts],” Dew said. “Some of these stores reside in areas which are pretty far reaching … so we have to think about segmenting the right geography with the stores

In coffee, Coke is going deeper in its relationship with Dunkin’ Donuts with the launch of a lightly sweetened cold brew available in two varieties: Caramel Black and Midnight Black. Outside of coffee, Coca-Cola and Sprite each will see the release of limited edition seasonal flavors: Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry Sprite and Cinnamon Coca-Cola. Another new flavor – Cherry Vanilla Coke, available in original and Zero Sugar varieties – will debut in February 2020 as a permanent addition to the line. But innovation also came from the other end of the spectrum with better-for-you, reduced sugar drinks.

Odwalla will release a three-SKU line of smoothies called Zero Sugar, which will feature 100-110 calories per 12 oz. PET bottle, depending on the SKU. Elsewhere, PepsiCo highlighted new sugar-free drinks, revealing Wild Cherry as the first flavor extension for Pepsi Zero Sugar, which will be available in 20 oz.

minor tweaks to the sparkling lines for its regional water brands, but this year the focus was on functionality. Northeast water brand Poland Spring will introduce a threeSKU line of flavored sparkling energy waters in 11.5 oz. slim cans in Meyer Lemon, Valencia Orange and White Peach flavors.

Elsewhere, Nestlé is also broadening availability for S. Pellegrino Essenza, launching in c-store friendly 16.9 oz. PET bottles early next year in three varieties: Lemon & Lemon Zest, Dark Morello Cherry & Pomegranate and Blood Orange & Black Raspberry, the latter being a new flavor. Finally, Outshine, a brand of frozen fruit bars, will launch a beverage extension – fruit blended coconut water – in February.

As better-for-you products continue to gain steam in the mainstream, kombucha brands GT’s Living Foods and Health-Ade made their first appearances at NACS as the two companies – long successful in the natural channel – begin looking to c-stores

and segmenting where we want to go so that we’re able to tap new consumers.”

Kombucha’s presence in c-stores is still “nascent,” Dew said, noting that leaders in the space, such as PepsiCo’s KeVita and GT’s, have captured only a portion of the market to date. However, that hasn’t stopped smaller companies from targeting the channel.

KOE, a line of shelf-stable canned kombucha manufactured and distributed by Stratus Group, also exhibited at NACS. At the show, the brand unveiled a rebranded and reformulated product line featuring reduced sugar and calories; each SKU contains 8 grams of sugar and 35 calories per 12 oz. can, down from 80-to-90 calories per can. The products are now additionally sweetened with erythritol and stevia, and feature fruit-forward flavors in order to appeal to mainstream consumers. As well, the company introduced two new flavors: Lemon Lime and Strawberry Lemonade.

54 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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Copper Moon Coffee Introduces New Branding Copper Moon Coffee, LLC

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BRAND LISTINGS Greenbelt Launches Premium Raw Kombucha at a Disruptive Price!

H2OPS Grapefruit Sparkling Hopped Water

Greenbelt Craft Kombucha

Drink and Be Beautiful with H2rOse! H2rOse

H2OPS LLC From the leader and pioneer of the new hop brewed sparkling water category, H2OPS has launched its new Hopped Grapefruit. Like the Original, Grapefruit has ZERO ALCOHOL, ZERO CALORIES, is UNSWEETENED, GLUTEN FREE and GRAIN FREE.

Greenbelt Kombucha is crafted with premium functional tea bases and exotic fruit infusions.

Sparkling, probiotic, raw kombuchas with no sugar added after fermentation. Clean, crushable, and low in sugar and calorie content. Available nationwide!

H2rOse is having a moment, growing from an emerging brand into a leader in the botanicals category. Coming off a big 2019, H2rOse is expanding its marketing investment and retail footprint across the nation.

GT’s Living Foods Introduces AQUA KEFIR GT’s Living Foods

Working with major partners including Ralph’s, Whole Foods, Mother’s, etc. H2rOse is becoming a top choice for retailers looking to stay on trend with a low calorie, better-foryou beverage.

Consumers are loving the brand too with positive feedback and repeat purchases increasing month over month. The brand has deepened its association with health and beauty, launching a line of rose water infused lip balms.

Made with real saffron, rose water and 4 delicious flavors, H2rOse helps consumers stay hydrated and beautiful.

Orders can now be placed for PET bottles that come in Mango, Peach, Apple and Wild Berry.

Based in California, H2rOse is excited for continued growth and are ready to connect with retail partners who are excited to shake up the category, invest and win together to help take H2rOse to the next step.

Naturally Alkaline Water from Hawai‘i Island Hawai’i Volcanic Water

GT's Living Foods Launching Golden Pineapple Kombucha

HardHops - NEW Line of Custom Craft Cocktails - Hops & Spirits

GT's Living Foods

HardHops

GT’s Living Foods is launching Golden Pineapple nationwide in January 2020.

Golden Pineapple is a citrusy, herbal offering that combines GT’s organic and raw kombucha with sweet pineapple, tart lemon, and a hint of sage.

Designed for the "Mindful Drinker", every RTD HardHop flavor is Low-Cal, Low-Carb, GlutenFree & made with Kettle Brewed Hops, Botanicals & Natural Ingredients. Multiple Award Winning for Flavor & Innovation.

6 SMOOTH NATURAL FLAVORS!

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BRAND LISTINGS Health-Ade Kombucha: A Bubbly Probiotic Tea Health-Ade Kombucha

Hecho - The Original Tequila Soda

Hoplark HopTea: The Hoplemousse One

Hecho

Hoplark HopTea

Hecho is the first premium Tequila beverage with carbonated water using 100% Blue Agave TEQUILA BLANCO. Produced in the heart of Tequila, MX. and distributed in Los Angeles. Only 96 Calories per can, no sugar or artificial flavors.

Grapefruit juice, White Tea, Lemondrop & Simcoe hops make for the perfect harmony of tart, sweet and refreshing hop flavors with just 30 calories per can. The Hoplemousse One was inspired by Hoplark’s quirky desire to break the mold. Now available!

Higher Mind’s Plant-Based and Low-Sugar ICELANDIC GLACIAL, THE PUREST Premium Nootropic Beverage TASTING WATER ON EARTH.

HFactor Hydrogen Infused Water – Water with benefits HFactor Water

Founded in 2017, HFactor is the first functional water supercharged with the documented benefits of molecular hydrogen – which has been shown to increase athletic performance, reduce inflammation from exercise and deliver powerful antioxidants. Created by a team of top scientists and medical experts, HFactor is naturally infused with pure hydrogen to provide refreshing hydration plus therapeutic benefits for fitness, health and lifestyle recovery. It comes in a carry-anywhere (BPA free) pouch that optimizes the integrity and pureness of its hydrogen content. HFactor comes in original water as well as Watermelon, Blood Orange, Honeydew and Tart Cherry flavors. HFactor engineered a proprietary reverse osmosis filtering system (patent secured) that ensures the purity and taste of the water, delivering PURE hydrogen and PURE water. HFactor® water is sourced and packaged in the United States and is available online and in stores nationwide. For more information visit: HFactorWater.com 66 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

Higher Mind

Icelandic Glacial

Introducing Higher Mind, a plant-based line of nootropic beverages that power minds, without added sugar, jittery side-effects, or “the crash.” Scientifically formulated with ten active ingredients, Higher Mind is all the brain needs in one beverage.

Sourced from the pristine Ölfus Spring in Iceland, filtered through layers of lava rock, resulting in high pH of 8.4. Naturally alkaline. Certified carbon neutral company. Sicilian Lemon, Tahitian Lime and Elderflower flavored sparkling available.

Infuzed Thirst: CBD Sparkling Water Infuzed Brands

BRAND LISTINGS ITO EN's Oi Ocha -Japan's #1 Unsweetened KidKup- “k-kups” for kids!

Green Tea Celebrates 20 Yrs! ITO EN (North America) INC.

KidKup KidKup! New, natural, whey-based protein, low sugar, k-kups in three yummy flavors: Vanilla, chocolate, orange cremé. 12-18 pods/pack. Parents and kids now have a healthier choice in drink pods! Keurig 2.0 compatible/100% recyclable pod

Oi Ocha is Japan’s #1 tea brand, pioneered

by ITO EN, the global leaders of green tea.

Authentic with the integrity & essence of the whole leaf, Oi Ocha is available in both bottles & cans, delivering a delicious & clean finish, with no added flavors Matcha LOVE Energy Shots

Calypso Teas: Another Way to Enjoy the Taste of the Islands King Juice Company, Inc.

KÖE Organic Kombucha - Surprisingly, a Great Tasting Kombucha

ITO EN(North America) INC.

KÖE Organic Kombucha

Convenient on-the-go Matcha drink made with 100% pure Japanese matcha and brewed green tea. A natural energy drink with powerful antioxidants, matcha offers health benefits of consuming the entire leaf. Available in both Unsweetened and Sweetened.

KÖE Organic Kombucha - breathing life into the betterfor-you category with one of the first shelfstable kombucha, packed with billions of probiotics and delicious organic fruit juices. Surprisingly, a Great Tasting Kombucha

Kafina Energy Kafina Energy

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Calypso, the originator of the flavored lemonade category, has developed four delicious new teas: Extra Sweet Tea Lemon Tea Peach Tea Raspberry Tea Each uses premium brewed black tea, triple-filtered water, and natural flavors. If you are looking to add teas to your line-up, we are confident that you will think these are TEA-rrific!

ORGANIC RTD: Change your perspective, Live LIFTED, See you at the TOP! LIFTED LIBATIONS

BRAND LISTINGS Dafruta Sparkling Juices

Mayawell Introduces First Prebiotic Beverage Made With Organic Agave

Liberty Imports USA, Inc

GAIAM Organic Green Tea MindFull Inc.

Mayawell

Dafruta introduces a refreshing and lightly carbonated sparkling juice that contains 28% fruit juice to deliver an authentic flavor. Available in Guanabana (Sour Sop), Passion Fruit and Mango. Packed in 10.8oz slim cans.

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Made with organic, hand-harvested agave, Mayawell offers a delicious line of clinically proven, sparkling prebiotic beverages. With only 4g of sugar and 5g fiber per bottle, Mayawell provides a unique blend of refreshment and real 3:22 PM functional benefit.

mood33 Hemp Infused Herbal Teas LoftTea, Inc.

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VIBE Organic Electrolyte Black Tea MindFull Inc.

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elevate your state

™

with mood33™ Hemp-Infused Herbal Tea Introducing six soulfully delicious herbal teas, infused with organic, American-grown, full-spectrum hemp extract, premium botanicals and real fruit juices. mood33 brings you the synergistic superpowers of all the hemp plant nutrients in a convenient, natural beverage – mindfully sweetened to create six totally bliss-inducing, fruit-forward flavors. With 33mg of hemp extract per bottle, you get more of the good feelings and positive vibes of the hemp plant than any beverage out there – like a full body massage at the cellular level. We artfully craft each blend with botanicals, teas and real fruits designed to harmonize with hemp to elevate you to the perfect mood state.

Low Sugar, Vegan-Certified, GMO & Gluten-Free, Non-Intoxicating – with the highest CBD content in the category

H E M P I N F U S ED

HERBAL TEA Available Fall 2019 through national retail and grocery outlets

Living Juice - New 4oz Bottles Living Juice Living Juice, makers of organic, cold-pressed juice, CBD products and wellness centers have launched a 4 ounce size of its original five flavors. Available now at the retailer level, these 4oz bottles pack a healthy punch

info@mood33.com

Wellness that works, the perfect combination of CBD and superfoods Natural Recovery Greens The first CBD infused superfood powdered beverage conveniently packed in single serving sachets. This complete wellness formula combines Superfoods, BCAAs, Probiotics and high absorption CBD with no artificial ingredients or preservatives.

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BRAND LISTINGS Nitro Joe’s Cruising Altitude Nitro Cold Brew Coffee with CBD

OLIPOP Sparkling Tonics- Prebiotics, Botanicals & Natural Plant Fiber!

Nitro Joe's

OLIPOP

Elevate your chill.

This coffee with 200mg of caffeine, 0 calories and 25mg of micro-encapsulated OLEO™ CBD. This coffee will be sure to help you cruise right on through your day.

Get some Shelf Stable Light Roast Cold Brew Power.

OLIPOP is a delicious tonic that is crafted with prebiotics, botanicals and natural plant fiber to support your microbiome and benefit digestive health. Flavors include Strawberry Vanilla, Vintage Cola, Ginger Lemon and new flavor Classic Root Beer!

Oh Hi Beverages Introduces New Sparkling Seltzer CBD line

All Natural Pervida Calm Beverages Feature Safe CBD Pervida CBD

GET GOING WITH ANYTIME ENERGY

Oh Hi Beverages INC Enjoy a low-calorie, great-tasting CBD beverage in the same four flavors as our popular THC line.

Each can contains 15mg of fast-acting CBD, and all batches are 3rd-party tested. Interested in distributing Oh Hi CBD? Contact us!

Optimum Nutrition, Inc. ESSENTIAL AMIN.O. ENERGY® + ELECTROLYTES Sparkling Hydration Drink helps fuel active adults on the go. Each can provides energy from natural caffeine sources, amino acids to support recovery and electrolytes to support hydration.

Organic Valley Organic Fuel - Crazy Good Protein!

Organic Valley

The newly formulated and crazy good Organic Fuel from Organic Valley hit shelves this summer. The milk protein shake from the #1 farmer-owned organic dairy cooperative in the country now packs 20 grams of high-quality protein, 50% less sugar than before, and one powerful new flavor: Coffee. Organic Fuel is crafted through an ultra-filtering process that concentrates the great protein while reducing the sugar; adding delicious, organic coffee with 86 grams of organic caffeine gives and extra boost for those looking for an edge in their workout or workday. Our crowd favorites Chocolate Organic Fuel and Vanilla Organic Fuel are also back and better than ever.

All Organic Fuel varieties are lactose-free, gluten-free, kosher certified, and of course, USDA Certified Organic. Organic Fuel never contains artificial growth hormones, artificial sweeteners, or anything artificial, for that matter. Plus, it’s made with organic milk from family farms of the Organic Valley cooperative. That means no GMOs, no antibiotics, and all real milk protein from well-cared-for cows. This new Organic Fuel is leaner, cleaner, and ready for the health-conscious shopper. Less sugar. Lower price. Crazy good protein.

70 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

Prebiotic Soda | Be Gut Happy. Be Gut Healthy. poppi

BRAND LISTINGS The ONLY Simply Beneficial Beverage Great For All Ages, THINK POSITIVE Positive Beverage

Ready Protein Water Ready

New Wonder Drink Prebiotic Plus Pure Steeps Beverage, LLC

Recess Sparkling Water with Hemp and Adaptogens Recess

72 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

BRAND LISTINGS PATHWATER Purified Water in a BPA-Free Reusable Aluminum Bottle

BOONS+ Collagen Infused Water is Hydration With Benefits.

PATHWATER

Purposeful Excellence

PATHWATER is a sustainable solution to the single-use plastic bottled water crisis. We want to help shift communities to a REUSE culture where we're smarter about recycling. We're driven by the positive impact we can have on the world and the future.

Petal - Organic Sparkling Botanicals

BOONS+ Collagen Infused Water provides hydration with benefits. Available in three delicious flavors, each hydrating serving of Boons+ Collagen contains 10g of collagen peptides (that's 10g of protein!) and is sweetener free and sustainably packed!

Red Bull Zero

Petal Sparkling Botanicals

Red Bull North America

Meet Petal™, the unique organic beverage experience that sparkles with wild, rebellious, flower-powered goodness. This betterfor-you beverage delights the taste buds and reignites the spirit with minimal sugar and no caffeine.

Red Bull Zero is full of wiiings and free of sugar. Offering a new taste, Red Bull Zero is available at retailers nationwide this January in both 8oz and 12oz single serve cans.

Reneva Collagen Protein Drink Reneva LLC

Super Tasty Guaranteed Revive Kombucha

Alter Ego Sparkling All-Natural Energy Riff

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BRAND LISTINGS ROAR Organic Electrolyte Infusions Roar Beverage Company

Lion’s Root Nootropic Brew from Rowdy Mermaid Kombucha

Sofee - Coffee for the Curious

Rowdy Mermaid Kombucha

Sofee Beverage LLC Sofee: a curiously carbonated, slightly sweet, most definitely caffeinated coffee drink. All-natural, no preservatives. Just cold-brew, agave nectar and/or monk fruit, & real extracts.

5-50 cal. Six varieties, in cans and kegs.

Pictured: The Hedonist

Brewed for brilliance, decaffeinated Lion's Root kombucha is flavored with the refreshing sweetness of pineapple, grounded with fresh turmeric, and built around the natural nootropic, lion's mane mushroom. Awaken focus and enlighten the senses.

Single Origin Nitro Cold Brew Coffee That Will Rock Your Socks Off!

Classic SuperShot™ Line

Snowing in Space Coffee We're taking a unique approach to nitro cold brew coffee with a focus on a fun, approachable brand, single origin beans, caffeine & roasting variety and pricing and packaging aimed at increasing cold brew purchasing & consumption behavior.

Rock Grace Premium Non-Alcoholic Beverage New Release Rock Grace

Sol-ti Sol-ti SuperShot Line are Glass Bottled, Light Filtered, Living Beverages that are sustainably packaged.120 Day Shelf Life.Retail velocity is 18 cs / month / store.Increase your sales revenue $862 per month per store.Email us to sell or distribute.

Introducing Uptown Wine Cocktails, Ready-to-Drink Cocktails Southern Champion

Uptown Wine Cocktails are authentic libations made for you and your friends to enjoy and avoid the hassle of bartending. These premium drinks are crafted for socializing in style with a sleek and cool presence, but smooth and friendly once the drink is poured and the conversation starts. Grab a glass and pour yourself a genuine cocktail. Share the possibilities.

Uptown Wine Cocktails are available in premium 1.5L glass bottles in six flavors: Margarita, Mango Margarita, Strawberry Margarita, Lemon Tea, Chocolatini, and Ruby Red Grapefruit. Uptown Cocktails are 13.9% ABV and are crafted with natural ingredients and premium agave or orange wines. All the cocktails are gluten-free and Kosher.

Email: info@southern-champion.com

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BRAND LISTINGS CRUNK!!! Energy Adds New Flavor to its Lineup

Spritz Softly Sparkling Teas

Solvi Acquisition

Spritz Beverages LLC

CRUNK!!! Energy has introduced the newest bold flavor to be added to the delicious lineup of naturally fueled energy products – Sour Apple. New Sour Apple is uniquely crafted with natural flavors and real cane sugar for a sweet and sour punch.

Spritz is a new line of softly sparkling, boldly flavored, craft tea infusions. Our drinks are sugar free, zero calories, vegan & keto friendly, with both caffeinated & caffeine free options.

1% of all sales go to female empowerment non-profits.

Sparkling water, made with organic juice

Sunshine Beverages - New Sparkling Energy Waters Sunshine Beverages

Talking Rain Sparkling Water Launches New Caffeinated Line Extension

Sovány Beverage Company

Talking Rain Beverage Company

We wanted a refreshing and tasty drink we could enjoy anytime, anywhere.

The answer to our cravings was found in a combination of sparkling water and organic juice. Current flavors are Orange, Raspberry, Apple and Simply Sparkling.

Talking Rain +Caffeine is a naturally flavored sparkling water with 50mg of caffeine sourced from coffee beans. With zero calories, zero sweeteners and zero sodium, Talking Rain +Caffeine is the perfect better-for-you boost!

Soylent’s New Ready-to-drink Mint Chocolate Soylent

76 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

Teatulia Organic Tea Sodas in Four Delicious & Refreshing Flavors!

Teatulia Organic Teas

NATURALLY

ALKALINE ARTESIAN WATER

From an ancient aquifer, deep underneath Chuck Norris’ Lone Wolf Ranch, emerges a true force of nature. CForce artesian water prides itself on absolute quality — from the pristine water inside to the premium packaging outside. Within our world-class bottling facility rests crisp, clear, fresh-tasting water straight from a sustainable aquifer.

Naturally filtered through volcanic rock, CForce artesian water is dated back 23,000 years old - to the last Ice Age. The preservation of its essential minerals and naturally high pH gives CForce its delicious, smooth taste. Directly from the source to you, it’s Ice Age water, at its purest.

CForce.com CForce.com

®

BRAND LISTINGS Island Punch by Wyler’s Light – Powdered Drink Mix The Jel Sert Company

Skittles Zero Sugar Powdered Drink Mix The Jel Sert Company

Starburst Zero Sugar Powdered Drink Mix The Jel Sert Company

Pure Kick Energy & Hydration – Powdered Drink Mix The Jel Sert Company

78 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

A fresh Brazilian twist to plant-based beverages!

COCONUT MILK

COCONUT WATER

From tree to bottle in less than 24 hours, we create refreshing, high quality coconut water and coconut milk with fresh-from-the-coconut taste and exotic flavors unique to Obrigado.

VEGAN PLANT-BASED DAIRY-FREE SOY-FREE

contactusa@obrigado.com or call 1-888-627-4423 obrigado.com

GLUTEN-FREE NO SUGAR ADDED NO PRESERVATIVES NEVER FROM CONCENTRATE

taste the Obrigado difference!

BRAND LISTINGS Sunkist Zero Sugar Powdered Drink Mix The Jel Sert Company

Tama Tea - Craft Brewed Sparkling Green Tea Tama Tea

Time To Unwind Inc.

At Tama Cafe we innovated a craft brewed sparkling tea made w/ organic whole leaf tea 0 calories 0 sugar 35mg caffeine 0 natural flavors. Made with REAL fruits, herbs and green tea yet still shelf stable & all the benefits of tea! All Good No Guilt!

KITE is a great tasting, organic, all-natural beverage, cold-brewed with adaptogens! Available in 3 flavors, Kite's sparkling functional botanical infusions are thoughtfully crafted with the health-conscious consumer in mind.

Unwind with KITE!

Zero-Proof, Zero Sugar Bitters & Soda

Hi-C Zero Sugar Powdered Drink Mix The Jel Sert Company

80 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

KITE; Organic, Sparkling, Cold Brewed, Botanical Tea With Adaptogens

Sparkling ACV Drink launches in two Whole Foods Regions

The Bitter Housewife

VINA

Inspired by the classic "what to drink when you're not drinking", The Bitter Housewife Bitters & Soda is completely free of alcohol and sugar, but full of the complex and satisfying taste you expect from a bitters and soda.

VINA® Sparkling is a light, bubbly water with organic pressed juice and the added benefit of Apple Cider Vinegar. Our unique blend is delicious, drinkable and pairs perfectly with food.

VINA® launches in WFM So-Pack & Rocky's regions January 2020.

Tohi Aronia Berry Antioxidant Beverages TOHI VENTURES LLC

BRAND LISTINGS True Nopal Cactus Water True Nopal Ventures, LLC

UPTIME Premium Energy Drink Launching Innovation in 2020 UPTIME Energy, Inc.

In 2020, UPTIME Energy Drink will expand its premium, sugar free lineup with two new bold and refreshing flavors: Blueberry Pomegranate and Mango Pineapple. Both varieties of innovation promise to deliver a refreshing burst of flavor, along with the comfortable, sustainable energy consumers have come to enjoy when drinking UPTIME. Officially launching in February 2020, both flavors will be widely distributed across the United States.

In developing this sugar free line extension, UPTIME closely monitored flavor trends and consumer preferences. Following suit with its premium positioning in the beverage market, UPTIME’s development team continues to create sophisticated, unique flavors that appeal to a wide variety of consumers who have come to expect great taste in premium energy. As is the case with all its innovation, UPTIME conducts multiple rounds of internal taste tests and months fine-tuning flavor profiles, to create on-trend flavors that appeal to existing fans and new customers alike.

“We remain excited as we continue the brand momentum we’ve been building over the past few years. The introduction of our newest, premium sugar free offerings has poised the brand for continued growth in the new year,” said UPTIME CEO, Benjamin Kim.

Ultima Replenisher Ultima Health Products, Inc.

Verve Coffee Roasters Introducing 2 New Nitro Flash Brew SKU’s Verve Coffee Roasters

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BRAND LISTINGS Introducing VOSS Flavored Sparkling Water Sleek Cans

Blue Buddha Organic Wellness Tea

VOSS Water

The Cleanest Organic Green Tea Drinks Wild Orchard Tea Company

Wholesome Tea Company

VOSS Flavored Sparking Water now available in a sleek can, with beautiful, eye catching graphics.

Three signature flavor combinations, with no calories, sugar, or sweeteners. Available in 355ml sleek cans and fridge friendly 8-packs. Live Every Drop.

Blue Buddha combines high grade green tea with on trend beneficial herbs – Ashwagandha, Amla, and Maitake Mushroom. These healthful herbs are mainstays in the Ayurvedic tradition.

Blue Buddha is Organic, Non-GMO and low in sugar and calories.

EASE THE DAY with WELLER CBD Sparkling Water (25mg CBD per can) WELLER

O.Vine Wine Essence Water Wine Water LTD

VOSS Fabulously Flavored Sparkling Waters

Jade Monk Matcha

VOSS Water Now available in 330ml PET 6-pks and 12-pks. Five unique flavor combinations, incl. new Raspberry Rose and Strawberry Ginger. VOSS PET Sparkling Flavors are perfect for on-the-go and all occasions.

NO calories, sugar, or sweeteners. Live Every Drop.

82 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

Wholesome Tea Company Jade Monk Matcha is a delicious Non-GMO Super Food, that mixes instantly in cold water, hot water, or milk - unlike other plain matcha powders that require a whisk and patience to mix a cup. Jade Monk has 137X the antioxidants of green tea.

BRAND LISTINGS NEW Wildflower Functional Herbal Tonics with MCT & Hemp Oils Wildflower by Happy Moose Wildflower is a line of shelf stable tonics utilizing adaptogens, botanicals, fresh fruit, and hemp oil.

Targeted health benefits like Sleep Aid, Stress Relief, & Energy make each recipe as dynamic as they are tasty. 10g or less sugar, 100% Natural.

YerbaĂŠ Enhanced Sparkling Water Yerbae LLC YerbaĂŠ Enhanced Sparkling Water is a functional beverage powered by Yerba Mate! It leaves you with a refreshing taste and a powerful boost to carry you through your busy day.

XL Energy Drink - new look XL Energy Drink Corp XL Energy introduces a new can design that is the epitome of style and modernity.

The eye-catching symphony of energetic colors is intended for people who want to enjoy the highest quality drink in style to feel and look good.

bevnet.com/advertise

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SUPPLIER & SERVICES LISTINGS Tea, Coffee & Specialty items A. Holliday & Company Inc.

Scientific & Regulatory AIBMR Life Sciences, Inc.

FDA GRAS Proteins +Milks Axiom Foods

Connecting Nutrition & Health BENEO Inc.

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

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

Innovating food technology since 2005 Axiom Foods offers the only suspension-grade FDA GRAS, non-GMO verified, clinically tested, multi-functional, neutral plant proteins quality controlled to the field level. Large commercial quantities are available from Oryzatein rice protein, with patented sports claims, to pea, hemp and sacha inchi plant proteins, plus whole grain certified oat and rice milks

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

Flavor Manufacturer Abelei Flavors

Highest Throughput HPP Machine Avure HPP Technologies - JBT

Contract Manufacturing Azpack

Everything Beverage Packaging Berlin Packaging

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

With more than 60 years of experience and expertise in HPP science and manufacturing, AVURE specializes in HPP systems for food and beverage processing with the fastest and most reliable systems in the industry.

AVURE helps producers implement HPP from recipe development and process validations to installation, regulatory affairs, and postinstallation support.

Azpack is one of the fastest growing co-packers in the country. We offer co-packing services in cans and bottles. Our team of dedicated and professional staff are focused on delivering the highest quality products to our customers.

Capable of producing cold fill preserved, hot fill and tunnel pasteurized products with onsite lab services. Visit our website to find out what we can do for you.

Berlin Packaging supplies glass, plastic, and metal containers and closures. We offer a wide array of packaging for beverage companies along with design, financing, consulting, and warehousing services. From simple plastic caps to high-end glass bottles and much more -- we deliver excellent value and promote real results for companies of all sizes. We exist to help companies be Greater, Faster.

Organic Functional Ingredients

Beverage Industry Navigators

Applied Food Sciences (AFS)

BevSource

Add AFS

Coffee

Ingredients To Your Label

Having trouble developing or producing your beverage? Partner with BevSource.

BevSource is an integrated provider of beverage development, sourcing, and production solutions for new and established beverage visionaries.

Bringing your beverage idea to life requires hundreds of interconnected data points and decisions. The right formula with the right manufacturer in the right package with the right paperwork. BevSource helps you see the big picture – from your initial vision to the finished product, and every single operational step in between. While we manage the daily details of your beverage operations, you’ll have more time to build your brand, business, & customer base.

We’re not just advisors that point you in the right direction and hope for the best. We are beverage industry navigators who collaborate with you to build a custom operational strategy for your beverage.

plant-based protein cascara coffee fruit

Visit www.bevsource.com today to find out more or call to discuss how we can start turning your beverage idea into a reality together. get-started@bevsource.com 866-956-4608

AppliedFoods.com 84 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

An Innovative Probiotic Ingredient for On-Trend Functionality Hot or cold, 24 hours or 24 months, DE111 is a patented probiotic ingredient that stands up to processing and storage. Stable under a range of temperatures, pH changes, and humidity, our clinically studied strain of Bacillus subtilis safely and effectively adds in-demand digestive and immune functionality to a variety of applications. DE111 is the versatile, stable probiotic solution for limitless formulation possibilities.

Call us at 800.697.8179 or visit us at DE111probiotic.com to see how DE111 can add digestive benefits to your applications.

SUPPLIER & SERVICES LISTINGS Bev-Hub Co Packing Bev-Hub

Full-Service Flavor Supplier Brookside Flavors and Ingredie

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

Brookside is a full-service flavor supplier specializing in natural, certified organic and fair-trade products, including Clean Label, Conventional and Organic Spice, Floral and Herbal Extracts. Our new Botanical-based, Terpene Rich Flavor Systems are ideal for Cannabis applications. Need inspiration for your next big product breakthrough? Please reach out to us.

CBD Solutions for CPG Experts Caliper Commercial Ingredients

Functional Branded Ingredients Bioenergy Life Science (BLS)

Caliper Commercial Ingredients develops, manufactures, and distributes Caliper CBD, a proprietary suite of standardized, clean-label, shelf-stable formulations of water-soluble hemp-derived cannabinoids, including CBD*. Caliper CBD is designed for rapid go-tomarket and scalable manufacturing, mixing easily into food, beverage, supplement, personal care, and pet applications, while remaining robust to standard commercial food manufacturing processes.

BLS creates innovative, scientific based ingredients for healthier living. Our ingredients are clinically proven to support healthy aging, sports performance, sustainable energy, mitochondria health, heart health and much more. We sell to businesses who manufacture or formulate functional foods & beverages, supplements, sports nutrition products, animal nutrition & cosmetics. We are best known for the only patented & FDA GRAS-certified D-Ribose: Bioenergy Ribose®. Bioenergy Ribose is the true source of cellular energy and is crucial to the production of ATP. Bioenergy Ribose increases energy for Endurance, Performance & A Healthier You. Our newest ingredient, RiaGev™, is the first and only commercially available composition uniquely combining Bioenergy Ribose and nicotinamide. This synergistic combination is distinctly formulated to enter the salvage pathway directly to more efficiently increase nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) in the body.

RiaGev maintains & enhances mitochondrial health by boosting NAD levels and inducing the creation of new mitochondria. NAD is vital for mitochondrial health. Increased NAD and healthy mitochondria help slow the aging process, reduce age-related cognitive decline, prevent cellular damage from free radicals, and create a stronger immune system. RiaGev helps Repair, Prevent, and Rejuvenate, supporting a healthier you from the inside out.

Caliper CBD allows fast-acting, water-soluble cannabinoids to be easily introduced into any food environment using standard commercial kitchen or food production equipment and with no noticeable impact to flavor, consistency, texture, or appearance — no specialized knowledge or processing required. * Derived from US-sourced industrial hemp We Invented Micro-Canning Cask Global Canning Solutions

Closure Systems Solutions Closure Systems International

Cask Global Canning Solutions invented microcanning. We provide innovative and affordable canning systems to the world’s small and medium-sized creators of craft beer, cider, wine, cold brewed coffee, kombucha and other lifeenhancing beverages. We have installed 1400+ canning lines in 59 countries.

CSI is recognized as a global leader in closure design, manufacturing, and high-speed application systems. In addition to quality closures and capping equipment, CSI provides unparalleled customer and technical services.

CSI's closure systems solutions help customers maximize profits by increasing the marketability of their brands and optimizing their cost of operations.

Beverage Innovation Specialist BLUE PACIFIC FLAVORS

Real People. True Flavor.

Callisons

Kick Caffeine to the Curb Chemi Nutra

Global Food Ingredients Corbion

Blue Pacific Flavors specializes in innovative beverage solutions in organic, plant-based, sugar reduce, functional, teas and coffees. We carry flavor modulators for the ingredients hard to formulate with as well as exotic international fruit flavors. Call us for your next beverage project or flavor needs.

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.

Avoid the negatives associated with caffeine while powerfully boosting mental energy, cognitive performance, and exercise performance, with AlphaSize® Alpha-GPC. AlphaSize® Alpha-GPC is incredibly functional, FDA affirmed as GRAS, is tasteless, colorless, stable, 100% water soluble, and the most bioavailable source of choline in the world, for use in any beverage or shot application. Try it!

Corbion relies on more than 100 years of experience. Built on two successful companies that have been innovators in the food industry for years. For beverages we help achieve the perfect flavor, mouthfeel and nutritional profile and our solutions overcome product stability challenges so you can expand your geographical reach.

86 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

o t n i r u o P r e g n i G e Pur

PurGinger is bold and spicy for beverages. Try pure organic ginger that is fully soluble, shelf stable, and void of any microbial contaminants. Inquire for a sample of PurGinger for your beverage.

Contact AFS appliedfoods.com/ginger 1(800)345-9666 sales@appliedfoods.com

PurGinger organic ginger extract by

SUPPLIER & SERVICES LISTINGS Water Soluble Hemp Extract Farmington Research

Speciality Hydrocolloids CP Kelco

Label & Packaging Specialists DWS PRINTING

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

Established in 1865, DWS is a 5th generation, family-owned & operated label printing, cansleeving and packaging design company. We are the last step in the visions of a lot of passionate people. We take an anonymous container and provide its story. Let us help tell your story through Cut&Stack, Pressure Sensitive, Shrink Sleeve, Roll Fed, Digital Printing, Pre-Sleeved Can Packaging and Design.

Co-Packing & Co-Manufacturing CraftPack Beverage, LLC

Functional Flavors Edlong Corporation

CraftPack is an 81,000 sq. ft co-packing/ co-manufacturing facility in Baltimore for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. With minimum production volume of 1,000 gallons, we can help you grow and scale your brand while also providing cans, materials, and packaging services. cGMPs & HACCP accredited, CCOF Organic Certified, K-Star Kosher Certified, pasteurization, and in-house can supply.

As the leading independent flavor company, Edlong continues to re-imagine how the taste of dairy provides unique and delicious benefits to both dairy and plant-based formulations.

Our natural flavors help achieve individual clean label requirements, add mouthfeel, mask nutritional ingredient and plant protein off-notes, layer flavors for depth, and elevate a standard product to premium.

Energy. Naturally Occurring.

Doehler North America

Clean Label Ingredients Farbest Brands

Beverage Development Flavorman

Flavor Designers Foodarom

Consumer increased demand for energy drinks requires exciting taste sensations as well as natural & healthier options. Guayusa, a plantbased extract that provides naturally-occurring caffeine, is rapidly trending with its “super leaf” status & functionality. Step into this dynamic market & partner with Doehler for innovative energy drinks with extraordinary flavors using natural ingredients.

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

Starting a new beverage can be overwhelming.

Let the beverage experts at Flavorman make your life easier, from start to finish - helping you every step of the way. Flavorman – Changing what the world is drinking for 27 years and counting.

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

Secondary Packaging Equipment Douglas Machine Inc.

Tea & Coffee Extracts Finlays

FONA Flavor & Taste Solutions FONA International

Beverage Recruiting Firm ForceBrands

For over 55 years, Douglas has provided customers with high quality automated packaging solutions for paperboard, corrugated and shrink-film. We specialize in the design and manufacture of case and tray packers, shrink wrap systems, cartoners, sleevers and palletizers.

Based in Alexandria, Minnesota, Douglas is an employee-owned company that has installed more than 12,000 machines in 30 countries.

Finlays is your ideal partner, delivering highquality extracts for creating versatile coffee and tea beverages in an easy, convenient and consistent manner. Through an established history of coffee and tea expertise with a focus on innovation, Finlays can help your brand develop unique beverages with great flavor, in a variety of formats suitable for food service and ready-todrink products.

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.

ForceBrands is the leading specialized recruiting firm for the consumer products industry offering executive search services, board of director assembly, and a digital job board. Our BevForce division is made up of industry experts who understand the beverage market. We tap into our established network to connect you with the most qualified talent to grow your business.

88 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

A New Opportunity Has Bubbl’d Up!

Available At Target • Meijer • Kroger • Hy-Vee • Dierbergs Schnucks • Woodman’s • Mariano’s • Coborn’s Pick ‘N Save • Jewel-Osco • Festival Foods

Distribution opportunities available! contact@drinkbubblr.com ı drinkbubblr.com

SUPPLIER & SERVICES LISTINGS Decorative Label Solutions Fort Dearborn Company

Aseptic Packaging Solutions GoodWest Industries, LLC

Mobile Canning Solutions Iron Heart Canning Co

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

IHC is your solution to guide you through the canning process! With over 100 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!

Coconut Products Franklin Baker, Inc.

Cold-Brew Master Extractors Javo Beverage Company

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.

Online produce marketplace Full Harvest

GoodWest offers a complete aseptic packaging solution for your bag-in-box beverages and mixes. We specialize in low-acid dairy, cold brew and coffee-based products. Organic, nonGMO, gluten-free, nut free and Kosher options are also available. BIB selections include bag sizes from 2 liters to 5 gallons. A wide variety of bag and dispensing fitments are offered. Ideation, formulation, research, development, reasonable minimum runs, as well as pilot and trial run capabilities.

Multiple SQF Level 3 certified plants in both Eastern and Western locations.

Call GoodWest today to discuss your product and packaging needs, 1-800-948-1922 or john@goodwest.com. www.goodwest.com Beverage Technical Training ISBT

Founded in 2001, Javo is an extraction company that uses a proprietary cold-brew method to produce fresh, clean-labeled coffee, tea and botanical extracts for the food and beverage industry. Our cold-brew process delivers a clean non-acidic authentic concentrate for your targeted application, whether a cold brew, nitro coffee, dairy, sauce or bakery item.

Natural Flavors & Terpenes Lebermuth

Full Harvest helps food & beverage companies reduce their bottom line while increasing their sustainability footprint. Our online produce marketplace connects you with quality farms to purchase surplus and imperfectly shaped produce — helping to solve the massive food waste problem. Customers buying surplus and ‘ugly’ fruits and vegetables have saved 10%40% compared to traditional distributors.

Family owned since 1908, we formulate natural & organic flavors with a variety of natural materials. We offer terpenes, blends, liquid and powdered flavors with profiles such as mint, sweet, spicy and fruity. Our in-house distillation capabilities allow us to refine flavor characteristics that result in a unique profile your product developers, and ultimately consumers, desire.

Natural Color Solutions GNT USA Inc.

Sleeved Cans & Consumables Lucky Clover Packaging

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

Lucky Clover Packaging is your one-stop shop for shrink sleeved aluminum cans of all sizes, as well as other packaging consumables such as crowlers, case trays, and Paktechs. With 8 plants across the U.S. we can save you time and money while you focusing on producing great beverages!

90 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

SUPPLIER & SERVICES LISTINGS Culinary Bulk Matcha ITO EN (North America) INC.

Teas, Botanicals and Extracts Martin Bauer Inc.

Trust the monk.™ Monk Fruit Corp

The Martin Bauer Group is one of the largest suppliers of botanical products for the food, beverage, and dietary supplement industries.

Our products are based on sustainably sourced, high-quality botanical raw material. With a portfolio of over 200 plants and more than 80 years of experience, we provide off-the-shelf and tailor-made botanical solutions to meet your application needs.

Monk fruit allows you to create great tasting, innovative products with significantly less sugar and calories, from the goodness of fruit! Monk Fruit Corp (MFC) is the recognized industry leader, with ?60% of the global monk fruit market (>4X the nearest competitor). MFC offers the best quality and widest range of monk fruit products on the market. Thinking about monk fruit? Trust the monk.™

Branding & Packaging Design McLean Design

Screen Printed Labels Monvera Glass Décor

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

Your label has a powerful influence on buying behavior. Monvera provides unique bottle decoration options. We specialize in screen printed labels on glass, with both ceramic and uv ink options available. Whether you want to refresh a current brand or launch a new one, screen printed labels will make your bottle stand out. It's your alternative to paper labels.

MATCHA, the finely milled green tea powder revered for its antioxidants & natural energy boost, is a trend forward ingredient for healthy beverages, baking and cooking products.

100% Authentic Matcha from Japan. Bulk available for food service.

Superstable colors that endure

Shelf Stable Probiotic Strains

Lycored

Microbiome Labs

91

SUPPLIER & SERVICES LISTINGS ENHANCE & FORTIFY MORRE-TEC Industries, Inc.

Ideal Flax for Beverages Pizzey Ingredients

Vitacyclix , a division of MORRE-TEC Industries Inc. is an ingredient supplier to the Functional Beverage, Food & Nutritional Industries. We manufacture and supply soluble vitamins including a water soluble Vitamin D, bioflavonoids, natural colors, pectins, stabilizers and minerals.

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

Flavor Manufacturer Mother Murphy's Flavors

HPP Private Label & Juice Press Foods International

Data-Driven Retail Execution Repsly

At Repsly, we empower retail execution teams to achieve peak performance in the field and maximize their impact on sales. Our bestin-class software equips teams with the real-time data and tools they need to take the right action in the right store at the right time to have the biggest impact for their brand.

The Repsly mobile app empowers field teams to achieve smarter in-store execution. It equips reps with the store-level data they need to more intelligently manage accounts, along with scheduling, route optimization, and prospecting tools to help reps maximize productivity and efficiency.

Mother Murphy's is a full service flavor manufacturer dedicated to supporting customer needs through quality and flavor innovation.

At Mother Murphy's we specialize in flavor and prototype development for the beverage and snack industries and have over 60,000 flavors in our portfolio. We make the world taste better!

HPP Co-packing and export worldwide. We create the fresh & clean label alternative for your products line and help you innovate with HPP technology. Create your own brand and launch it worldwide with us as your partners in co-packing.

With our certifications and quality assurance standards, your clients will get the highest quality and safest fresh products in the market.

Our powerful manager’s dashboard allows team managers to engage in proactive territory management practices as well as access real-time data from the field. Our advanced reporting capabilities change the way teams measure performance with instant intelligence on retail execution, team activity, and the impact they have on sales. This helps managers identify problems and opportunities across a territory to optimize each action taken in the field.

Interested in learning more about Repsly? Schedule a time to chat with us at https://reps.ly/bevnet19 or send us an email at bevnet@repsly.com. We look forward to connecting with you!

NOT YOUR TYPICAL LABEL COMPANY

Craft Packaging Line Experts

Overnight Labels

Ska Fabricating

92 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

SUPPLIER & SERVICES LISTINGS Beverage & Food Development PTM Food

Bigger Better Smarter Southeast Bottling & Beverage

Coffee Without Compromise Steeped Coffee

Bestevia Taste Solutions Sweegen

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!

Ready-to-Drink Beverages & Liquid Dietary Supplements Organic & Kosher certified • More Capacity • More Packaging Options (Registered Film & Carton Pkging) • New registered film capability. tray, supported & non-supported.

• SQF Level III • 150,000sf • Built to cGMP Specifications • Filling rooms individually temperature & humidity controlled & HEPA Filters

Steeped Coffee is the easiest way to make a great cup of coffee anytime, anywhere, in minutes. Brewed like tea, Steeped single-serve coffee bags are filled with 100% fresh ground specialty coffee. Every bag is nitro-sealed for freshness in packaging made using compostable and renewable materials, making every cup eco-friendly. Wholesale, roaster, and private label programs available.

Sweegen brings you Bestevia Taste Solutions, a full taste experience for sugar reduced foods and beverages delivering the sweetness profile and mouthfeel of full sugar. Our portfolio of next generation stevia solutions is non-GMO, label friendly, nature-based and offers ease at use and competitive cost in beverage, dairy, nutrition, condiments and many other applications.

Naturally Crafted Flavors Sapphire Flavors and Fragrance

Beverage Co-pack Bottling Stapleton-Spence

Fruit & Vegetable Ingredients Stiebs

Synergy - Inspiring Taste Synergy Flavors

Sapphire Flavors & Fragrances is a vertically integrated natural flavor and extract company based in Fairfield, New Jersey with operations located in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Sapphire aims to create delicious natural custom crafted flavors at an exceptional value for all our customers.

Our vertical integration process allows for short lead times and low MOQs. Ready to learn more?

Contact us today!

Stapleton-Spence processes a variety of products including tea brewed from leaf, concentrates, juices, vinegars, functional beverages, sports beverages, syrups, edible oils, and more. 10 oz. – 64 oz. PET or Glass Containers. Shrink, C&S, and PS labels. Additional options may be available upon request. Certifications include BRC, FDA, USDA, Kosher, Organic, and USDA "Excellent" Rating.

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

Synergy Flavors is a global manufacturer and supplier of flavorings, extracts, and essences for the food, beverage and nutrition industries.

With more than 130 years of expertise, Synergy combines a heritage of flavor development with proprietary extraction technology to deliver high quality taste solutions that captivate the senses and inspire innovation.

Specialty Water - Your #1 source for private label beverages Specialty Water, LLC

Specialty Water works on bringing your brand to life. From high alkaline water (9+ ph), spring water, ultra-purified, to a CBD water, Specialty Water has the expertise to insure we produce the right product for your needs.

With over 20 years experience helping companies produce their water, Specialty Water is uniquely qualified to bring your brand to market. On the forefront of new trends, we can produce a CBD water using your own CBD, or bottle with our water soluble CBD. Our sales team is knowledgeable in all aspects of the production cycle, and can help you through the entire process.

Please call - 1-800-381-8494 www.specialtywaterusa.com

93

SUPPLIER & SERVICES LISTINGS We Make Life Taste Better T. Hasegawa USA Inc.

T. Hasegawa continues to pioneer the ?avor industry with a customer experience that is optimized to rapidly respond with technical expertise. We deliver superior products that meet all your requirements no matter how complex the demand. Recognizing that the food industry needs flexibility, we proactively listen to our customers’ needs in an effort to develop better ways of delivering formulations Food Safe, High Volume Cascara The Coffee Cherry Co.

Organic Bulk Ingredients

WATERMELON JUICES Van Groningen & Sons Inc.

Tradin Organic

Tradin Organic is a global front-runner in organic ingredients. We offer over 150 ingredients sourced from more than 100 regions worldwide. We offer a full-service portfolio based on our unique sourcing, sustainability initiatives, and processing and manufacturing capabilities. Our product portfolio includes a wide variety of ingredients for beverage applications including: fruit & vegetable products (IQF, purees, JC & NFC), cocoa products, honey, coconut sugar & syrups, sweeteners, superfood powders, plantbased protein powders, beverage-grade nut and seed butters, and much more. We pride ourselves on always offering high-quality, organic fruit and vegetable juices, including options for cold-pressed unpasteurized, concentrates, NFC and purees. With warehouses available on both the east and west coasts, we are able to accommodate your needs regardless of location. Please contact us today for more information!

Coffee Cherry = premium cascara produced using a proprietary process to ensure compliance with global food safety standards. Available from multiple origins with varied flavor notes, The Coffee Cherry Co can consistently supply high volumes to companies of all sizes. Very high in antioxidants, magnesium, sodium, iron for functional drinks. Also options for concentrate & fermented concentrate.

“Leave No Melon Behind”. . We offer both Certified Organic and Conventional Watermelon NFC Juice, Puree & JC. Van Groningen & Sons utilizes farm fresh watermelons from our fields and the fields of our trusted growers to process our watermelon products being used in many areas of the Food and Beverage Industry.

R&D projects this year have us excited to add additional products in 2020. Stay Tuned Delivering Preferred Taste Virginia Dare Extract Co

Virginia Dare delivers preferred taste for beverage applications with extracts, flavors, taste refinement systems (masking, modulation), and product development. Extracts/concentrates include vanilla, tea, coffee, and cocoa, plus clean label fruit and botanical extracts. We create flavor profile types including sweet, spicy, sour, bitter, fruity, exotic, botanical, spice, nutty, café, and alcohol.

Beverage Solutions and Premix

Shrink Labeling Experts

The Wright Group

Tripack

Connect with the team of experts at The Wright Group to learn more about turnkey beverage solutions to add to your product portfolio.

Beverages create ideal systems for functional ingredients since flavoring / sweetening systems can often mask unpleasant tastes from functional ingredients.

Microemulsion value-added ingredients often perform better in beverage delivery systems since they are not subject to the same cooking or mechanical stresses as in food production. Value-added premix solutions deliver performance and stability to your products...often at a cost savings!

Custom nutrient premixes have been shown to work well in a variety of products such as extruded bars, breakfast cereals and viscous, opaque beverages. SuperBlend© custom nutrient premixes are designed to include our SuperCoat© Micro-encapsulation SMART™ process. These premixes are also engineered to perform at high temperatures and shear processes.

The Wright Group delivers custom nutritional blends, vitamins/mineral premixes and microencapsulated ingredients for the functional food and nutritional supplement markets.

Our 100+ years of innovative expertise, accomplished R&D team, and comprehensive production capabilities allow us to provide faster lead times to successfully bring your products to market.

94 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

Tripack is a leading North American manufacturer of shrink sleeve labeling systems and a specialty contract packaging service company, offering a wide variety of solutions to the beverage industry. Our sleeving systems are engineered for speeds from 50 up to 800 ppm, featuring sleek, easy to operate designs and an unmatched, 3 year warranty.

For those brands who are looking for outsourced shrink labeling services (cans, bottles, glass), we have 5 highly automated packaging lines at our facility in Cincinnati, Ohio.

In addition to labeling containers, we also offer Variety and Rainbow case packing, automatic case erecting, and shrink bundling pack outs.

And last, our Craft Can division offers turn-key, shrink sleeve labeled cans in variety of sizes. 12/16oz standards. Sleeks of all sizes. We have lots of inventory! When printed cans aren’t your thing, need a quick lead time, or you’re looking for that vibrant shelf appeal, we can help you get there! Try us out!

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Contact your local Icelandic Glacial representative at sales@icelandicglacial.com Visit IcelandicGlacial.com for more information *Nielsen Scan Data YTD Dollar Sales of 1000ml in Kroger

COMPANY CONTACT INFORMATION COMPANY

CONTACT NAME

CITY

STATE

PHONE NUMBER

WEB SITE

A. Holliday & Company Inc.

Christine Renken

Toronto

ON

(416) 225-2217

teacoff.com

Abelei Flavors

Shelley Henderson

North Aurora

IL

(630) 859-1410

abelei.com

AIBMR Life Sciences, Inc. Alkawonder LLC AMAZ

Dr. John Endres

Seattle

WA

(253) 286-2888

aibmr.com

Mihaela Paraschivoiu

Boynton Beach

FL

(561) 572-0510

alkawonder.com

Gustavo Nader Cavalcante

Santa Monica

CA

(310) 310-0672

liveamaz.com

Applied Food Sciences (AFS)

Jackson Zapp

Austin

TX

(512) 732-8300

appliedfoods.com

Arepa

Angus Brown

Auckland

NZ

+64274555251

drinkarepa.com

Avure HPP Technologies - JBT

Lisa Wessels

Erlanger

KY

(859) 534-1545

avure-hpp-foods.com

AX Water Aronia Berry Waters

Gavin Linde

Fargo

ND

(619) 994-6812

drinkaxwater.com

Axiom Foods

Kay Abadee

—

—

(818) 266-2461

axiomfoods.com

—

Tempe

AZ

(480) 449-7770

azpack.com

Azpack Backyard Soda Co

Jonathan Schultz

Denver

CO

(970) 363-4935

backyardsodas.com

BAWLS Acquisition

Kellie D'Amato

Twinsburg

OH

(888) 731-9708

bawls.com

Beauty Gourmet, LLC

Kris Ravenscroft

Boulder

CO

(781) 336-6500

beautygourmet.com

BENEO Inc.

Sofie Colombeen

—

—

(321) 680-1372

Julie Saltzman

Chicago

IL

—

Berlin Packaging Bev-Hub BevSource

beneo.com BerlinPackaging.com

Customer Service

—

KS

(316) 339-0360

bev-hub.com

Dan Macri

St Paul

MN

(866) 956-4608

bevsource.com

Beyond Beverages LLC

Russell Lipton

Gardena

CA

(310) 327-1700

beyondmelon.com

Bioenergy Life Science (BLS)

Penny Portner

Minneapolis

MN

(763) 746-3926

bioenergylifescience.com

Shiran

City of Industry

CA

(626) 934-0099

bluepacificflavors.com

Robert Koenen

Grand Rapids

MI

(844) 429-3987

boxedwaterisbetter.com

Cortney Schirmer

Branchburg

NJ

(630) 520-9060

Brooksideflavors.com

BLUE PACIFIC FLAVORS Boxed Water Is Better Brookside Flavors and Ingredie C4® Caliper Commercial Ingredients Callisons Cask Global Canning Solutions CBD Living CELSIUS Holdings Chemi Nutra Clear/Cut Phocus

Declan Duggan

Austin

TX

(215) 219-9203

—

Commerce City

CO

—

C4OnTheGo.com caliperingredients.life

Kim Carson

Cincinnati

OH

(317) 442-8740

callisons.com

Brittany Houston

Calgary

AB

+7789574036

cask.com

Sean

Corona

CA

(951) 407- 0376

cbdliving.com

Elisha Gil

Boca Raton

FL

(561) 926-8318

celsius.com

Chase Hagerman

Austin

TX

(866) 907-0400

cheminutra.com

Ryan Smith

Louisville

KY

(866) 746-2891

drinkphocus.com

Christine Pototschnik

New York

NY

(914) 460-7372

brwd.com

Closure Systems International

Clint Rush

Indianapolis

IN

(317) 390-5067

csiclosures.com

Cloud Water Brands

Julie Siden

New York

NY

(917) 568-5853

cloudwaterbrands.com

Scott Sandler

Chicago

IL

(312) 243-1115

coco5.com

Nick Thompson

Lafayette

IN

(800) 486-1198

coppermooncoffee.com

—

Lenexa

KS

(913) 890-5500

corbion.com

CLIC'T LLC

COCO5 Copper Moon Coffee, LLC Corbion CP Kelco CraftPack Beverage, LLC Crystal Geyser Water Company

Bobbie Kenney

Atlanta

GA

(678) 247-7300

Ashley Sebastionelli

Baltimore

MD

—

cpkelco.com craftpackbev.com

Rob Bulot

—

CA

(626) 859-2822

juicesqueeze.com

Antonine Yahia Cherif

New York City

NY

(646) 617-5850

danone.com

DD USA ORGANIC LLC

Leyla Sfeir

Miami Beach

FL

(866) 822-3650

darkdog-organic.com

Deer Lake Springs, LLC

Jeffrrey Foss

—

—

(312) 545-1034

OZWater.com

Detoxwater

Christine Widga

Brooklyn

NY

(929) 370-9286

detoxwater.com

Diabolo Beverages

Jon Pevehouse

Sherman Oaks

CA

(714) 702-4967

drinkdiabolo.com

Merel Petri

New York

NY

(630) 596-6779

irisnova.com

Danone Waters of America

DIRTY LEMON

96 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

REMEMBER REFLECT REJOICE In 2020, GT’s KOMBUCHA celebrates 25 years with Sacred Life, a limited-edition offering. Encased in a commemorative, engraved glass bottle, Sacred Life is crafted with fresh coconut water, fresh pressed ginger, and blue spirulina which naturally gives this Kombucha its vibrant blue color.

For orders and info, please contact: Sales@DrinkGTs.com

COMPANY CONTACT INFORMATION COMPANY DIVAS drink U.S. Inc. Doehler North America Douglas Machine Inc. Drink Gifted DWS PRINTING Edlong Corporation Electrolit USA Essentia Water Evolution Fresh®

CONTACT NAME

CITY

STATE

PHONE NUMBER

WEB SITE

Martin Buschbacher

Memphis

TN

(954) 666-8896

divasdrink.com

Kristy Ellenson

Cartersville

GA

(770) 387-0451

doehler.com

Erv Fringer

Alexandria

MN

(320) 763-6587

douglas-machine.com

Lefteris Giaprakis

Brooklyn

NY

(929) 228-9910

drinkgifted.com

Andy Staib

Deer Park

NY

(631) 667-6666

dwsprinting.com

Lisa Drawer

Elk Grove Village

IL

(847) 631-6797

edlong.com

Brenda De Anda

Albany

NY

(518) 417-4887

electrolit.com

Maddie Ruberg

Bothell

WA

(425) 402-9555

essentiawater.com

Christina Larigan

Seattle

WA

(206) 318-7609

evolutionfresh.com

fairlife, LLC

fairlife Media

Chicago

IL

(312) 624-9444

fairlife.com

Farbest Brands

Michael Sutich

Park Ridge

NJ

(201) 573-4900

farbest.com

Cameron Meshell

Shreveport

LA

(310) 710-1773

FarmingtonResearch.com

Farmington Research Finlays Fizzique, LLC Flavorman Flow Alkaline Spring Water

—

Lincoln

RI

(800) 288-6272

finlays.net

Ashley Panyako

Carlsbad

CA

(760) 522-0412

drinkfizzique.com

Phil Icsman

Louisville

KY

(502) 301-8132

flavorman.com

—

—

CA

(844) 356-9426

flowhydration.com

FONA International

Cara Newkirk

Geneva

IL

(630) 578-8642

fona.com

Foodarom

John Murphy

Salt Lake City

UT

(801) 975-2604

foodarom.com

ForceBrands

Sean Conner

New York

NY

(917) 596-3229

forcebrands.com/bevforce

Gwen Chapdelaine

Elk Grove

IL

(847) 357-9500

fortdearborn.com

John Slade

Memphis

TN

(901) 881-6681

franklinbaker.com

Fort Dearborn Company Franklin Baker, Inc. Frey Farms

Hilary Long

Keenes

IL

(314) 779-7018

sarahshomegrown.com

Full Harvest

Fernando Alvear

San Francisco

CA

(916) 500-9296

fullharvest.com

GNT USA Inc.

Jeannette O'Brien

Tarrytown

NY

(914) 524-0600

EXBERRY.com

GoodWest Industries, LLC

John Ludwig

Douglassville

PA

(800) 948-1922

goodwest.com

Greenbelt Craft Kombucha

Gavin Booth

Austin

TX

(714) 856-0835

greenbeltkombucha.com

GT's Living Foods

GT's Sales

—

CA

—

H2OPS LLC

Paul Tecker

Anaheim

CA

(714) 392-4414

H2rOse

Melody Sham

Los Angeles

CA

(323) 653-8500

drinkh2rose.com

HardHops

Jennifer Kania

Maumee

OH

(419) 699-9917

hardhops.com

Hawai‘i Volcanic Water

Jason Donovan

Princeville

HI

(808) 639-9394

hawaiivolcanic.com

Health-Ade Kombucha

Shannon Crossman

Torrance

CA

(424) 999-2965

health-ade.com

Hecho

Taylor Davies

Los Angeles

CA

(951) 743-2900

siphecho.com

HFactor Water

Steve Torres

New York

NY

(347) 416-0776

hfactorwater.com

Angela Helfrich

New York

NY

(919) 906-4145

highermindwellness.com

Higher Mind

gtslivingfoods.com h2ops.com

Hoplark HopTea

Hodding Hall

Boulder

CO

(614) 551-3441

hoptea.com

Icelandic Glacial

Reza Mirza

Culver City

CA

(424) 201-6800

icelandicglacial.com

Jigme Love

Marina Del Rey

CA

(310) 844-8159

infuzedbrands.com

Iron Heart Canning Co

Infuzed Brands

Roger Kissling

Manchester

NH

(908) 619-5449

ironheartcanning.com

ISBT

Ronald Puvak

Dallas

TX

(419) 708-1486

bevtech.org

Sales

Brooklyn

NY

(718) 250-4000

itoen.com

Candice Peck

Vista

CA

(760) 560-5286

javobeverage.com

Kathleen O'Brien

East Calais

VT

(203) 273-9009

kafinaenergy.com

Jana Kralick

Redmond

WA

(925) 964-7868

Kidkup.com

King Juice Company, INC.

Matt Andersen

Milwaukee

WI

(414) 482-0303

drinkcalypso.com

KÖE Organic Kombucha

Jared Smith

—

—

(323) 581-3663

drinkkoe.com

ITO EN (North America) INC. Javo Beverage Company Kafina Energy KidKup

98 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

COMPANY CONTACT INFORMATION COMPANY

CONTACT NAME

CITY

STATE

PHONE NUMBER

Lebermuth

Shannon Winnicki

South Bend

IN

8006481123

Liberty Imports USA, Inc

Terri Reedell

Allentown

PA

(610) 434-1109

DafrutaUSA.com

LIFTED LIBATIONS

Moose Koons

Denver

CO

(303) 845-2728

LiftedLibations.com

Rosemary Devlin

Irvington

NY

(917) 567-2650

drinklivingjuice.com

Living Juice LoftTea, Inc.

WEB SITE Lebermuth.com

—

Santa Monica

CA

(800) 336-9630

Lucky Clover Packaging

Ashley Sebastionelli

Baltimore

MD

—

Lycored

Ms Tammi Higgins

Orange

NJ

(877) 592-6733

Lycored.com

—

Secaucus

NJ

(201) 659-3100

martin-bauer-group.us

Martin Bauer Inc. Mayawell McLean Design Microbiome Labs MindFull Inc. Monk Fruit Corp Monvera Glass Décor

mood33.com luckycloverpackaging.com

Oliver Shuttlesworth

Austin

TX

(737) 231-0119

drinkmayawell.com

Caryn Javinsky

Walnut Creek

CA

(925) 944-9500

McLean-Design.com

Alisa Ries

St. Augustine

FL

(801) 201-8839

microbiomelabs.com

—

—

CO

—

Paul Paslaski

Libertyville

IL

(847) 367-6665

mindfull.com monkfruitcorp.com

—

Richmond

CA

(877) 792-1150

monvera.com

MORRE-TEC Industries, Inc.

Michael Fuchs

Union

NJ

(908) 688-9009

morretec.com

Mother Murphy's Flavors

David Wilhoit

Greensboro

NC

(800) 849-1277

mothermurphys.com

Natural Recovery Greens

Pete Olander

Wheaton

IL

(303) 919-3849

naturalrecoverygreens.com

Customer Service

Wichita

KS

(316) 339-0360

nitro-joes.com

Oh Hi Beverages INC

John Lynch

Durango

CO

(970) 903-8083

ohhibev.com

OLIPOP

Liz Trowler

Oakland

CA

(310) 806-2601

drinkolipop.com

Nitro Joe's

Optimum Nutrition, Inc.

Jean Terminiello

—

—

(561) 445-0505

optimumnutrition.com

Organic Valley

Sales Operations

Cashton

WI

(608) 625-3444

organicvalley.coop

Overnight Labels

Don Earl

Deer Park

NY

(800) 472-5753

overnightlabels.com

PATHWATER

Ali Orabi

Fremont

CA

(530) 329-4428

drinkpathwater.com

Pervida CBD

Jenny Collette

Blacksburg

VA

(540) 808-0800

pervidacbd.com

Petal Sparkling Botanicals

Candice Crane

Highland Park

IL

(847) 344-2858

drinkpetal.com

Mary Ekman

Rockford

MN

(651) 797-3168

pizzeyingredients.com

Pizzey Ingredients poppi

Allison Ellsworth

Dallas

TX

(940) 867-3240

drinkpoppi.com

Positive Beverage

Zach Muchnick

Costa Mesa

CA

(856) 979-2093

PositiveBeverage.com

Press Foods International

Diego Rodriguez

San Pedro Garza García

MX

+5218112778985

pressfoods.mx

Don Rodgers

Wall Township

NJ

(888) 736-6339

ptmfood.com

Marce McKinnon

Anaheim

CA

(657) 254-3321

puresteeps.com drinkboons.com

PTM Food Pure Steeps Beverage, LLC

Claudia Marion

Toronto

ON

—

Ready

Purposeful Excellence

Kristopher Anderson

Wexford

PA

(412) 414-1067

readyismade.com

Recess

Tom Serventi

New York

NY

—

takearecess.com

Erin Mand

—

—

(310) 713-9184

Red Bull North America Reneva LLC Repsly Revive Kombucha Riff ROAR Beverage Company Rock Grace Rowdy Mermaid Kombucha Sapphire Flavors and Fragrance

redbull.com

Deniz Oncu

Montclair

NJ

(347) 860-5926

renevaworld.com

Jamison Newall

Boston

MA

(857) 284-8140

repsly.com

Revive Kombucha

Petaluma

CA

(707) 536-1193

revivekombucha.com

Paul Evers

Bend

OR

(541) 390-4021

riffcoldbrewed.com

Eric Berniker

Westport

CT

(646) 621-5022

roarorganic.com

Anne Hulett

Seattle

WA

(206) 351-2798

rockgrace.com

Michelle Dziuban

Boulder

CO

(720) 656-9048

rowdymermaid.com

Julia Rivera

Fairfield

NJ

(973) 200-8849

sapphireflavors.com

100 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

COMPANY Ska Fabricating

CONTACT NAME

CITY

STATE

PHONE NUMBER

WEB SITE

—

Durango

CO

(970) 403-8562

skafabricating.com

Snowing in Space Coffee

Paul Dierkes

Charlottesville

VA

(434) 806-5337

snowinginspace.com

Sofee Beverage LLC

Chad Hazen

Redondo Beach

CA

(310) 894-2936

sofee.co

Steven Cosgrove

San Diego

CA

(949) 412-3661

solti.com

Solvi Acquisition

Kellie D'Amato

Twinsburg

OH

(877) 932-7865

crunkenergy.com

Southeast Bottling & Beverage

Alisa Cessna

Dade City

FL

(352) 567-2200

southeast-bottling.com

Sol-ti

Southern Champion Sovány Beverage Company

Tracy Frisbie

Carrollton

TX

(972) 242-3777

southern-champion.com

Marcella Fodor

Las Vegas

NV

(917) 763-3779

sovany.com

Soylent

Andrew Thomas

Los Angeles

CA

(480) 231-7612

soylent.com

Specialty Water, LLC

Dan Zucekrman

—

—

(951) 252-3263

—

Spritz Beverages LLC

Kathryn Dougherty

Columbus

OH

(484) 300-1046

spritztea.com

Stapleton-Spence Steeped Coffee Stiebs Sunshine Beverages Sweegen Synergy Flavors T. Hasegawa USA Inc. Talking Rain Beverage Company Tama Tea

Rich Kenny

Gridley

CA

(408) 807-8032

californiacopackers.com

Leo Betancourt

Santa Cruz

CA

(831) 706-2887

steepedcoffee.com/business

Brian Nova

Madera

CA

(559) 661-0031

stiebs.com

Beth Hathcock

Winston-Salem

NC

(336) 708-3956

drinkthesunshine.com

Katharina Pueller

Rancho Santa Margarita

CA

(949) 709-0583

sweegen.com

Joe Boehrer

Wauconda

IL

(847) 487-1011

synergytaste.com

Mark Webster

Cerritos

CA

(714) 736-7109

thasegawa.com

Mallory Megown

Preston

WA

(425) 222-4900

talkingrainwaters.com

Rocco Quaranto III

Wilmington

NC

(910) 465-2386

TamaTea.com

Teatulia Organic Teas

Vanessa Edgett

Denver

CO

(303) 433-2980

teatulia.com

The Bitter Housewife

Dan Brazelton

Portland

OR

(503) 662-7147

drinkbittersandsoda.com

The Coffee Cherry Co.

Carole Widmayer

Seattle

WA

(131) 295-2910

coffeecherryco.com

The Jel Sert Company

Gavin Wegner

—

—

(630) 876-4756

jelsert.com

The Wright Group

Justin Liberty

—

—

(337) 783-3096

thewrightgroup.net

Time To Unwind Inc.

—

—

—

—

drinkkite.com

Tohi Ventures

Shari Coulter Ford

—

MO

(816) 510-7719

drinktohi.com

Tradin Organic

Hobbs Wolcott

—

—

(831) 334-8999

tradinorganic.com

Nick Linz

Cincinnati

OH

(513) 248-1255

tripack.net

Tripack True Nopal Ventures LLC Ultima Health Products, Inc UPTIME Energy, Inc. Van Groningen & Sons Inc. Verve Coffee Roasters VINA Virginia Dare Extract Co VOSS Water

Tom Zummo

Scottsdale

AZ

(480) 636-8044

Skeet Freeman

—

OH

—

Stan Madrid

Van Nuys

CA

(312) 560-9888

truenopal.com ultimareplenisher.com uptimeenergy.com

Teri Lovdal

Manteca

CA

(209) 924-6154

vgandsons.com

Jordan Shulman

Santa Cruz

CA

(831) 345-6613

vervecoffee.com

Danielle Calabrese

Los Angeles

CA

(213) 308-4888

vinaacv.com

—

Brooklyn

NY

(718) 788-1776

virginiadare.com

Jaana Otero

New York

NY

(212) 995-2255

vosswater.com

WELLER

John Simmons

Boulder

CO

(303) 818-5764

welleryou.com

Wholesome Tea Company

Kevin Kotecki

Burr Ridge

IL

(630) 861-0422

bluebuddhatea.com

Wild Orchard Green Tea

Michael Ham

Mount Kisco

NY

914-419-4341

wildorchard.com

Wildflower by Happy Moose

Ryan Armistead

San Francisco

CA

(704) 876-8909

happymoosejuice.com

Wine Water LTD

AnnaT Turgeman

Katzrin

ISR

(972) 522-9223

o-vine.com

—

New York

NY

(212) 594-3080

xl-energy.com

Karrie Gibson

Scottsdale

AZ

(630) 640-1968

yerbae.com

XL Energy Drink Corp Yerbae LLC

101

PROMO PARADE

INDUSTRY PROMOTIONS & EVENTS

Wild Turkey and Creative Director Matthew Mcconaughey Partner with Complex for New Digital Serie Wild Turkey and Complex, with Creative Director and brand storyteller Matthew McConaughey, announce the launch of two exciting new content series: Talk Turkey and The Spirit of Conviction, both of which explore trailblazers from influential movements who are helping to define culture through acts of personal conviction. The interview series, Talk Turkey, premiered October 11 across Complex’s social channels, and on Wild Turkey’s YouTube channel, as well as on the Wild Turkey’s Instagram, Twitter and Facebook pages. The Spirit of Conviction premiered on the same day on www.youtube.com/complex.

Talk Turkey features the Academy Award-winning actor and producer having meaningful conversations with cultural leaders who are constantly creating, disrupting, and challenging norms while remaining authentic to them. In addition to Talk Turkey, which will air exclusively on Complex’s IGTV, Twitter and Facebook, McConaughey narrates The Spirit of Conviction, a series of longer form documentaries on each of the subjects featured in his one-onone dialogues that will launch on YouTube. With themes of redemption, female empowerment, self-help and reconnecting with the outdoors grounding each episode, this series will fur-

ther propel the authentic story of these inspiring individuals.

In these new series, McConaughey explores an untapped

subculture, shining a light on people who exhibit unwavering conviction and are doing things the right way—no matter how challenging. The trailblazers featured in each series span from entrepreneurs and a world champion surfer to culinary sensations and an award-winning journalist.

“We are exploring conviction. Why some never compromise to be the best and why some choose their own path where none have gone before,” said McConaughey. “Talk Turkey is connecting with groundbreakers and way-makers who, like the Russell family of distillers, have an uncompromising conviction to do what they do.”

Icelandic Glacial Announced as Official Water Sponsor of the Golden Globes In November, Icelandic Glacial announced that it will serve as the official water for the 77th Golden Globes Awards Ceremony in January 2020. The naturally alkaline and sustainably sourced natural spring water will hydrate nominees and guests both on the red carpet and during the annual star-studded show.

This marks the first time Icelandic Glacial has served as a Golden Globes sponsor.

“We are proud to be an environ-

mentally conscious partner of the Golden Globes,” said Icelandic Glacial’s chairman and co-founder, Jon Olafsson. “We pride ourselves on our outstanding achievement of being the world’s first certified Carbon Neutral bottled water for the past ten years, and look forward to sharing the purest tasting water on Earth with Hollywood’s finest.”

Icelandic Glacial will be available to guests upon arrival at the red carpet, with glass bottles featured on every

dinner table during the televised award ceremony. Icelandic Glacial will also be exclusively available at all Golden Globes’ official events leading up to the big show.

“We are delighted that nominees and guests will be able to sample Icelandic Glacial and experience water that is high in quality, purity and environmental sustainability,” said Reza Mirza, CEO of Icelandic Glacial. “We believe in bringing our water from Iceland with minimal environ-

102 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

mental impact.”

Icelandic Glacial will donate water to a humanitarian cause of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s (HFPA) choice.

“We are thrilled to partner with Icelandic Glacial to keep guests hy-

drated at the 77th annual Golden Globe Awards,” said Lorenzo Soria, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. “For over 25 years, the HFPA has been giving back to the community, and

the world, committing over $37.5 million in grants to nonprofits and humanitarian organizations. We are thrilled that through this partnership, Icelandic Glacial will help us further our mission of doing good.”

PROMO PARADE Nuun Partners with the Los Angeles Marathon

In October, Nuun Hydration announced a new multi-year partnership with Conqur Endurance Group, the producer of the Los Angeles Marathon. Nuun, a rising Seattle-based functional hydration company, will replace Gatorade for the marathon and three other major races in the greater Los Angeles area. As consumers become more ingredient-conscious, major marathons are making the switch from traditional sports drinks to new modern hydration solutions.

Steve Powell, chief commercial officer for Concur Endurance Group, commented on the switch saying, “We are proud to partner with an innovative hydration company like Nuun. We feel that they are

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steering the future of hydration, and giving endurance lifestyle athletes far more than the traditional hydration companies have to offer. Having Nuun on course is going to be a huge asset to our runners.”

Originally conceived as an electrolyte replacement drink free from carbohydrates and added sugar, Nuun has built a strong following within the healthconscious athletic community, becoming the best-selling sports drink supplement brand in sport specialty and health food stores in North America. Nuun’s signature product is an effervescent sports hydration tablet, but this year they introduced Nuun Endurance, a powder formula designed specifically for the rigors

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8885

8515

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of marathons and other long-distance endurance sports. Like all Nuun products, the Nuun Endurance formula is vegan, gluten-free, Non-GMO, Informed-Sport certified and Kosher. Runners at the Los Angeles Marathon can expect to find Nuun Endurance available on course at all hydration stations.

“The Los Angeles Marathon is just another step towards bringing clean, powerful hydration solutions to mainstream athletic audiences. We’re confident that as research continues to emerge on the science of hydration, traditional sugary sports drinks will become a thing of the past,” shared Nuun CEO Kevin Rutherford.

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electrolit.com

H E AT

H HANGOVER

EXERCISE

PROMO PARADE Health-Ade Kombucha Launches “You Brew You” Campaign

Health-Ade Kombucha celebrates the power of personal taste and its most popular flavors with a striking new advertising campaign. The first digital and print advertising for the “You Brew You” campaign breaks in October in media outlets including Vogue, Allure, GQ,Vanity Fair, and Us Weekly. The multi-million dollar campaign will run through the end of 2020 in these and other outlets.

The new ads aren’t what you would expect from a beverage brand, especially not a kombucha brand, and that’s exactly what Health-Ade cofounder and CEO Daina Trout wanted. In the high-touch Health-Ade ads, street style, athleisure, pop culture and witty riffs come together with bold colors inspired by HealthAde’s iconic packaging, creating vibrant visuals that start a conversation about you and kombucha.

“We want to broaden the appeal of kombucha and attract new people to the category and our brand,” said Trout. “Kombucha has a big, unique flavor and we wanted to have some fun communicating this!We tried to make a campaign that would be flavor for your eyes—bright, expressive,

and bold. My co-founders and I had to break a lot of molds and really trust ourselves to take risks when we started Health-Ade, so we incorporated that entrepreneurial spirit into the campaign, hence the name ‘You Brew You’ and its expressive look. In the end, we wanted to shake things up a bit, kind of like kombucha does when you first try it!”

Kombucha can sometimes have a crunchy, yogi, DIY kind of image.

Health-Ade celebrates that authenticity, but as one of the leading kombucha brands in the US, also wants to change the image of kombucha for the general public and of course, digitally native consumers.

“Some people discover kombucha for the first time on their Instagram feeds,” said Trout. “This campaign speaks to them too, through strong colors, relevant language, and models that look like real people.”

The “You Brew You” ads feature Health-Ade’s new bolder packaging and a street style aesthetic in the models’ wardrobes. “This campaign is very much about personal style because kombucha is a very personal drink.”

Kennett Creative served as the creative agency on the campaign.

106 BEVNET MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

Nestlé Pure Life Launches DC Collection Bottles Nestlé Pure Life introduced “DC Collection” bottles to its portfolio in October. The 330ml bottles, which feature DC characters, are made from 100% recycled plastic (rPET) and are 100% recyclable, including the cap.

The exciting new “DC Collection” includes four popular DC characters — Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman and Shazam. Additionally, the bottles have a Super Hero symbol on the side of the bottle that encourages kids to finish drinking their water.

Once done, they can shine a flashlight through the bottle, projecting the symbol on a wall. ”We are excited to team up with Warner Bros. and DC to make drinking water more fun for families with kids,” said Yumi Clevenger-Lee, chief marketing officer at Nestlé Waters North America. “By featuring characters kids look up to, along

with a 100% recyclable bottle made with 100% recycled plastic, we’re doing our part to help keep both families and the planet healthy.”

To ensure 100% recyclability of both the bottles and the sleeve labels, Nestlé Waters North America is using new labels for this product that are more compatible with the recycling process. Unlike some other sleeve-wrapped products, this new sleeve label technology does not require consumers to remove the label before recycling; consumers can simply place the cap back on the bottle when finished and discard in the recycling bin.

Health-Ade Kombucha Launches at CenturyLink Field The Seattle Seahawks and CenturyLink Field have partnered with Health-Ade Kombucha to bring the brand to the team’s training facility and to CenturyLink Field on game days.

Health-Ade Kombucha’s Pink Lady Apple flavor is now available on-tap at CenturyLink Field pregame in American Family Insurance Touchdown City, as well as in-game at Best of Pioneer Square & International DistrictChinatown in Section 323 and Local Eats in Section 341. Pink Lady Apple is a brew made with cold-pressed juice from organic Washington-grown Pink Lady Apples, and Health-Ade’s small batch kombucha.

“Our fans love having a variety of beverage options to choose from, so we are thrilled to add Health-Ade Kombucha as another unique and nutritious beverage choice for the 12s to enjoy on game days,” said Zach Hensley, VP of operations and guest experience, CenturyLink Field.

The gut-healthy beverage is also being served to Seahawks players and staff at the team’s training facility, the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Staff and players are provided with Pink Lady Apple as well as Health-Ade’s newest flavor, Grape Vibes, which is made with cold-pressed organic California grapes.

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