Hard-To-Track News For Business Professionals

Silk Adds DHA Omega-3 Beverage To Protein Lineup

Danone N.A. plant-based beverage company Silk has introduced DHA Omega-3 to its protein portfolio. The beverage blends DHA omega-3 fatty acids with pea protein, oatmilk, and almondmilk. Available in original and unsweetened vanilla flavors, DHA Omega-3 contains 50 percent more calcium than traditional dairy milk, six grams of pea protein per serving, and 32 mg of DHA omega-3 to help support brain health. Silk DHA Omega-3 pea, oat, and almondmilk is available at a suggested retail price of $3.99 per half-gallon carton at retailers nationwide. [Image Credit: © WhiteWave Services, Inc.]

Monster Reports Healthy Annual Sales, Offers Sneak Peek At Upcoming New Products

Monster Energy Corp. recently reported a 10.4 percent rise in net sales in the energy category from September 2018 to September 2019, an 11.1 percent increase in operating income, and a 13.1 percent increase in net income. In the third quarter, net sales were up 11.6 percent, operating income was up 16.5 percent, and net income was up 11.6 percent. The company also said it is responding to the launch of the Starbucks Triple Shot earlier this year with the release of Java Monster 300, containing 300 mg of caffeine (compared to 200 mg in the core line), available in Triple Shot and Mocha flavors. Its sports-focused energy water Hydro will spin off a new sub-line, Hydro Super Sport, containing more electrolytes and caffeine than the original plus branch chain amino acids (BCAAs). Monster is also preparing for the U.S. launch of Coca-Cola Energy this month. The company’s challenge of the soda giant’s right to enter the category in the U.S. was eventually settled through mediation in Coke’s favor. [Image Credit: © Monster Energy Company]

Nestlé Waters Adds More Beverages To ReadyFresh Delivery Service

Nestlé Waters NA (Stamford, Conn.) announced that its home/office beverage delivery service has expanded its product portfolio. The ReadyRefresh by Nestlé service in November began offering Vita Coco’s coconut water; in the coming months customers will be able to order hellowater’s fiber-infused flavored waters, RISE Brewing Co.’s nitro cold brew coffee cans, and UPTIME’s energy drinks. According to the company, ReadyRefresh is capable of reaching more than 80 percent of the U.S. population. ReadyRefresh’s portfolio of bottled water brands includes Poland Spring Brand 100 percent Natural Spring Water, Deer Park Brand 100 percent Natural Spring Water, Nestlé Pure Life, Perrier, and S.Pellegrino as well as flavored waters and sparkling fruit beverages. The water brands are available in eight ounce to five gallon sizes.[Image Credit: © Nestle]

Starbucks/Nestlé Alliance To Debut New Starbucks Coffee Products In Grocery Stores

Beginning next month, Nestlé and Starbucks will begin selling in U.S. grocery stores a new range of Starbucks coffee products, including Cold Brew concentrate, Fresh Brew coffee, and blends of Starbucks coffee with essential vitamins and golden turmeric, among others. In 2019, Nestlé launched four coffee platforms worldwide under the Starbucks brand, including Starbucks Creamers in the U.S.[Image Credit: © Nestle]

Acquisition Gives Cott Access To Hungarian Water/Coffee Delivery Market

Water delivery company and foodservice coffee roaster Cott Corporation (Toronto, Ont.) and subsidiary Eden Springs have acquired 100 percent of the shares of Hungarian company, Clearwater Kereskedelmi és Szolgáltató Korlátolt Felelősségű Társaság (Budapest). The acquisition of ClearWater gives Eden Springs access to the Hungarian market and adds approximately 14,000 machines on location. The transaction also includes intellectual property for a carbonation technology patent that will provide customers with carbonated water through water filtration dispensers and bottled water coolers. Eden Springs plans to introduce ClearWater's carbonation technology to other markets. Cott’s market reach includes North America and, through Eden Springs, Europe.[Image Credit: © PR Newswire Association LLC]

Jury Still Out On Benefits Of Collagen, But That’s Not Holding Back The Market

Collagen, a protein found in abundance in the human body, first became popular in the 1980s as an expensive injectable filler for lips and other body areas needing firming. Today, the ingredient is poised for growth as people increasingly look for greater functional health benefits in the foods and beverages they consume. The global collagen market is projected to reach $6.6 billion by 2025 with an annual growth rate of 6.5 percent, according to a new report. Collagen has been finding its way into a variety of foods and beverages, from bars to salty snacks. Recent studies have shown that ingesting collagen for several months can improve skin elasticity and lessen joint, back, and knee pain. Other research, however, has said those health claims are exaggerated. So despite the increasing popularity and a reputation for health benefits, there remain many questions about its impact. [Image Credit: © InterGanics Inc.]

Oregon’s Joffer Beverage Licenses Candy Flavors For New Sparkling Water Line

Joffer Beverage Company (Jacksonville, Ore.) has licensed an array of candy flavors developed by the Jelly Belly Candy Company to use in eight new flavored sparkling water variants. The launch will include French vanilla, lemon lime, orange sherbet, piña colada, pink grapefruit, tangerine, very cherry, and watermelon flavors. Each Jelly Belly Sparkling Water flavor contains only carbonated water and natural flavors: no sugar, no calories, and no sweeteners. With more than 100 Jelly Belly flavors to choose from, Joffer is looking forward to developing many more flavor options as the brand grows. Initial launch of the beverage line will take place at Hy-Vee stores, a chain of more than 265 retail stores across eight Midwestern states, Jelly Belly Sparkling Water will be available in cartons of eight 12-ounce cans. It will also be available online at jellybelly.com soon.[Image Credit: © Joffer Beverage Company]

Smoothie King Locations Now Selling LIFEAID’s HIIT Fit Smoothies

National chain Smoothie King Franchises of Coppell, Texas, has created a new high-intensity interval training (HIIT) smoothie featuring FITAID formula + paleo protein from LIFEAID (Santa Cruz, Calif.). Beginning this month, Smoothie King locations will offer customers the HIIT Fit smoothie, which has a 40/30/30 balance of carbs, fat and protein. The product also features a powder version of FITAID, a post-workout recovery drink popular among (HIIT) devotees. The proprietary FITAID formula contains BCAAs for muscle recovery, turmeric, natural caffeine from green tea, as well as glucosamine, glutamine, arginine, b-complex, vitamins C & D, and CoQ10. Smoothie King's HIIT Fit smoothie with FITAID is available in chocolate cinnamon and veggie mango flavors. Both are gluten-free, paleo-friendly, high protein, with no added sugar. Consumers will also have the option to add the powdered FITAID + paleo protein to any smoothie on the menu. [Image Credit: © LIFEAID Beverage Co.]

Sweet Leaf Tea, Tradewinds Beverage Change Hands Again

Oakland, Calif.-based Purity Organic has acquired Dunn's River Brands, whose RTD tea lineup includes Sweet Leaf Tea and Tradewinds Beverage Co. Purity said its focus would be on “delivering operational excellence, refreshing the Sweet Leaf Brand, and increasing market share across all their portfolio brands.” Sweet Leaf Tea is an organic iced tea launched in Austin, Texas. Tradewinds brand is sold primarily in 64 oz packages primarily in the Great Lakes region. Sweet Leaf Tea Company, founded in 1998, acquired Tradewinds Beverage Co. in 2010. Nestlé Waters NA purchased the brands in 2011, then sold them to Dunn’s River in 2017.[Image Credit: © PR Newswire Association LLC]

Ocean Spray Launches Hybrid Coffee/Fruit Juice Beverage

Massachusetts-based agricultural cooperative Ocean Spray Cranberries has introduced Ocean Spray Brew, a hybrid drink made with real fruit juice and cold brew coffee. Ocean Spray Brew will be available in cranberry lemonade with cold brew coffee and cranberry blueberry with cold brew coffee flavors. Brew features 100 percent Colombian Coffee, with each 8 oz serving containing 40 milligrams of naturally sourced caffeine from green coffee beans, equivalent to the caffeine in half a cup of coffee. In addition, Brew contains antioxidant vitamin C, as well as vitamin B and real fruit juice, with no added sugar, no preservatives, and no artificial flavors or colors. Ocean Spray Brew will be on-shelf nationwide this month in Target, Stop & Shop, Shaw's, Albertsons, Vons, and Safeway, and will continue to expand to more stores throughout the year.[Image Credit: © Ocean Spray]

Chinese Study Links Longer Life, Less Heart Disease, With Tea Drinking

A recent study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology found an association between tea consumption and reduced risks of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality, especially among consistent, habitual tea drinkers (i.e., three or more times a week). Habitual tea drinkers had 1.41 more years than nondrinkers free of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and lived 1.26 years longer. Of the 100,902 Chinese adults in the study, 31.6 percent drank tea three or more times per week at baseline. Standardized questionnaires were used to collect data on tea consumption. The median follow-up was 7.3 years.[Image Credit: © Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay]

Ginger Shots Changes Name To Reflect Expanded Product Line

Ginger Shots, Inc., of Huntington Beach, Calif., has changed its name to Tulua, to reflect a rebranding of its growing line of “functional superfood shots.” The rebranding was necessary because of the expansion beyond ginger shots to include probiotic shots and vitality shots over the past year. The rebranding unites the company’s functional shots under the Tulua brand: all are USDA-certified organic, kosher, preservative- and additive-free, made with the highest quality ingredients, and High Pressure Processed (HPP) to maintain nutrients. The company said new packaging will provide greater visibility of the contents, an easy-to-open cap, and a high-impact label design. The company’s original ginger shots product line launched in 2016. All products come in two-ounce bottles and cost $4.00 each in packs of six. [Image Credit: © drinktulua.com]

Wahaha Set To Enter Bubble Tea Market In China

China’s largest beverage maker, Hangzhou Wahaha, announced it is entering the already crowded milk bubble tea market in the near future. Wahaha's sales have slid since reaching a peak in 2013, and the company is desperately in need of new products. The Chinese bubble tea market has tremendous potential: the expected market size could be as much as $72.6 billion. There are thousands of players in the market, each offering different ingredients, prices, marketing, and product design. Meanwhile, Chinese consumers are said to be shifting from low-quality tea to new tea products with better ingredients or design. [Image Credit: © Hangzhou Wahaha Group Co.,Ltd.]

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