Coca-Cola
On The Launch Pad: Coca-Cola’s Sprite Ginger
Coca-Cola’s new Sprite Ginger flavor – a response to the “surging popularity of ginger-flavored sparkling drinks” – comes in several varieties, including Sprite Ginger Zero Sugar. Rolled out earlier this month, the variants are available in 20-ounce and 2-liter PET bottles and 12-ounce can 12-packs. The brand is launching the new flavor through its "Thirst for Yours" platform that pays homage to its decades-long connection to hip-hop. Sprite tapped fashion, art, and photography creators to come up with pieces for "Ginger Creation," the brand's first creative capsule collection, which includes graphic T-shirts, a skateboard deck, a vinyl figurine and more.[Image Credit: © The Coca-Cola Company]
Europe’s Coke Bottlers Report Higher Profits
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Both European Coke bottlers, Coca Cola HBC and Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP), posted significant increases in annual profit, though HBC, the smaller of the two, also forecasted faster growth in volume across its segments in 2020. HBC, which bottles and sells Coca-Cola beverages in 28 countries, reported that surging demand in emerging markets contributed to an 11.9 rise in operating profit to $778 million for the year ended December 31. The company expects accelerated growth in established and developing markets that were affected by bad weather in 2019. CCEP reported an annual operating profit of $1.7 billion compared with $1.4 billion in 2018.[Image Credit: © Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company]
Disgruntled Coca-Cola Workers Are Back On The Job At Divested Indian Bottling Plant
Unhappy Coca-Cola workers at a bottling plant in the state of Uttar Pradesh have reached a settlement with the local company that recently bought the plant. The plant re-opened after shutting down for two months when company-owned bottler Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages sold the unit to Moon Beverages. HCCB announced in early December that it would streamline its business by divesting bottling operations in north India to existing bottlers Kandhari Beverages, Moon Beverages, and Ladhani Group. Workers at the plants resisted the transfer to the new owners, however, over concerns about job security. The Dasna plant in the industrial belt of Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad is one of the largest in India with a daily supply in the peak summer season of more than 100,000 cases. Coca-Cola said last month that refranchising of bottling operations in India helped the company recorded a net gain of $73 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.[Image Credit: © THE COCA-COLA COMPANY]
Monster
Monster Begins Importing Products Into Israel
The Jerusalem Post newspaper reports that Monster Beverage Corporation, apparently with the help of Coca-Cola, has set up a representative office in Israel, and has hired an Israeli as regional marketing manager, to import the company’s beverages. The drinks reportedly will be priced at NIS 7-9 ($2.03 to $2.61) per can. The Israeli energy drink market is dominated by the brands XL and BLU, priced at NIS 5 ($1.45) a can.[Image Credit: © Monster Energy Company]
Nestle
First Certified Organic Coffee Added To Nespresso Professional Portfolio
Nestlé Nespresso SA (Lausanne, Switzerland) announced the launch of Peru Organic, the first certified organic coffee in the Nespresso Professional portfolio of portioned coffees. The company said the addition of Peru Organic is part of a revamp of the brand's Professional Origins coffee range, which includes three other single-origin coffees sourced from Brazil, Guatemala, and India. All are designed for Nespresso Professional coffee machines, including the recently launched Nespresso Momento machine. With the addition of Peru Organic, the Nespresso Professional coffee range comprises 15 products. Nespresso coffee capsules are made from fully recyclable aluminum, one of the best materials for protecting the freshness, quality, and taste of coffee, the company said.[Image Credit: © PRNewswire/Nestle]
Other Companies
Asahi Soft Drinks Buys Blow Molders To Make Large-Volume Containers
Japan’s Asahi Soft Drinks has installed KHS’s InnoPET Blomax Series V stretch blow molders to produce 600 ml to-go bottles and large 2l containers. The blow molder will be used to make PET bottles for its Rokko No Mizu water brand. According to KHS, the Series V saves up to 40 per cent in energy compared to its predecessor thanks to the implementation of a new heating concept. The near infrared (NIR) heater is centrally installed in the closed reflector tunnel. The preforms pass the centrally arranged heating units to both the left and right. This means that every single NIR heater is used twice.[Image Credit: © ©Joerg Schwalfenberg/KHS Group]
Kona Gold To Acquire Organic Energy Beverage Company Flo
Melbourne, Fla.-based hemp and CBD lifestyle brand Kona Gold Solutions, Inc. has signed a letter of intent to acquire Flo Beverages of Longwood, Fla., maker of the SoFlo line of organic energy drinks. Flo recently launched LiKuid, an organic ketogenic energy drink in three flavors, distributed in Florida and Puerto Rico. Kona Gold said the acquisition of Flo Beverages would support its plan to add an organic CBD energy drink this year.[Image Credit: © Kona Gold, LLC.]
After Abandoning Single-Serve RTD Coffee, Bizzy Launches Multi-Serve Line
Minnesota-based Bizzy Coffee has launched a line of multi-serve unsweetened organic RTD coffees available in light roast, medium roast, and dark roast varieties retailing for $5.99 per 48 oz. bottle. The company says its internal market data found that 85 percent of consumers surveyed choose to put cream and/or sweetener in their coffee and prefer a customizable black base over pre-flavored options. In 2017, Bizzy released a line of 2 oz. coffee shots, but discontinued them in 2018 because of well-capitalized competition from coffee shot maker FORTO (a partner with Keurig Dr Pepper) and logistical issues associated with selling single serve beverages. The new multi-serve products will roll out this month into Target and HyVee stores. [Image Credit: © Bizzy Coffee]
Red Bull Reports Strong Sales Growth In FY2019
Energy beverage producer Red Bull posted group sales of $6.5 billion in 2019, a 9.5 percent increase on the previous year. Volume of drinks sold was up 10.4 percent. The company experienced “exceptional” sales growth in India (up 37 percent), Brazil (up 30 percent) growth, and Africa (up 25 percent). Established also saw strong growth: U.S. (+9 percent0, Germany (+15 percent), Austria (+12 percent), and Eastern Europe (+12 percent). The company said its growth and investment plans for fiscal 2020 are “very ambitious,” and will be” financed from operating cash flow.”[Image Credit: © RED BULL]
Mamma Chia Launches Chia-Based Milk Alternative
Carlsbad, Calif.-based Mamma Chia, producer of chia beverages and snacks, announced the launch of a dairy-free, plant-based milk alternative made from nutrient-rich chia seeds. Omega-3-rich Mamma Chia Organic Chiamilk can be added to smoothies, cereal, coffee or enjoyed straight from the bottle, the company said. Chiamilk also contains MCT, calcium, and zero sugar. The unsweetened original and vanilla variants will be available in 28-ounce bottles at Sprouts Farmers Market and other natural food stores beginning in March, with additional retail expansion to come throughout 2020. The company launched a line of organic Chia Protein Smoothies last fall in strawberry banana and tropical mango flavors.[Image Credit: © PR Newswire/Mamma Chia]
Lucozade’s New “Revive” Drinks Deliver Energy “Naturally”
Suntory-owned soft drink maker Lucozade is launching two “natural energy” drinks fortified with vitamins B3, B5, B6. and B12, and sweetened with a mixture of stevia and sugar. The Lucozade Revive drinks are positioned as alternatives to Tenzing and other brands. Available in lemon & lime and orange & passionfruit flavors, the drinks contain no artificial flavors. The launch will be backed by a “significant” marketing push in 2020 that includes in-store POS materials, sampling, and out-of-home advertising. [Image Credit: © Lucozade Ribena Suntory Ltd]
ThaiBev
First Quarter Profit Rises 14 Percent At ThaiBev
ThaiBev posted yearly net profit of $269 million, up from $237 million a year ago (+ 16 percent). The company cited improvements in the spirits business and a turnaround in non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) for the progress. In the last three months of 2019, revenue improved 4.2 percent over the prior year, thanks to an increase in sales across spirits, beer, non-alcoholic beverages (NAB), and food. Net profit from mainboard-listed units Frasers & Neave (F&N) and Frasers Property (FPL) fell 31 percent to $33 million.[Image Credit: © Thai Beverage Plc]
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