Coca-Cola has entered the buttermilk category in India with the launch of a regional beverage under its VIO brand. Designed to attract consumers who prefer “true Indian” or “desi” flavors, VIO Spiced Buttermilk is a part of the company’s hyper-local strategy that focuses on developing localized products in India to suit regional consumer preferences. The beverage is expected to heighten competition for Gujarat-based Amul and Noida-headquartered Mother Dairy among other popular regional players. VIO Spiced Buttermilk retails for Rs 15 ($0.20) for a 180 ml pack. India is said to be the biggest dairy producing and consuming country in the world.[Image Credit: © Imo Flow from Pixabay]
Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Inc. announced it is making 30,000 of its about 700,000 vending machines in the country resistant to viruses and bacteria as hygiene awareness grows amid the coronavirus pandemic crisis. Product selection buttons and dispensing slots of the 30,000 vending machines located in public spaces like hospitals and train stations across the country will be covered with antiviral and antibacterial film coatings. The company says the coatings’ strong antiviral and antibacterial properties are effective against the new coronavirus. The film coatings will be replaced every six months. Beverage firm Ito En Ltd. started using antibacterial coatings comprising used tea leaves on some 30,000 vending machines in Japan starting this month.[Image Credit: © The Coca-Cola Company]
Nestlé S.A.'s board has decided that its regional spring water brands, purified water business, and beverage delivery service at Nestlé Waters NA do not fit its reaffirmed focus on its iconic international brands, premium mineral water brands, healthy hydration, and functional water products. As a result, the board decided to explore “strategic options,” including a potential sale, of the majority of the Nestlé Waters business in the U.S. and Canada, excluding its International brands. A review is expected to be completed by early-2021. The board also reaffirmed its commitment to growth through strategic acquisitions, and pledged to make its entire global water portfolio carbon neutral while replenishing associated watersheds by 2025. Nestlé Waters NA, excluding International brands, had sales of around CHF 3.4 billion ($3.6 billion) in 2019. The company markets the Nestlé Pure Life water brand, as well as regional U.S. natural spring water brands Poland Spring. Deer Park, Ozark, Ice Mountain, Zephyrhills, and Arrowhead. It also operates the direct-to-consumer and office beverage delivery service ReadyRefresh.[Image Credit: © Nestlé Waters North America Inc.]
Nutritional science company Nestlé Health Science (NHSc) announced it will acquire a majority stake in Chicago-based Vital Proteins, a collagen brand and lifestyle/wellness platform offering supplements, beverages, and food products. Vital Proteins will continue to operate as a standalone business, but will become part of the Nestlé Health Science portfolio, giving it access to “a variety of resources to scale their reach and innovation in pursuit of global wellness.” Vital Proteins has 150 SKUs across 35,000 retail stores in North America and Europe, including Whole Foods, Costco, Target, Walgreens, and Kroger. NHSc said Vital Proteins’ products complement its own vitamin, mineral, supplement, and wellness brands, including Atrium Innovations, Garden of Life, Pure Encapsulations, and Persona. Founder and CEO Kurt Seidensticker will remain the head of the company. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval.[Image Credit: © Nestlé]
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Starbucks says it is speeding up the rollout of its new mobile-ordering-powered “Pickup” store concept. It will also expand access to curbside pickup, drive-thru, and walk-up counters in less dense, suburban markets. The company said it will close up to 400 company-owned stores in the U.S. and Canada over the next 18 months, as it rolls out the new format stores and makes other changes. In its 2nd fiscal second quarter, Starbucks opened approximately 200 net new stores in the Americas, and it plans a total of 300 net new stores in fiscal 2020, down from the original expectation of 600 stores, an indicator of the effect of the pandemic.[Image Credit: © Starbucks Corporation]