Hard-To-Track News For Business Professionals

Coca-Cola’s Reorganization Elevates Three Executives

Three key leadership appointments were announced in the wake of the company’s recent reorganization into an entity that is highly networked, less hierarchical, and built for future growth. Henrique Braun of the Brazil business unit was named president of the new Latin America Operating Unit; Nikos Koumettis, president of the Europe, Middle East & Africa group, was named president of Europe Operating Unit; and Nancy Quan, who oversees the company’s technical and supply chain community, will lead the combined innovation and technical function, following the February 2021 retirement of chief innovation officer Robert Long.[Image Credit: © THE COCA-COLA COMPANY]

“Beverages For Life” Strategy Is Inspiration For Coca-Cola’s Latest Reorganization

The Atlanta-based company’s newest reorganization helps implement the strategy of ensuring there’s a Coca-Cola beverage for consumers at every life stage and for every occasion. The reorganization – which affects operations, beverage categories, and services – will drive growth by balancing the “power of scale” with deep local marketing information. Nine new tightly-interconnected operating units will replace the current 17, offering more consistency in structure, less resource duplication, and faster scaling of new products. The company has settled on five global categories that show the strongest consumer opportunities: Coca-Cola; sparkling flavors; hydration, sports, coffee, and tea; nutrition, juice, milk, and plant; and a catch-all “emerging categories.” The company expects that the reorganization will require layoffs globally, but it has initiated a “voluntary separation program” offering employees a separation package. The severance programs could cost as much as $55 million, the company said.[Image Credit: © The Coca-Cola Company]

Monster Energy Unveils New Flavor Of Reign Total Body Fuel

The Corona, Calif.-based beverage company’s new flavor was launched at a special late-August drive-in screening of the action-thriller movie Hard Kill, featuring Reign Total Body Fuel spokeswoman and WWE Total Divas star Natalie Eva Marie. The new flavor, Lilikoi Lychee, “evokes the scents and flavors of a tropical exotic getaway,” according to the company. A 16-ounce can contains 300 mg of natural caffeine, BCAAs, CoQ10, and electrolytes to help customers “refuel, refresh, and recover.” The Reign Total Body Fuel brand is available in 13 flavors, including Lilikoi Lychee.[Image Credit: © Monster Energy Company]

Nestlé Appoints New CEO Of Central And West Africa Business

The company appointed Mauricio Alarcon, a twenty-year Nestlé veteran with an “in-depth understanding” of Central and West Africa. Alarcon joined Nestlé Mexico in 1999 and has held various roles within the global business since then. He became the managing director of Nestlé Nigeria, the largest Nestlé operation in the region, in 2016. Before that he served as managing director of Nestlé Côte d’Ivoire, and also headed Nestlé’s operations in Senegal, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Gambia, Mauritania, and Cape Verde. Alarcon succeeds Rémy Ejel.[Image Credit: © Nestlé Indonesia]

Nestlé Strengthens Adherence To WHO Standards For Marketing Infant Formula

Following 107 reports of Nestlé noncompliance with WHO’s code on responsible marketing of breast milk substitutes (BMS, or infant formula), the company announced it is increasing its transparency on BMS marketing, has corrected noncompliance areas, and is now in compliance. The company said that to reduce non-compliance, it will continue to train employees and third-party workers on the importance of implementing BMS marketing policies. The company also calls for collective action, clear legislation, and enforcement by authorities in the different countries in which it operates. Sixty-one percent of non-compliance in BMS marketing is traceable to a third-party in a direct contractual relationship, but 39 percent of instances are linked directly to Nestlé. [Image Credit: © Nestlé]

Nongfu Spring’s Hong Kong IPO Expected To Raise $1B+

The Hangzhou, China-based beverage maker could raise more than a billion dollars by pricing its shares as high as $2.77 in its Hong Kong initial public offering. The company, which is selling 388.2 million shares, will start trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Sept. 8. Five cornerstone investors have subscribed for stock in the sale, including fund manager Fidelity, hedge fund Coatue, and Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC. The $1.08 billion IPO will be one of the largest in Hong Kong in 2020.[Image Credit: © Nongfu Spring]

Jiajun Beverage Launches Not-From-Concentrate Juice Beverages

The Shanghai-based juice company recently launched its Rainforest not-from-concentrate (NFC) series of beverages, including four products in blood orange, pineapple + passionfruit, dragonfruit + lychee + cherry, and soursop + coconut flavors. The company says all ingredients are sourced from the rainforest. NFCs are typically 100 percent pure juice, without added sugars, water or additives. From-concentrate juices comprise 20 percent of China’s $10 billion juice market, while NFC juices account for 25 percent of that market share. [Image Credit: © Steve Buissinne from Pixabay]

BOS Brands Unveils Four New Rooibos-Based Health Shots

The South African beverage brand known for its rooibos Iced Tea has launched four functional rooibos-based health shots. Rooibos, a South African plant whose leaves are used to brew tea, is reputed to boost the human immune system by increasing anti-inflammatory cytokines and reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines. Available in four variants, each 1.7 fl oz. shot contains various functional ingredients – ginger extract, turmeric extract, vitamin C, CBD, collagen, or probiotics – and natural fruit juices. BOS Shots are available on the BOS online store or on Amazon for $34.99 per 10-shot case. [Image Credit: © BOS]

GT’s Living Foods Debuts Dairy-Free Water-Based Kefir

The Los Angeles-based kombucha company’s Aqua Kefir targets fitness fans looking for a pre- or post-workout boost. The non-dairy, caffeine-free cultured drink, fermented with dairy-free kefir cultures, is available in coconut lime, peach pineapple, pear ginger, and pomegranate flavors. The drink contains water kefir grains, tibicos, and Japanese water crystals, and can be found at retailers such as Whole Foods Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, and other natural food retailers.[Image Credit: © GT’s Living Foods]

Germany’s Black Labels Company Introduces Collagen Protein Beverages

The firm’s collagen protein drinks, designed to appeal to health-conscious consumers, are packaged in fully recyclable 250 ml cans. The Maluma range is available in goji with strawberry and basil, açaí with guava and ginger, and passion fruit with lemongrass flavors. The company says Maluma contains a blend of nutrients, including B vitamins and a high level of protein, and are low in calories and free from artificial flavors and preservatives.[Image Credit: © BLC BLACK LABELS GmbH]

Phenolaeis Says Its PFBc-Laced Coffee Poised To Take Market By Storm

The Cambridge, Mass.-based company, created from Grupo AlEn and ECOM, says it’s on the verge of expanding U.S. coffee choices by offering a functional coffee containing PFBc (palm fruit bioactive complex), which provides immune system, cognitive, cardiovascular, and sports nutrition support. The water-soluble, non-GMO plant complex comprises five natural polyphenols, fibers, carbohydrates, and protein. It activates antioxidant pathways and has the potential to improve wellness, according to research studies. The functional coffee, available now for white labeling in a freeze-dried presentation, contains five percent PFBc, the recommended dosage to ensure each serving delivers a health benefit. PFBc is derived from the oil palm fruit using solvent-free, minimally processed handling.[Image Credit: © Karolina Grabowska from Pixabay]

UNFI To Distribute Moshi Yuzu Sparkling Drinks To Broader Swaths Of U.S.

New York-based food and beverage wholesaler UNFI (United Natural Foods) will distribute craft beverage brand Moshi Yuzu Sparkling drinks to select UNFI warehouses in the U.S.. The yuzu-based drinks are handled by local distributors in California and New York City; the UNFI partnership will expand distribution to the Northeast and West Coast prior to a nationwide rollout “down the line.” The RTD drinks, packaged in 12-ounce bottles, are available in original, unsweetened, white peach, and red shiso apple flavors. They are made with Japanese yuzu, a citrus fruit and plant found in East Asia. [Image Credit: © PRNewsfoto/Moshi]

Beverage Innovation

Tracking The Drinks Marketplace

Past Issues

Coca-Cola