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Beverage Innovation

Tracking The Drinks Marketplace

Coca-Cola

CCBA Suspends Acquisitions In Kenya

Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) has decided to emphasize integration of businesses it has acquired recently so will not make new acquisitions in the local market in the near term. The company is said to be aligning Nairobi Bottlers and Almasi Beverages’ operations to those of the parent company’s systems and policies following its acquisition from Centum Investment Company a year ago. Through its subsidiary, Coca-Cola Sabco East Africa Limited, CCBA acquired 53.9 percent and 27.6 percent of the stake held by Centum at Almasi and Nairobi Bottlers respectively at a value of $200 million. The company says sales and revenue slid by 50 percent for carbonated soft drinks, juice, energy drinks and fuze tea bags because of the pandemic. Government-imposed lockdowns led to disruptions in production, supply chains, and reduced demand for the products.[Image Credit: © Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa]

Coca-Cola Discontinues Tab Soda

The company has now added Tab diet soda, launched in 1963, to its list of discontinued products, which includes Zico coconut water, Odwalla juices, Coca-Cola Life, Diet Coke Feisty Cherry, and regional offerings Northern Neck Ginger Ale and Delaware Punch. The company also is eliminating Vegitabeta in Japan and Kuat in Brazil. “We’re challenging ourselves to think differently about our brands to accelerate our transformation to a total beverage company,” said Cath Coetzer, global head of innovation and marketing operations.[Image Credit: © The Coca-Cola Company]

Danone

Danone Adds Management Positions, Begins Review Of Portfolio

Determined to stick to its strategic goal of three to five percent profitable growth in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the Paris-based food and beverage company is creating two new “macro-regional” chief executive officers, a new chief operating officer, and a new chief financial officer. Véronique Penchienati-Bosetta and Shane Grant were appointed macro-regional chief executive officers of Danone International and Danone North America, respectively. Henri Bruxelles was appointed COO of end-to-end design to delivery, a new position. Cecile Cabanis will retire as executive vice-president of finance, technology and data, cycles, and procurement in February 2021, and will be replaced by Juergen Esser, CFO of Danone’s Waters and Africas divisions. The company will also begin a review of assets where performance is not aligned with the rest of the business. The review will start with the company’s operations in Argentina and the Vega brand. [Image Credit: © Danone S.A.]

Monster

Nielsen/Hookit Recognize Monster Energy’s “Extreme Sports” Marketing Strategy

Nielsen and data partner Hookit have ranked the Corona, Calif.-based energy drinks company as No. 4 on their list of Top 50 Most Marketed Brands in Sports. Monster Energy targets extreme, non-traditional sports as its primary marketing platform by sponsoring athletes from supercross, motocross, skateboarding, snowboarding, BMX, Ultimate Fighting Championship, Bellator Mixed Martial Arts, Moto GP, speedway, NASCAR, Rallycross, bull riding, and more. Nielsen & Hookit's list audits all online posts from professional athletes, teams, and leagues over the course of 12 months, weighing the awareness and revenue generated by 25,000 sporting organizations for over 7,000 brands.[Image Credit: © Monster Energy Company]

Nestle

Nestlé Waters NA Acquisition In SoCal Will Strengthen ReadyFresh

Acquisition of certain assets of Palomar Mountain Premium Spring Water will expand the reach of water delivery service ReadyRefresh within San Diego County, Orange County, Riverside County, and Los Angeles County. The news follows a similar deal announced last month in which NWNA acquired assets from Vista Springs Bottled Water Company in a move to expand the ReadyRefresh service in the Greater Sacramento area. The ReadyRefresh delivery service allows consumers, as well as small and large businesses, to order deliveries of still and sparkling water brands, in addition to coffee and tea products. Nestlé is exploring the sale of “the majority” of its NWNA unit, including the ReadyRefresh service. The North America strategic review is ongoing.[Image Credit: © Nestlé Waters North America, Inc.]

Nestlé Begins Strategic Shift With Search For Buyers For Slow-Growth NA Water Brands

The Swiss company has begun its search for a buyer of its North American water brands, including Pure Life, Poland Spring, Deer Park, Ozarka, Ice Mountain, Zephyrhills, and Arrowhead, estimated to be worth as much as $5 billion. Nestlé CEO Mark Schneider reportedly wants to retain control of premium water brands like Perrier and San Pellegrino while selling the rest. Private equity funds, including Apollo, that focus on turnaround deals and cutting costs to improve profit, are expected to show interest. Morgan Stanley is running the sale, which may attract interest from Dutch bottling company Refresco, Primo Water, and Niagara Bottling. Nestlé wants first-round bids by the end of October.[Image Credit: © Nestlé Waters North America Inc.]

Other Companies

Nirvana Water Sciences Licenses Water-Soluble HMB From Metabolic Tech

The New York-based developer of functional bottled spring water products is licensing water soluble HMB (B-hydroxy B-methylbutyrate) from Metabolic Technologies LLC (Ames, Iowa). Nirvana will infuse the substance in spring water products to “improve muscle wellness.” HMB is “clinically proven” to enhance athletic performance, improve muscle recovery from injury and exercise, increase strength gains from exercise, enhance aerobic metabolism, and decrease muscle loss due to aging. Nirvana says it is “positioning itself to disrupt the status quo of the health, wellness, and fitness beverage markets.”  [Image Credit: © Nirvana Water Sciences Corp.]

Bulletproof 360 Debuts “Bold New Packaging,” Cold Brew Latte

The Seattle, Wash.-based company known for performance-enhancing foods, beverages, and supplements, has released “bold new packaging” across its portfolio and launched a new food and a new beverage product. The company says the new packaging is meant to harmonize the brand look and feel across the portfolio, while highlighting specific product benefits and science-backed, keto-friendly ingredients. The company launched Bulletproof zero-sugar Cold Brew Latte, available in ready-to-drink cans, in original, dark chocolate, and vanilla, containing eight grams of collagen protein, grass-fed butter, MCT oil, and four to six grams of net carbs. The cans are available in the refrigerated beverage section in a single can or in a 4-pack, priced at $2.99 a can. [Image Credit: © PRFoto/Bulletproof 360, Inc.]

7-Eleven Launches Sugar-Free Energy Beverage


The Irving, Texas-based convenience store chain is launching Triton, a private brand, sugar-free energy drink that contains caffeine and L-theanine sourced from green tea leaves, B vitamins, ginseng, taurine, guarana, and amino acids. The drink comes in three varieties: blood orange yuzu, strawberry kiwi, and original, which features lemon, grapefruit and orange flavors. The company has also recently launched Quake energy drinks, Skyra Icelandic water, 7-Select organic cold-pressed juices, and Replenish sports drinks.[Image Credit: © 7-Eleven, Inc]
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