
The Broomfield, Colo.-based dairy and plant-based food and beverage company has launched Silk Ultra, containing 20 grams of of plant-based protein as well as calcium and vitamins A, D, B2 and B12. The drink is available in multi-serve cartons in Creamy Chocolate, Unsweet, and Original flavors. The marketing campaign features endorsements from Olympic gold-medalist swimmer Michael Phelps and world champion gymnast Aly Raisman. The two will be featured in ads on the Silk website and in other marketing channels in 2021. Silk Ultra is available in multi-serve cartons (MSRP: $4.99 / 59-oz. carton) in the refrigerated section at U.S. grocery stores. [Image Credit: © PRFoto/WhiteWave Services, Inc.]
High levels of the food additive propylene glycol were found in four Monster Energy drinks in Ireland, prompting their removal from sale. The tainted drinks were: Ripper Juice Monster Energy + Juice, Lewis Hamilton Monster Energy, Espresso Monster Vanilla Espresso Triple Shot, and Espresso Monster Salted Carmel Triple Shot. The removal affects all batches and best before dates. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland said “the implicated drinks are not expected to cause any harmful effects." Propylene glycol is generally recognized as safe and is approved by the FDA as an additive that absorbs extra water and maintains moisture in certain medicines, cosmetics, or food products, such as coffee-based drinks, liquid sweeteners, ice cream, whipped dairy products, and soda.[Image Credit: © Monster Energy]
The Winston-Salem, N.C.-based maker of BFY energy drinks and sparkling energy waters has hired Inmar Intelligence, a market data services company, to help Sunshine reach “a new type of energy drink consumer.” According to Sunshine, that new type of buyer is someone who needs energy but isn’t interested in traditional energy drinks containing excessive amounts of caffeine and other stimulants. Sunshine’s products are gaining popularity with active, health-minded consumers because each 12-ounce can contains vitamins and electrolytes, but only 70 mg of natural caffeine. Inmar leverages its consumer data to uncover insights into anticipated behaviors, attitudes, and preferences of Sunshine and category shoppers. Using that data, Sunshine is driving incremental traffic to beverage aisles, thereby contributing to the growth of the overall category. Sunshine is available in more than 3,500 retail stores and will be available in 2021 in select Walmart and Wakefern stores. [Image Credit: © Sunshine Beverages, LLC]
The Toronto-based company’s Vitamin Infused Water, available in three flavors, contain a vitamin and nutrient blend that includes: ascorbic acid (vitamin C), zinc gluconate, niacinamide (vitamin B3), calcium D- pantothenate (vitamin B5), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), biotin (vitamin B7), folic acid, and thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1). Each flavor – cherry, citrus and elderberry – is available in a 500-ml Tetra Pak carton made from nearly 70 percent renewable materials and is fully recyclable. Suggested retail pricing for a single 500-ml unit is US $2.99.[Image Credit: © Flow Water Inc./GlobeNewswire, Inc.]


The British soft drinks company is setting up a U.S. operation in Pittsburgh, Pa., to provide the company a “clear focus and strategy, giving access to both the on and off trade.” The company is targeting growth in the U.S. after it decided to switch from a distributor model to a wholly-owned subsidiary model. Noting that 2020 brought unique challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic, the company continued to manage cash while investing in future growth. “Despite the closure of hospitality for much of 2020, both in the U.K. and internationally, we have traded well and this has underpinned overall performance across 2020,” the company said in a statement.[Image Credit: © Fentimans]
Los Angeles-based HERE Studio and Red Decimal’s De La Calle is a sparkling fermented and probiotic pineapple drink that updates the traditional Mexican beverage Tepache. The companies are know for launching several health food brands, including Kevita, Juice Served Here, Forager, and VINA. De La Calle's Tepache is available in five flavors made with fresh, organic pineapples, turbinado sugar and tamarind. It is certified organic, fermented, probiotic, good for the gut, less than 40 calories, low in sugar, and rich in vitamins C & D, the company says. The five flavors include Moderno (orange turmeric), Original (ginger manzana), Tradicional (pineapple spice), Picante (mango chili), and Regional (tamarind citrus). They retail for $3.29 a can the company’s website, at Erewhon markets in Southern California, and soon in two regions of Whole Foods Markets by March. A national distribution strategy is slated for the rest of the year at grocery, grocery delivery, and national restaurant chains.[Image Credit: © DE LA CALLE]

The subscription-based, plant-centric meal company’s new milk alternative Mylk is packaged as frozen wedges that contain only ground almonds, pink sea salt and vanilla bean powder. The product is prepared by blending with water. The product is launching with almond and almond vanilla flavors, but the company says two more – cashew and cashew vanilla – will be available “in the coming months.” The company says Mylk is made with 100 percent transitional organic almonds without harmful chemicals. The five-year-old company, based in New York, sells more than 85 items made with 95 percent organic ingredients and no fillers, gums, refined sugars, stabilizers or artificial ingredients. A package of Mylk retails for $7.99.[Image Credit: © Daily Harvest]
The Wisconsin-based farmers cooperative’s addition to its 100 percent grass-fed milk line is Organic Valley Fat Free Grassmilk. According to the company, demand for milk from grass-fed cows is on the rise: it has experienced a three-year CAGR) increase of 27 percent. Cows that produce Organic Valley milk are fed 100 percent grass and dried forages and never fed grain. Organic Valley Fat Free Grass Milk has an SRP of $5.99 for each half-gallon, and will arrive on store shelves this month. [Image Credit: © Organic VAlley]