Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc. (CCBPI) To Invest $63M In Local Operations
The bottling arm of Coca-Cola in the Philippines says it will spend the money on operational expansion on the island of Luzon while helping the country recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The company invested $95 million in the country in 2020, primarily in the Mindanao island area. CCBPI CEO Gareth McGeown said the company will also invest in logistics as well as in the “environmentally friendly” returnable glass bottles.
Coke CEO Says Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Will Be Company’s Growth Engine In 2021
In an interview with CNBC, James Quincey said Coke Zero Sugar will not only be the company’s biggest growth driver this year but for years to come. Launched in 2017 as a reformulated, more healthful, version of Coke Zero, the drink has sold well during the coronavirus pandemic. “Coke Zero grew in 2020 through COVID and, actually on an absolute basis, is the biggest driver of growth for the company,” Quincey said. He also noted that Topo Chico Hard Seltzer, distributed in the U.S. by Molson Coors, and AHA flavored sparkling waters are doing well since their recent launches. Lockdowns, however, have dampened sales of Coke Energy.
Coca-Cola Starts Process Of Acquiring BodyArmor
The Coca-Cola Company has notified U.S. antitrust regulators that it intends to acquire a controlling stake in sports drink brand BodyArmor. “We can confirm that the Coca-Cola Company has filed a pre-acquisition notification with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) relating to its intent to acquire a controlling interest in BodyArmor,” Coke said in a statement. The company became a shareholder in BodyArmor in August 2018 in a deal that gave BodyArmor access to the extensive Coca-Cola bottling system. Though it remained independently operated, BodyArmor became part of the Coca-Cola North America Venturing and Emerging Brands (VEB) investment portfolio. According to Nielsen data, BodyArmor dollar sales rose 43.4 percent year-over-year through February 6, 2021.
Nestle
One Rock Investment Firm To Buy Nestlé Waters NA
New York-based One Rock Capital Partners announced that an affiliate company will partner with Metropoulos & Co. to acquire bottled water provider Nestlé Waters North America from Nestlé S.A. Closing is expected in the spring, at which time Dean Metropoulos will become the company's CEO and chairman. Nestlé Waters NA comprises the U.S. and Canada operations of Nestlé Waters, the world's largest bottled water company. Metropoulos is perhaps best known for his acquisition and turnaround of Hostess Brands and Pabst Brewing Company.
Other Companies
Company Created By Scientists Will Debut “Cognitive Health” Energy Drink
Denmark-based Clutch Cognition will launch at the end of March with two nootropic drinks in mango & lemon and sweet lime flavors – additional flavors are in the pipeline – each providing 26 calories per 100 ml (sold in 330 ml cans). A main active ingredient is Sibelius sage, an extract with proven cognitive benefits in both young adults and seniors, according to the scientists, who are a molecular biologist, a medical doctor, and a nutrition innovation expert. Clinical research has shown that volunteers experience significant improvement in memory, focus, and attention by up to 30 percent less than an hour after supplementation. Among other ingredients is a patented extract of a variety of wild green oat that improves memory, attention, and executive function, particularly in stressful situations.
BevCanna Enterprises Closes Acquisition Of Beverage Investor
The Vancouver, B.C.-based health and wellness, beverages, and natural products company has closed its acquisition of Naturo Group Investments Inc., a rival Canadian beverage industry investor. The combination of the two emerging beverage players creates a diversified health and wellness, beverage and natural products company with $55M in assets on the balance sheet, and a global multi-channel sales and distribution network. BevCanna is focused on the cannabis-infused beverage and nutraceutical industry. Naturo owns the plant-based mineral beverage and supplement brand TRACE. Naturo will now be a wholly-owned subsidiary of BevCanna.
New Zealand Bottled Water Company Is Open For Business In N. America
The mission of Pokeno, N.Z.-based NZ Drinks is to sustainably produce and deliver “pure water, uncontaminated and mineral rich” to the world. It recently began distributing its Pure NZ still and sparkling bottled waters in North America in various sizes and packages, including 750 ml, 1.5 liter, 6-packs, and 12-packs. All bottles are 100 percent rPET.
Chai Point Unveils Range Of Instant Chai
The Indian (Bangalore) company’s three new instant chai products are available in Masala, Ginger and Cardamom flavors in convenient sachets. Priced at Rs 180 ($2.48) for a pack of 10, the range can be found on the company’s recently-launched D2C platform Shop.Chaipoint.com and on other ecommerce sites. The range will also be available in 170 retail stores.
Slate Milk Attracts Funding From New Investors
The Boston, Mass.-based “better-for-you” chocolate milk brand added $1.7 million to its war chest, bringing the total raised by the brand to $2.5 million since it launched into grocery stores in November 2019. Investors in the new round include Riverpark Ventures, OneRepublic singer Ryan Tedder, Halo Top International executives Doug Bouton and Justin Hall, and former Drizly executives Nick Rellas and Taylor Burton. Slate offers a range of lactose-free chocolate milk products with electrolytes, protein, and reduced sugar content.
Steaz Launches Antioxidant Yerba Mate Tea
The Long Beach, Calif.-based antioxidant tea producer’s new Antioxidant Brew Yerba Mate will be available exclusively at Whole Foods Market in early 2021. The company also announced the rollout of Steaz Antioxidant Brew Tea, a new variant with “a cleaner formulation.” The new yerba mate tea has the highest level of caffeine in the category with 165 mg in a can with half the sugar of the current market leader. It is brewed with antioxidants from yerba mate and coffee berry. The yerba mate comes in three flavors: Golden Mate (natural yerba mate); Peach Please, and Mint to Be.
Kirin Beverage To Emphasize Low- To No-Sugar Drinks In 2021
After sustaining a nine percent slide in soft drink sales in 2020, the company hopes to boost sales of no- to low-sugar and low-calorie non-alcoholic drinks, and products with health benefits. Both Kirin Gogo-no-Kocha (black tea) and Kirin Nama-cha (green tea) saw sales decrease by 12 percent and two percent respectively. The company’s iMUSE beverages – the Lactococcus lactis strain Plasma line – increased 136 percent in sales. The plan is to grow the overall soft drinks business by four percent this year: 11 percent for Kirin Gogo-no-Kocha, six percent for Kirin Nama-cha, and 28 percent for the iMUSE products. Kirin’s business and capital alliance with FANCL will see them launch a new beverage (Daily Amino Water) in April. Daily Amino Water contains arginine (100 mg), citrulline (100 mg), citric acid (1,000 mg), and vitamin C (500 mg).
Vita Coco Debuts Coconut Water With MCT Oil, Caffeine
The New York-based beverage maker’s newest offering blends coconut water and coconut cream with coconut-derived MCT oil, 40 mg of caffeine from tea, potassium, and B vitamins. Vita Coco Boosted, made without added sugar, is available in vanilla latte, coconut chocolate, and chai flavors, all containing 130 calories and eight grams of sugar. The new beverage is sold in 16.9-oz cartons, single-flavor 12-packs for $34.99, and multi-flavor three-packs for $8.99. Available now in select Walmart stores, the drink will roll out to select Whole Foods Market stores starting in March (SRP $3.29 per carton).
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