September 29, 2021
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola Australia Rolls Out New No Sugar Recipe
The North Sydney, NSW-based Coke bottler has begun delivering the new recipe (and look) for Coca-Cola No Sugar to Australian grocery shelves. The reformulation, part of the company’s move to create a zero-sugar drink that tastes like Coca-Cola Classic, optimizes current Coke No Sugar flavors and existing ingredients. The launch is supported by an integrated marketing campaign that asks Australians whether “this is the best Coke ever?” Customer research found that the new recipe for Coca-Cola No Sugar is significantly preferred among Australian consumers to the previous recipe. The new recipe is available in a variety of sizes at all retailers in the country.
Molson Coors Broadens Distribution For Spiked Topo Chico
Despite a recent slump in demand for hard seltzer, the Coca-Cola partner is investing in alcoholic Topo Chico production while planning to take the beverage to all 50 states beginning in January, up from today’s 16 markets. Molson Coors Beverage plans to spend about $40 million on new equipment to automate production of seltzer variety packs at its brewery in Fort Worth, Texas. The new capacity is expected to be operational in late 2022. The expansion comes amid a slump in the $4.2 billion market for hard seltzer in the U.S. A Cowen analyst said recent Nielsen data showed that the category turned negative in August after a period of sustained growth.
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners To Upgrade London-area Canning Site
CCEP is spending $38.3 million to develop a state-of-the-art canning line at the 60-year-old Sidcup bottling facility that will turn out 2,000 cans a minute. The investment coincides with the official opening of an Automated Storage Retrieval System (ASRS) warehouse. The site, which has benefited from a total of $161 million in investment since 2017, operates 10 production lines and is the only Coca-Cola facility in Great Britain to produce 150 ml and 250 ml cans. The plant produces Coca-Cola original taste, Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Fanta, Dr Pepper, Lilt, Sprite, Schweppes, and Capri-Sun.
Danone
Evian Launches 100% rPET Bottles Created With New Recycling Technology
The technology developed by Loop Industries allows no- and low-value plastics that otherwise go to waste to be recycled endlessly into new, virgin quality plastic. Bottles using Loop’s technology will be rolled out at commercial scale in South Korea in 2022, with the goal of launching in other markets in the future. The prototype bottles are now known as “Evian Loop” to highlight Evian's 2025 commitment to circularity. The technology’s large scale continuous loop recycling means that all types of PET plastic waste – discarded gym bags to flip flops, colored and opaque plastics, polyester fibers, etc. – can be transformed into high quality plastic bottles.
Danone Bolsters Plant-Based Beverage Production At French Facility
The Paris-based dairy company is investing $19.4 million in new production equipment for its Alpro plant-based beverages that will make the factory in Alsace the largest producer of Danone's plant-based beverages in Europe. The new equipment at the site in the northeast of France, which makes a variety of drinks based on soy, oats, rice, almonds, coconut, and hazelnut, will be operational by July 2022. Production capacity will increase by 70,000 metric tons a year.
Nestle
Nestlé’s Blue Bottle Coffee Commits To Carbon Neutrality Within Three Years
The Oakland, Calif.-based coffee roaster and retailer said its commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2024 extends to the entire brand in the U.S. and Asia, and from coffee and ingredient sourcing to guest-use and end-of-life greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for product and packaging. The company said it will reach the goal by working with coffee producers to sustain and expand regenerative agricultural practices and by supporting carbon removal and high-quality offsetting projects for unabated GHG emissions. Blue Bottle will publish next year its accelerated roadmap to achieving carbon neutrality.
Other Companies
Britvic Transitions Some Brands To 100% Recycled Plastic Packaging
The British beverage company said the recycled plastic would be used to make single-serve 500 ml or 600 ml bottles by the end of September for Pepsi Max, 7UP Free, Tango, Lipton, Robinsons ready-to-drink bottles, and Drench, then Mountain Dew in December 2022. Britvic said it will support the change with on-pack messaging across selected brands and in-store and outlet activity via POS, as well as a new TV ad. The company’s research showed that 80 percent of consumers think it is important that manufacturers use recycled plastic, with 58 percent stating they are more likely to choose a soft drink brand that communicates its use of 100 percent rPET on-pack than those that do not.
Fuze Tea Creator Launches Immune-Supporting Waters, Teas
The Mymuse Organic line of organic immunity-supporting enhanced waters and teas from Los Angeles-based beverage entrepreneur Lance Collins – he created Fuze Tea, NOS Energy, CORE Water, BodyArmor, and ZenWTR – was created in partnership with the D'Amelio family, a social media-focused clan with more than 250 million online followers. The beverages contain zinc, elderberry, and antioxidant vitamins A, C and E. Mymuse is low sugar, low calorie and available in watermelon, blueberry pom açai, blood orange citrus, coconut colada, and peach mango flavors, plus five flavors of enhanced tea.
Chinese Bubbly Drinks Start-Up Succeeds Despite Competitive Barriers
Beijing-based Genki Forest is succeeding in China despite reported efforts by rivals Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nongfu Spring to strangle the start-up in the cradle. The maker of sugar-free, calorie-free fizzy drinks reportedly reached a valuation of $6 billion within five years, while battling the beverage giants over access to production facilities, suppliers, and distribution networks. Most factories in China, for example, have partnerships with Coca-Cola and Pepsi, both of whom require exclusivity agreements. The company broke through in 2020, however, opening its own production facility in Anhui Province and securing a consistent supply line for its beverages. Now, as Genki Forest enters the Chinese mineral water market, huge bottled water supplier Nongfu Spring is reportedly attempting to curb Genki’s reach in product distribution.
Hop Wtr Claims 500% Growth In First Year
The Los Angeles-based “healthy alternative to beer” says its impressive growth was achieved through distribution to national grocery and liquor retail establishments in 17 states, as well as an investment from Constellation Brands. Hop Wtr blends hops and sparkling water to create a taste reminiscent of an IPA, without the alcohol. The Hop Wtr portfolio includes Classic and flavored Mango and Blood Orange non-alcoholic brews infused with adaptogens and nootropics, but containing no sugar or calories.
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