Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola System Confirms R17.6 Billion South Africa Investment
Coca-Cola's system in South Africa confirmed plans for a R17.6 billion investment through 2030, aimed at expanding production capacity, strengthening distribution and accelerating value-chain innovation. A study of its economic impact found that the system, with its suppliers, distributors and retailers, added R51.2 billion of value in 2024, backing over 87,000 jobs across the chain, including 7,822 direct roles. South African suppliers received R25.6 billion in purchases from Coca-Cola's system that year.
Coca-Cola Confirms Drone Damage At Kyiv Region Plant
Coca-Cola's production facility in Brovary, in Ukraine's Kyiv region, was struck by Russian forces on September 3. Coca-Cola confirmed the drone attack hit warehouses holding finished goods at the facility, ranked among Europe's largest soft-drink production sites, and said no staff were hurt.
Nestle
Nestlé Expands Omega Gold Into New UHT Format
Nestlé Malaysia introduced a UHT format of Nestlé Omega Gold with Triple Action, following the product's February 2025 launch as a milk powder. The drink targets adults aged 50-plus, helping manage high cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar. Both formats contain ActiCol, providing 1.2 grams of plant sterols across two daily servings, plus potassium and inulin, and meet 100% of daily calcium needs.
Other Companies
Ah Huat Adds Pandan Flavor To White Coffee
Power Root, the Malaysian company behind Ah Huat White Coffee, widened its lineup with a new Pandan White Coffee flavor, pairing white coffee with pandan's aroma. Grown widely across Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines, pandan is valued for a fragrance the report called "sweet, floral, vanilla-like," and it features in Southeast Asian desserts and beverages, despite being little known in China. The flavor was described as culturally fitting in Malaysia while carrying strategic value for a Chinese market where white coffee's popularity has grown lately, giving the brand a point of difference.
Suntory Oceania Launches Feel-Good Hydration Drink Hydro Lock
Suntory Oceania is moving into functional hydration with a new launch, Suntory Hydro Lock, a Japanese-made beverage sold in Mango and Lychee flavors. The drink pairs an "advanced" Hydro Lock formula with vitamin B3, positioned for everyday hydration. Suntory pointed to Circana figures showing functional water drives about 15% of grocery beverage growth despite only a 3.5% share of category sales, plus a forecast that hydration will drive 17% of Australia's RTD growth over five years. Morgan Loveridge, who heads Suntory BOSS Coffee & Future Brands, said hydration "has shifted from something people reached for after exercise to part of how they look after themselves every day
Kendall Jenner Invests In UK Drinks Brand Trip
Kendall Jenner has taken an undisclosed stake in UK drinks brand Trip and will serve as its "global ambassador." Jenner, who started 818 Tequila five years back, said in a statement she has "been obsessed with Trip for a while" and described it as "elevated and intentional." Founded in 2019 around a line of CBD-infused beverages, Trip now sells across Europe and North America and projects $200 million in revenue this year. Trip introduced a CBD-free range, Mindful Blend, in 2024, now stocked across UK multiples, while its CBD drinks remain sold through Waitrose, Ocado and Amazon.
New Brand SIX6R Launches Clean-Label Sparkling Water India
A sparkling water brand built on a clean-label pitch, SIX6R, has debuted in India, priced at ₹79 per can and offered in Classic, Peach and Lemon flavors. Its ingredient list holds only carbonated water and fruit flavor, leaving out sugar, sweeteners and preservatives. Co-founder Karan Nohria said the brand emerged because a drink that is "genuinely clean" and "tastes great" was hard to find, noting that the product suits diabetics.
Bottled Water Loses Its Money-Making Superpower In China
Major Chinese bottled water makers hit a growth slowdown during the first six months of 2026. C'estbon posted a revenue decline of 410 million yuan, with parent China Resources Beverage's packaged water sales falling 7.86%, to 4.838 billion yuan. Master Kong's packaged water revenue fell 4.9%, to 2.259 billion yuan; Uni-President's water and coffee segment dropped 1.1%, to 496 million yuan; and Nongfu Spring's water business grew just 2.1%, to 9.641 billion yuan, below its 2023 peak. Nielsen figures showed volume down 4.9% and revenue down 7.3% for that same period. Analysts quoted linked the slowdown to price wars, product homogenization and rising competition from sugar-free tea and coffee alternatives.
Lahori Zeera Weighs National Expansion Beyond Cumin Soda
Revenue for Archian Foods' Lahori Zeerain in India climbed from ₹312 crore in fiscal 2024 to roughly ₹775 crore (~US$ 81 million) in fiscal 2026, targeting ₹1,200-1,300 crore for fiscal 2027. General trade makes up 97-98% of volumes, and eight locations are expected to handle manufacturing, though the co-founder has said a national brand ultimately needs 20-25 plants. Combined market share for Campa and Lahori nearly doubled to around 15% between January and September 2025, as Coca-Cola and PepsiCo's joint share fell to roughly 85%. Lahori is broadening beyond Zeera into Nimboo, Shikanji, Aamras and Masala Cola.
Singha Expands Non-Alcoholic Drinks With New Hangover Solution
Singha is broadening its non-alcoholic drinks lineup in Thailand through a new release, Never by Singha, aimed at easing hangovers in a Korean-inspired style. Each bottle blends lemon and white grape flavors with turmeric extract, dandelion extract and green tea extract, at 80mg apiece. Building a recovery drink around the alcohol-drinking occasion fits with Singha’s core alcoholic beverage business, since the brand already owns that moment of consumption. This launch broadens Singha’s push into flavored soft drinks that began with its Singha Lemon Soda range.
Lion Launches Kirin Asobi Alcoholic Iced Tea Range
Lion entered the alcoholic iced tea market in Australia with a new RTD line called Kirin Asobi, sold exclusively through Liquorland. The drinks blend black tea, Japanese shochu, fruit juice and sparkling water, and come in Lemon and Peach variants, each carrying zero sugar and 4% alcohol by volume. Lion said the launch answers growing consumer interest in lighter mixed drinks and varied flavor options, building on strong Australian demand for iced tea among adults. Named for the Japanese word meaning "play," Kirin Asobi is aimed at casual daytime social occasions. Single 330ml cans carry a recommended price of $7.50, four-packs cost $24, and a full 24-can case retails for $108.
Charoen Pokphand Foods Invests In Thai Bottled Water
Charoen Pokphand Foods, the Thai conglomerate, is taking a 51% stake in bottled water producer Brew Factory Company. Its subsidiary CPF Food and Beverage Company plans total spending of Bt334.7 million ($10.14 million), in a deal structured in two stages: an initial 43.6% share purchase completed September 1, followed by a capital increase within 30 days. Brew Factory, set up last December, runs a Surin Province site capable of producing 295 million liters yearly, earning most current revenue through contract manufacturing alongside its own Sabai water brand. Once finalized, the Tangthaweesit family will hold 40% and CT Bright Holdings 9%. The move follows CPF's August purchase of a Vietnamese beverage maker.
Dubai's HalaPop Becomes Region's Top-Selling New Prebiotic Soda
HalaPop, which Cosmopolitan Middle East called "the Middle East's first prebiotic soda," was started by Gen Z entrepreneurs Karim Jalloul and Walid Antabli in Dubai. Co-founders said they wanted a soda that kept its fizz without the usual sugar crash, so they built a drink with 29 calories, six grams of prebiotic fiber, real fruit juice and no added sugar per can. Launching the category meant educating manufacturers, regulators, retailers and distributors, since a prebiotic soda had never before existed in the region. Within weeks of launch, HalaPop had become Amazon UAE's best-selling soda. It recently added a Cherry Cola flavor and plans collaborations, seasonal releases and expansion into new regional markets.
Ito En Shares Surge On Strong Quarterly Profit
Ito En, the Japanese green tea maker, saw shares jump more than 8% after reporting stronger fiscal first-quarter results. Operating profit climbed 22% year on year, reaching 10.2 billion yen for the three months through July and beating Citi's forecast of 7.7 billion yen; revenue climbed 3.3%, reaching 135.18 billion yen. Citi called the results "positive," noting the vending machine business turned profitable after Ito En folded related operations together in May. The tea leaves and beverages segment posted a 23.5% profit gain, reaching 8.99 billion yen. Sold worldwide under an association with baseball star Shohei Ohtani, the Oi Ocha brand backs Ito En's goal of reaching over 60 countries by fiscal 2029, up from 52 now.
More...
Copyright 2026 Business360, Inc.