Irving, Texas-based 7-Eleven Inc. announced that it is expanding its selection of private brand wines with the launch of two white wines - Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio. The convenience retailer created the Trojan Horse brand for this new line of wines.

Niagara Bottling LLC, Ontario, Calif., acquired the bottled water business formerly owned and operated by First Quality Water & Beverage LLC of Lock Haven, Pa. First Quality produced private label and Pureau brand bottled water.

Cott Corp., Tampa, Fla., announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its traditional beverage manufacturing business — Cott Beverages — to Refresco, the Netherlands, for $1.25 billion. The transaction includes Cott's North America, United Kingdom and Mexico businesses and excludes the RCI International division and its associated concentrate facility as well as the Aimia Foods division.

Portland, Ore.-based Eastside Distilling Inc., a producer of hand-crafted spirits, announced the acquisition of MotherLode Craft Distillery, also based in Portland, Ore., and a provider of bottling services and production support to craft distilleries. Since its founding in 2014 by Allen Barteld, the mission of MotherLode has been to enable craft distillers to increase their production and extend their product lines, reducing cost and increasing efficiency, thereby freeing them to focus on their craft, the company says. The typical MotherLode customer is a distillery of small batch, hand-crafted spirits, or a premium craft spirit sold as a private label, it adds.

With the holidays fast approaching, many consumers will be looking for the best buys at the grocery store. To give grocery retailers and manufacturers direct access to the voice of the consumer, Boston-based Trace One recently conducted a survey to determine what shoppers want from private-label products.

According to the 2016 annual “U.S. Food & Beverage Industry Study,” released by New York-based WeiserMazars LLP, most food and beverage companies anticipate a significant increase in sales this year.

Between 2010 and 2015, high unemployment, stagnant disposable income, volatile energy costs and a changing mass-market perception of dollar stores contributed to a 3.3 percent growth rate, $66.7 billion in revenue and a $2.6 billion profit for the channel, according to IBISWorld’s September 2015 report titled “Dollar & Variety Stores in the US.”