Starbucks Coffee Co., Seattle, announced the acquisition of Evolution Fresh Inc., San Bernardino, Calif. The $30 million acquisition is part of the coffee company’s commitment to evolve and enhance the customer experience with innovative and wholesome products, the company says. It announced plans to reinvent the $1.6 billion super-premium juice segment and said the acquisition is a significant step in entering the more than $50 billion health and wellness sector.
Odwalla, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, introduced a new line of 150-calorie Smoothie Refreshers. Designed to complement meals, Odwalla Smoothie Refreshers are described by the company as having a refreshingly light texture and are available in Mango Lime Twist, Mixed Berry Shuffle and Pear Berry Jive flavors.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Some guidelines in reference to beverages include reducing intake of sugar-sweetened beverages, monitoring intake of 100 percent juice for children and adolescents, and consuming soy-fortified beverages.
Global juice drink brand Tampico Beverages, Chicago, launched its Unique Like You digital and social media campaign to support the product’s new 20-ounce single-serve packaging option. The campaign targets 16- to 28-year-old consumers and incorporates an interactive photo contest, comedic videos, online advertising and social media marketing with support from radio, sports and community events, store visits and guerilla marketing.
Cintron Beverage Group launched the new visual identity of the brand’s ready-to-drink teas and single-serve fruit juices. Cintron’s portfolio of non-carbonated beverages is now available in 23.5-ounce cans. The new identity was created to improve shelf stand out, showcase Cintron’s expanded flavor portfolio and enhance brand preference, the company says
It’s one of the largest independent bottlers in California, but Nor-Cal Beverage Co. Inc., Sacramento, Calif., is more than just a contract packager. In addition to its successful co-packing business, which operates production facilities in Sacramento and Anaheim, Nor-Cal also is an Anheuser-Busch distributor in Northern California and markets its own Go Girl line of energy drinks. The family-owned company was started by Roy G. Deary in 1937 as a franchise of Hires Bottling Co., explains Deary’s granddaughter and current president and chief executive officer of Nor-Cal Beverage, Shannon Deary-Bell. The franchise bottled and distributed Canada Dry, Dr Pepper and RC Cola brands in the Sacramento area.
Somewhat serendipitously, I opted to read the May 16 edition of The New Yorker featuring an in-depth profile on PepsiCo’s food and beverage innovation plans while traveling to last month’s IFT Annual Meeting & Food Expo in New Orleans. The “Snacks for a Fat Planet” article by John Seabrook details PepsiCo’s plans for innovation across its portfolio of products with insight from senior PepsiCo executives, including Jonathan McIntyre, senior vice president of R&D global beverages, who was featured in Beverage Industry’s April cover story.
Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo’s Trop50 line of reduced-calorie juices re-launched in new clear, curvy bottles featuring pressure-sensitive labels from Mason, Ohio-based Spear USA. The new curves of the bottle are accented by a curvaceous new label from Spear USA that follows the contour of the bottle. The label features bold colors to complement the natural tones of the fruit juice, Spear USA says. The repackaged juice is available in 59-ounce bottles as well as single-serve 12-ounce bottles.
The juice and juice drinks market saw new products that combined flavors and explored sweetener profiles. Minimal growth took place in both the shelf-stable bottled juice and juice drinks category as well as refrigerated juice and juice drinks, an upside compared to last year’s slight decrease for bottled juices and relatively flat sales for refrigerated offerings.
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