Sparkling Ice Lemonade with Tea renamed Half & Half
May 16, 2016
Sparkling Ice announced a new packaging design for its Sparkling Ice Tea product line. The new packaging features bold colors and bright fonts that are designed to reflect each of the Sparkling Ice Tea flavors and characteristics, the company says.
New York-based Runa LLC announced that AcademyAward-winning actor and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio recently invested in the company and will join the company’s advisory board. Other investors include actor and comedian Marlon Wayans, actor Adam Rodriguez and professional tennis players John Isner and Steve Johnson, the company says. This group joins existing Runa supporters, including actor Channing Tatum, who was an early investor, it adds.
DPS distribution partnership brings High Brew to 5 major cities
April 28, 2016
Austin, Texas-based High Brew Coffee, a company known for its ready-to-drink (RTD) cold-brew coffees, announced a Series A-2 investment of $4 million from Austin, Texas-based CAVU Venture Partners, a recently-launched fund focused on investment and incubation in healthy food and beverage companies. Additionally, High Brew Coffee announced a new distribution partnership with Plano, Texas-based Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPS), which will include expanded distribution in key markets, it says.
Survey results to be released at the Beverage Forum
April 26, 2016
A new survey from industry consultants Beverage Marketing Corporation (BMC), New York, and Boston-based Fluent, a leading college marketing and insights agency, found that taught to make healthy choices from a young age, Gen Z college students take that lesson seriously when reaching for beverages. Practicality and natural products are preferred, while artificial ingredients and crazy fads are likely to cue a collective eye-roll, the companies say.
Consumers have become more open to new flavors and innovations as interest in health and wellness and consuming natural and organic products continues to grow.
With more than 77,000 attendees, the 36th annual Natural Products Expo West and Engredea experienced another record-setting year with 6.9 percent growth. Produced by New Hope Network, Boulder, Colo., the 2016 Expo West brought together more than 3,000 exhibiting companies, including more than 600 first-time exhibitors. The show took place March 9-13 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif.