Increased data proliferation allows vendors to personalize the vending experience for consumers and — from an operational standpoint — track which products are most popular where and respond accordingly.

To help drive sales, retailers are placing varying beverage products in coolers near cash registers to drive impulse purchases.

PepsiCo Inc., Purchase, N.Y., announced the launch of PepsiCo Foodservice Digital Lab, a first-of-its-kind suite of capabilities built to connect foodservice operators with the companies, services, insights, and solutions best-suited for their specific digital and online needs. Digital Label is powered by extensive proprietary and syndicated research into restaurant and food ordering interactions as part of the consumer digital journey, the company says.

Red Bull and SONIC, Oklahoma City, Okla., have combined forces to create the all-new Red Bull Slush this summer. The new SONIC Red Bull Slush serves up Red Bull in a frozen, icy Slush form. The foodservice outlet also is offering Cherry Limeade Red Bull Slush, which combines Red Bull with a SONIC icon.

Retro cocktails, pop-up bars with themed cocktail creations, tasting events and consumers seeking “Instagram-able” ideas are helping to drive foot traffic to the relatively flat on-premise channel.

Consumers’ acceptance of purchasing consumer packaged goods (CPGs) from a variety of retail outlets as well as their desire for more choice is not just impacting retailers but the entire distribution network as it looks to accommodate a much more diverse shopping universe.

Lavazza, a brand of Turin, Italy-based Lavazza Group, launched a new cold-brew offering in the United States. Made from ¡TIERRA! Colombia, the cold-brew coffee features a unique blend characterized by a sweet and smooth taste and a rich body, it says. 

As consumers seek out appropriate medical care, many are turning to drug stores to provide them with the necessary prescriptions and products to restore them back to optimal health.

Wellness-focused data technology company SPINS, Chicago, and The Data Council, a provider of verified and standardized product data and images, announced their expanded partnership, which will infuse The Data Council's IX-ONE platform with SPINS health and wellness insights, providing brands, retailers and their partners with increased item-level transparency and completeness as well as a highly efficient one-stop integrated solution, the companies say.

Given the volume growth of packaged water, beverage manufacturers have taken notice of how consumers are reaching for hydration beverages over sweeter options, prompting them to rethink their own portfolios. This shifting sentiment caught the attention of Cott Corporation, thereby paving the way for the beverage manufacturer to create a new identity for itself.