U.S. wine exports, 90 percent of which are from California, reached $1.62 billion in winery revenues in 2016, a new record, according to the San Francisco-based Wine Institute. Despite challenges from a strong dollar, winery revenues were up 1 percent from 2015.  Volume was 412.7 million liters or 45.9 million cases, it adds. 

After a number of successful limited-time flavor innovations, Sprite, a brand of Atlanta-based The Coca-Cola Co., is adding two new cherry-flavored products to its beverage portfolio. Sprite Cherry is hitting store shelves nationwide in a 20-ounce PET bottle. The brand also is introducing Sprite Cherry Zero to give fans another zero-sugar and zero-calorie option, the company says. Both new options are caffeine-free and made with 100 percent natural flavors, it adds.

Seattle-based Starbucks Coffee Co., in partnership with St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch, began shipping ready-to-drink (RTD) Teavana Craft Iced Teas to select grocery and convenience retailers in New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Missouri.

Once a niche category within the beverage market, better-for-you products have found a home in the mainstream market during the past several years as more consumers focus on their overall health and wellness.

For the fifth year in a row, Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffees & Smoothies, a franchise specializing in Hawaiian coffees and fruit smoothies, is offering its small smoothie for $2.14 on Feb. 14, to commemorate Valentine’s Day. Sweethearts can enjoy this deal at participating Maui Wowi retail locations across the country, the company says.

The distilled spirits sector achieved accelerated growth in 2016 with supplier sales up 4.5 percent to $25.2 billion, volumes up 2.4 percent to 220 million cases and a seventh straight year of market share gains relative to beer, the New York-based Distilled Spirits Council announced at its annual economic briefing for media and Wall Street analysts, sponsored by Spirited Funds.

Chicago-based Information Resources Inc. (IRI) published insights that revealed short- and long-term growth opportunities for consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies by identifying and capitalizing on dynamic consumer trends, particularly those that can command a premium in a particular niche, it says. 

Although 2017 might be in full swing, there still is one more recognition for 2016: Beverage Industry’s Readers’ Choice New Product of the Year. Featuring the monthly winners of the magazine’s New Product of the Month poll, the readers were eager to select which one would emerge as the 2016 winner.