Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo’s Pepsi Next brand partnered with actor William Levy to debut the "Wheel of Levy" promotion. This is the brand's latest mission to get America to “Drink it to believe it,” referring to the product’s real cola taste with 60 percent less sugar, the company says. The actor portrays six versatile personas all in hot pursuit of one united goal: to get America to try a Pepsi Next for free.
As a whole, Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo Inc. reported net revenue for the first quarter of 2013, ending March 23, at nearly $12.6 billion, which is a 1 percent increase from the first quarter of 2012. Its beverage offerings increased 3 percent in volume during the time frame, with 1 percent organic growth.
Chicago-based market research firm Information Resources Inc. (IRI), formerly SymphonyIRI Group, released its list of 2012 New Product Pacesetters. These 200 top-selling consumer packaged goods (CPG) launches, which represent 11 percent of the 1,900 CPG brands that hit the market in 2011 and 2012, each captured more than $13 million in their first year of sales in traditional grocery, drug and mass market retailers, dollar and club channels, and military commissaries, with an individual average of $39.5 million in first-year revenues.
The Oskar Blues Brew School, Brevard, N.C., announced that its first 20 students are preparing to take the General International Beer and Distribution Certification exam in a few weeks. One of those students has already been offered, and accepted, the position of assistant brewer at Oskar Blues’ North Carolina brewery.
Company plans expanded territories deal with bottlers
April 16, 2013
Atlanta-based The Coca-Cola Co. reported its results for the first quarter of 2013. Overall, first-quarter reported net revenues declined 1 percent, with comparable net revenues also down 1 percent. This reflects a 2 percent increase in concentrate sales, offset by a 1 percent impact from structural changes and a 2 percent currency impact. Excluding the impact of currency and structural changes, net revenues grew 2 percent despite two fewer selling days in the quarter.
Northfield, Ill.-based Kraft Foods Group Inc. unveiled a comprehensive new campaign for its Kool-Aid brand called "Smile. It's Kool-Aid," timed with the product launch of Kool-Aid Liquid Drink Mix.
Social media campaign follows fans on missions in New York City
April 15, 2013
New York-based Scotch whisky brand Label 5 launched its WorldmiXperience Web series, a social media campaign that follows a team of five global Label 5 fans as they spend five days in New York City. The series will broadcast daily on Label 5’s Facebook page and will be updated with photos, interviews and videos of the mission of the day.
Bethesda, Md.-based Honest Tea, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, announced upcoming dates for The Great Recycle, its national initiative to help boost recycling rates.