All iced teas, tea lemonades now sweetened with new liquid cane sugar
March 21, 2017
With the start of spring, Seattle-based Starbucks Coffee Co. announced new Teavana tea beverages: Teavana Shaken Iced White Tea and Teavana Lightly Sweet Chai Tea Latte. The teas, along with the regional roll-out of ready-to-drink (RTD) Teavana Craft Iced Teas, will be available at Starbucks stores in the Northeast United States, the company says.
Gluten-free hard soda now available in select markets
March 21, 2017
Joplin, Mo.-based Vivify Beverages LLC announced the launch of Bravazzi Hard Italian Soda. Available in three citrus flavors — Grapefruit, Limonata and Blood Orange — Bravazzi is a gluten-free sparkling alcohol beverage that delivers an authentic, all-natural Italian soda experience, the company says.
Launch is second flavor to join Casa Modelo portfolio
March 15, 2017
Casa Modelo, a brand of Victor, N.Y.-based Constellation Brands Inc., announced the launch of its newest ready-to-serve chelada: Modelo Chelada Tamarindo Picante. The second chelada flavor to join the Casa Modelo portfolio, Modelo Chelada Tamarindo Picante celebrates traditional Mexican ingredients — chipotle peppers and tamarind — to offer fans of Modelo a spicy yet sweet taste profile that embraces one of the most popular and growing flavor trends: the desire for unique, authentic flavor combinations, the company says.
Brewers Association presents 34th annual convention, tradeshow
March 15, 2017
The 34th edition of the Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America (CBC) will return to the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., from April 10-13 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
New product expands on company’s growing spirits portfolio
March 14, 2017
Kohler Co., Kohler, Wis., announced that Kohler Original Recipe Chocolates is broadening its offerings with the launch of Kohler Original Recipe Chocolates Chocolate Mint Brandy. Incorporating the company’s exclusive blend of chocolate, the new brandy is naturally infused with Kohler’s all natural, 72 percent dark chocolate and provides a fresh minty taste, the company says. The Chocolate Mint Brandy will be released this month and will be available at Destination Kohler as well as other select retailers and restaurants in the Wisconsin area.
Eastside plans joint expansion of both companies’ resources
March 14, 2017
Portland, Ore.-based Eastside Distilling Inc., a producer of hand-crafted spirits, announced the acquisition of MotherLode Craft Distillery, also based in Portland, Ore., and a provider of bottling services and production support to craft distilleries. Since its founding in 2014 by Allen Barteld, the mission of MotherLode has been to enable craft distillers to increase their production and extend their product lines, reducing cost and increasing efficiency, thereby freeing them to focus on their craft, the company says. The typical MotherLode customer is a distillery of small batch, hand-crafted spirits, or a premium craft spirit sold as a private label, it adds.
Spot is part of the largest multimedia campaign in Stoli Group history
March 13, 2017
Stoli Vodka, a brand of Stoli Group USA LLC, New York, is returning to TV with a new commercial for the first time in seven years. As part of the biggest multimedia campaign since the inception of Stoli Group USA, the new television spot, titled "THE Vodka," uses a montage to celebrate the pioneering heritage of Stoli through the lens of those who drink it, the company says. The 30-second spot will run on TV during live sports and late night in target markets beginning March 13 with national digital distribution to include sports and lifestyle properties and premium full-episode players, it adds.
Capping a decades-long streak of vigorous growth, bottled water achieved a major milestone in 2016, when it surpassed carbonated soft drinks (CSDs) to become the largest beverage category by volume in the United States, according to New York-based Beverage Marketing Corporation (BMC). Total bottled water volume grew from 11.8 billion gallons in 2015 to 12.8 billion gallons in 2016, an increase of nearly 9 percent, which marked the third year of accelerated growth, the market research firm says.
Company also launches reinvented iced tea portfolio
March 9, 2017
The San Rafael, Calif.-based Mighty Leaf Tea Co., which specializes in artisan blends of whole leaf teas, herbs and fruits, launched a new multi-tiered tea program, offering three distinct lines of teas to serve the multi-faceted needs of its foodservice customers. The new program is a part of the company’s broader strategy to offer a high-quality tea program for the foodservice channel at every price point and for every venue, the company says.