PepsiCo, Purchase, N.Y., has partnered with Dallas-based 7-Eleven Inc.'s convenience stores nationwide to help donate money to Feeding America, a hunger-relief charity that provides emergency food assistance to 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors.
The American Beverage Association (ABA), Washington, D.C., reinforced the positive effect its members in the non-alcohol beverage industry have on the country. The association noted the industry’s support in charitable causes in communities across the nation that total more than $1.9 billion, it said.
Downers Grove, Ill.-based Sara Lee Corp. announced the sale of a majority of its North American foodservice coffee and tea operations to The J.M. Smucker Co., Orrville, Ohio, for $350 million.
Last week, Big Red Inc., one of the Top 10 largest soft drink companies in North America, announced its purchase of Portland, Ore.-based Thomas Kemper Soda Co.
Despite overall declines in U.S. sales, customers are satisfied with most products in the soft drinks and beer categories, says a report released by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI).
Odwalla, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, introduced a new line of 150-calorie Smoothie Refreshers. Designed to complement meals, Odwalla Smoothie Refreshers are described by the company as having a refreshingly light texture and are available in Mango Lime Twist, Mixed Berry Shuffle and Pear Berry Jive flavors.
Phusion Projects’ Four Loko brand is launching an "Everything's Gone Four Loko" News 4 Station and website, which will serve as the platform for its new media campaign.
Starbucks Coffee Co., Seattle, introduced a new community model in the neighborhoods of Harlem, N.Y., and Crenshaw, Calif., where community organizations will share in the profits of a store in each community. Starbucks will donate a minimum of $100,000 to a local community organization for the first year of the partnership as it assesses the success of the program and gathers learning in hopes of creating a new type of corporate engagement in communities, the company says.