Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (KDP), Burlington, Mass., and Frisco, Texas, and La Colombe, Philadelphia, announced a strategic partnership, including a long-term sales and distribution agreement for La Colombe ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee and a long-term licensing, manufacturing and distribution agreement for La Colombe branded K-Cup coffee pods. Keurig Dr Pepper also will make an equity investment in La Colombe, enabling KDP to participate in the value creation upside expected from the partnership. 

Shelbyville, Tenn.-based Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey announced that it will begin distribution of its highly sought-after Single Barrel Whiskey this fall. The rollout will kick off with Uncle Nearest’s Single Barrel Showdown: America’s Choice, an online public vote that puts the power in the hands of whiskey fans across the country to determine which five states will be the first to receive Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Whiskey on shelves.

Claussen, a brand from The Kraft Heinz Co., Chicago and Pittsburgh, is teaming up with Spritz Society, the award winning sparkling wine cocktail company, to create a first-of-its-kind pickle flavored cocktail. 

Aspartame-sweetened foods and beverages are safe, according to a definitive new finding issued jointly by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The WHO and FAO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) reviewed decades of high-quality evidence and real-world consumption data, establishing an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) at which aspartame can be safely consumed daily over the course of an entire lifetime.

Jones Soda Co., Seattle, announced a groundbreaking advancement in its augmented reality (AR) program with a proprietary new platform developed for Jones by Clio Award-winning creative agency August Allen. The new innovation expands on Jones’ legacy featuring fans on their labels, bringing video storytelling into a mobile first AR experience.

Louisville, K.Y.-based Alani Nu, a “better-for-you” health and wellness brand founded by entrepreneur and influencer Katy Hearn, announced its partnership with entrepreneur and celebrity Kim Kardashian. The collaboration, Alani by Kim K, features an exclusive, limited-edition energy drink called "Kimade," which offers a refreshing twist on a classic flavor, Strawberry Lemonade.

Truly Hard Seltzer, a brand of Boston-based The Boston Beer Co., announced the launch of the first-ever Zero-G drinking experience with the Truly Zero Gravity Bar. Built inside a specialized Boeing-727 "G-Force One," operated by Zero-G and serving a variety of Truly Hard Seltzers, on board, passengers can drink Truly, while walking across the ceiling, soaring through space, and seeing their Truly cans float before their eyes, it says. 

Richardson, Texas-based NuZee Inc., a leading coffee co-packing and technology company, announced entering into a five-year global licensing agreement with Stone Brewing, Escondido, Calif. Under the exclusive agreement, NuZee intends to co-manufacture and distribute Stone Brewing specialty coffee products nationwide through a vast network of natural grocery, traditional grocery, and convenience store channels, as well as office coffee and hotel brokers and distributors.

HELL ENERGY, Budapest, Hungary, unveiled its first energy drink entirely powered by artificial intelligence (AI). Every aspect of the energy drink has been crafted by advanced AI systems from the design, recipe, tasting and taste evaluation, predictive intelligence, security measures and marketing elements, the company says.

New York-based Betty Buzz, a sparkling beverage brand, announced the launch of Betty Booze, a new line of gourmet low-alcohol, sparkling cocktails. The launch of Betty Booze is part of the company's larger expansion strategy to win new audiences and occasions by challenging conventions of taste in sparkling beverages – and beyond, the company says.