Southeastern Grocers is reintroducing customers to its private label Chek soda with the release of Chek Real Sugar—made with real sugar and free of high-fructose corn syrup and aspartame—in select flavors. Chek soda has been a favorite soft drink among supermarket customers in the South since it was introduced in Winn-Dixie stores in 1965. A […]
Category: Beverage News
Beverage news for grocery retailers: soft drinks, water, juice, coffee, energy drinks, beer and wine trends and new products.
See more center store coverage in Aisle Watch.
Maine Governor Threatens To Pull Out Of SNAP
Maine Gov. Paul LePage doesn’t want his state allowing the purchase of candy and sugary drinks with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The governor sent a June 17 letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) demanding that Maine be allowed to forbid using food stamps for certain foods or the state will stop […]
Boston Beer Appoints New Chief Marketing Officer, And More…
Foodservice News In Brief… The Boston Beer Co., brewer of Samuel Adams beers, named Jonathan Potter chief marketing officer (CMO), overseeing the company’s planning, development and execution of its brand development, marketing and advertising initiatives. He comes to the company from Moet Hennessy USA, where he served as managing director of its Chandon division. Before […]
Raley’s Will Remove Artificially Flavored Private Label Brand Sodas
To advance its vision of health and wellness, Raley’s Family of Fine Stores will eliminate all flavors of Raley’s private label brand soda containing high-fructose corn syrup and artificial colors and flavors, including diet soda varieties. “This is a bold first step towards improving our private label options for our customers,” said Kevin Curry, SVP […]
Evans Brewing Co. Bolsters Distribution To Washington
Craft beer maker Evans Brewing Co. has expanded its product distribution to Washington with the signing of an agreement with Browar Polska Inc. to distribute the company’s core year-round packaged beers to retailers in the state. Evans Brewing 22-oz. bottles are landing on shelves in the Washington market now. Washington has traditionally been a key […]
Former PepsiCo Chief Enrico Dies At 71
Roger Enrico, who spent 30 years with PepsiCo before retiring in 2003, died June 1. He was 71. According to the Dallas Morning News, Enrico was snorkeling near his home in the Cayman Islands when he died. A major part of Enrico’s legacy is his leadership at Pepsi during the “Cola Wars” of the 1980s, […]
IBWA: Bottled Water Consumption, Sales Increase
The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), in conjunction with research, consulting and financial services firm Beverage Marketing Corp. (BMC), has released 2015 bottled water statistics, which show that Americans’ consumption of bottled water increased by 7.9 percent and bottled water sales rose 8.9 percent vs. the previous year. BMC now indicates that bottled water is poised […]
TreeHouse Foods To Close California And Wisconsin Facilities
TreeHouse Foods is closing manufacturing plants in Azusa, California, and Ripon, Wisconsin. The Azusa facility has approximately 660 employees and produces bars and snack products primarily for retail customers. The full facility is expected to close and production is expected to end in the second quarter of 2017. Products produced at the Azusa facility will […]
Craft Beer Targeting Women Launches In Florida
High Heel Brewing, a new craft beer company founded by master brewer Kristi McGuire, will introduce a line of craft beers targeted at female craft beer consumers. The company, which produces its beers in partnership with St. Louis-based Brew Hub, plans to introduce its first two beers this summer. High Heel’s beers will be brewed […]
McLane Co. Joins Partnership For A Healthier America
McLane Co. Inc. has signed on as a partner of the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), an organization that works to make healthy choices easier for families. As part of McLane’s commitment, it will enhance its healthier-for-you offerings and support PHA’s goal of solving the childhood obesity crisis within a generation. Temple, Texas-based McLane […]
Milo’s Tea Entering The Organics Space With Café Style Line
Family-owned Milo’s Tea Co. has introduced four new USDA Certified Café Style Organic Teas in the refrigerated section of stores across the country. Packaged in 59-oz. carafes, Milo’s Café Style Organic Teas are brewed from custom-blended organic tea leaves and sweetened with certified organic cane sugar or a blend of organic cane sugar and organic […]
Budweiser’s Patriotic Campaign Features Word ‘America’ On Cans, Bottles
The word “Budweiser” will be replaced with “America” on the front of the Anheuser-Busch brand’s 12-oz. cans and bottles. Budweiser’s label also is being modified to add copy central to American history, including phrases from the Pledge of Allegiance and lyrics from “The Star Spangled Banner” and “America the Beautiful.” The revamped cans will be […]
Independence Coffee Co. Launches Single-Serve Business Segment
Brenham, Texas-based Independence Coffee Co. has launched its Indie Shot single serve branded products program. The new business unit will focus on expanded opportunities for co-packing, private label and promotional product customization in the single-serve category. “As a roasting and packaging company, we continue to see a growing need for access by roasters, retailers and […]
Dr Pepper Snapple Group Increases Investment In BodyArmor Sports Drink
Dr Pepper Snapple (DPS) Group has increased its equity investment in BA Sports Nutrition, makers of BodyArmor, a line of premium sports drinks. The additional $6 million stake builds on the initial $20 million investment announced in August and raises DPS’s ownership position from 11.7 percent to 15.5 percent. Plano, Texas-based DPS has carried BodyArmor as an allied brand […]
Coca-Cola’s ‘Share A Coke’ Campaign Now Features Song Lyrics
This summer, The Coca-Cola Co.’s successful “Share a Coke” program says it will “strike all the right notes by inspiring music fans across the U.S. to celebrate a moment, a memory, a mood or a feeling, bringing people together through the universal love of music.” Packages of Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coke Zero and Coca-Cola Life now […]
Brookshire Grocery Co. Manufacturing Earns National Award
Brookshire Grocery Co.’s manufacturing division received the “Member of the Year Award” at the 58th All Star Association Convention held in St. Petersburg, Florida, last week. The All Star Association, which currently has 298 member companies, presents the award to the member company that has set itself apart in areas of product quality, service, advertising, […]
ZeroWater ‘Filters For Flint’ Doubles Donations With Help From Target
On the coattails of a donation program for the residents of Flint, Michigan, Target has announced a donation of 5,000 ZeroWater filters, a figure that ZeroWater will match through its “Filters for Flint” program, bringing the total to 10,000 units being donated to the United Way of Genesee County. Target’s contribution more than doubles the total donations to date through […]
SpartanNash Water Drive Benefits Flint, Michigan, Residents
Now through Feb. 13, customers at all 91 Michigan D&W, Family Fare, VG’s, ValuLand and Forest Hills Foods stores and fuel centers will have the opportunity to make a cash register donation of $2.99 toward a 24-pack case of Spartan brand bottled water to benefit Flint, Michigan, residents. SpartanNash will apply 100 percent of the […]
Glazer’s To Merge With Southern, Will Retain Malt Beverage Business
Dallas, Texas-based Glazer’s Inc. plans to separate the majority of its malt beverage distribution business prior to the closing of its combination with Southern Wine & Spirits of America Inc. As a result of the separation, the beer business within Glazer’s existing MillerCoors footprint will operate under a new company called Glazer’s Beer & Beverage, […]
TGCSA Hosting Training Seminar Ahead Of Wine Coming To Food Retailers Next Year
The Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association (TGCSA) on Jan. 20 will host a training seminar for the state’s retailers that plan to bring wine to their shelves in July 2016. These retailers “will have to navigate a complicated set of rules and regulations,” according to TGCSA. One requirement for retailers is to certify clerks […]
