It’s amazing how much can change in a year’s time. As our staff began compiling Beverage Industry’s list of the Top 100 beverage companies (page 24), I realized the magnitude of changes that have taken place in the beverage realm within the last year. The industry has seen a number of acquisitions, expansions into new categories, and the growth of emerging categories such as liquid concentrates, hard ciders and frozen cocktails in pouches.
For instance, Kraft Foods Group Inc. launched Kool-Aid Liquid, Crystal Light Liquid and Mio Fit drink mixes all within the last six months.