The December 2015 issue of Beverage Industry includes a cover story on Califia Farms, as well as articles about private-label beverages, Skinnygirl Cocktails, and the 2015 Beverage Innovations of the Year. Check it out today!
From tasting freshly squeezed Florida orange juice as a young boy to driving past rows of almond trees in blossom en route to his Bakersfield, Calif.-based plant, Califia Farms’ Founder and Chief Executive Officer Greg Steltenpohl derives inspiration from smelling and tasting new innovations, while listening to and leading a team of passionate employees.
In 2009, reality-TV celebrity Bethenny Frankel founded Skinnygirl Cocktails on the premise that women want low-calorie, great-tasting Margaritas. In 2011, Deerfield, Ill.-based Beam Suntory acquired the brand, which has since grown to include 21 low-calorie products in the vodka, wine and ready-to-drink categories, according to Brendan Lynch, senior marketing director at Beam Suntory.
When it comes to their health, U.S. consumers have their share of concerns. According to Bellevue, Wash.-based The Hartman Group’s “Health and Wellness 2015” report, on average consumers are actively treating 3.4 health conditions and proactively preventing 6.2 health conditions.
Health and wellness, convenience trends drive beverage innovation
December 11, 2015
Creating a new beverage presents myriad challenges. According to Chicago-based Mintel’s Global New Products Database, 3,142 new beverages were released in the United States from January to October 2015.
Price often plays a role for consumers when choosing a beverage brand, and many budget-conscious consumers seek out private-label brands for their value based on cost and quality.
The holidays are here, and time with family and friends spent over food and drinks is a big part of many gatherings. Beverage brands also hop on the holiday bandwagon by displaying festive flavors in brightly colored packaging to entice consumers.
Spirax Sarco Inc. offers its CSM-C 600 compact clean steam generator, which can produce as much as 1,275 pounds an hour of clean steam at 45 psig, depending on plant steam pressure and feed water temperature, the company says.
As of July, the Google Play store and the Apple App Store each offered more than 1.5 million apps for download, according to Statista. There’s pretty much an app to make just about anything easier and more convenient.
It’s an exciting time for the alcohol beverage industry. As the economy has improved throughout the past five years, consumers have enjoyed a rise in disposable income. This translates into more consumers opting for more expensive or premium beverages, such as craft beers.
The process to take a beverage concept and bring it to fruition includes numerous checks and balances throughout the formulation, packaging and distribution operations.
Earlier this year, Beverage Industry conducted its third annual Fleet Study to offer a snapshot of the size and makeup of today’s delivery fleets, as well as an understanding of the operational concerns and strategies that beverage fleets face every day.
As health-and-wellness trends proliferate in the marketplace, consumers demand products offering functional benefits as well as great flavor. Used for thousands of years, tea has been a popular go-to for many health-conscious consumers whether in bagged, ready-to-drink (RTD) or through non-traditional categories like sports drinks and spirits.
Product eliminates diacetyl during beer fermentation
December 15, 2015
At BrauBeviale, DuPont presented a new brewing enzyme, Danisco Alphalase Advance 4000, a solution for brewers to reduce or completely eliminate diacetyl during beer fermentation, the company says.
Just as the lyrics state, “to keep your engine running you need energy for your high-powered, revved up body machine,” in the educational Schoolhouse Rock! video “The Body Machine,” food and beverage manufacturers are making sure that today’s products are packed with the vitamins and minerals not just to fuel the human body, but also maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Following up on its limited release in February, Sparkling Ice’s Orange Mango Kevin Durant bottle will be available while supplies last nationwide beginning in January.
Packaging allows brands to communicate with consumers before they even drink a product. When considering the increasing number of SKUs on retail shelves, having an appealing package is a crucial element to consider for new products as well as existing products’ package redesigns.
Heineken USA, Stella Artois utilize the holidays and celebrity marketing
December 15, 2015
Following an appearance on ABC’s “Shark Tank” and with support from local investors, entrepreneur Danny Grossfeld launched HOTSHOT, an innovation that makes hot, ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee.
It’s hard to believe that 2016 is just around the corner. After things wind down from the holiday rush, I enjoy reflecting on everything that I experienced during the year. However, I must admit, I also have a tendency to start planning new adventures and challenges for the year ahead.