Minute Maid, based in Houston, announced it was raising prices for chilled premium orange juice by 5 to 6 percent due to “unprecedented accelerating cost increases for raw materials, fuel, energy and general inflation.” The company says a combination of hurricane damage in 2004 and 2005 and other factors have cut orange juice crops by a third and more than doubled prices for juice and solids.

Coca-Cola Enterprises has acquired the operations of Central Coca-Cola Bottling Co. for $102 million. Central Coca-Cola operates in Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Ohio.

Hansen Natural Corp., Corona, Calif., has signed an agreement for Cadbury Bebidas S.A. de C.V. to distribute Monster energy drink in Mexico.

The word “Chai” now has a place in the Eleventh Edition of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, thanks to a campaign by Oregon Chai. The company encouraged chai fans to fill out postcards found at coffee shops or at oregonchai.com, and says drinkers from every U.S. state, Washington, D.C., Canada, Chile, China, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Mexico and the United Kingdom responded. The word can be found in the newest version of the dictionary between the words chagrin and chain and is defined as “a beverage that is a blend of black tea, honey, spices and milk.”

Triple A Products LLC, Lake Success, N.Y., announced its Vitazest Vitamin & Fruit Enriched Water will be distributed by Crown Beverages Inc., Sparks, Nev., in Northern Nevada.

Black Eagle Imports, Carlsbad, Calif., has attained exclusive rights to import Costa Rica’s Imperial beer in 2004 and will distribute the brand in San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Riverside, Imperial County, Mono County and Inyo County.

Harry L. Crisp II, chairman and chief executive officer of Pepsi MidAmerica Co., Marion, Ill., was recently honored as Culver Military Academy’s 39th Graduate of the Year. The 1953 Culver graduate was cited as a tireless worker on behalf of educational institutions, both public and private, and the students they serve.

The U.S. House of Representatives recently recognized craft brewers with House Resolution 753, sponsored by Sherwood Boehlert (R-N.Y.) and Peter DeFazio (D-OR), and 70 additional representatives. The resolution recognizes the establishment of American Craft Beer Week, and was celebrated at a reception that featured American Homebrewers Association and Brewers Association members serving craft beers from across the country paired with a variety of artisinal foods.

The Distilled Spirits Council has released the 34th edition of the Summary of State Laws & Regulations Relating to Distilled Spirits, a reference for beverage alcohol regulation in each of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Divided into separate sections for control and license states, the publication provides state-by-state information on a wide range of laws, regulations and rulings pertaining to the sale and distribution of distilled spirits.  

Ste Michelle Wine Estates has named Glazer’s, Dallas, to represent its products in Iowa and Olinger Distributing Co. in Indiana.

Kraft Foods is promoting its use of Rainforest Alliance-certified sustainable coffee beans into its existing mainstream brands, including Yuban. The product now contains coffee beans from farms certified for environmental and social sustainability by the nonprofit Rainforest Alliance and displays the Rainforest Alliance seal. Kraft signed with the Alliance in 2003 and bought more than 5 million pounds in 2004, 14 million pounds in 2005 and is aiming for between 20 and 26 million pounds in 2006.

AMI Brands LLC, Santa Monica, Calif., has opened a new Volvic online store for home deliveries of the imported spring water across the United States. Volvic Natural Spring Water and Volvic Natural Lemon and Orange will be available through the online store.

Rudy Beverage Inc., St. Louis, has signed a distribution partnership with Millbrook Distribution Services Inc., which it says will give it entry into more than 2,700 supermarket locations throughout the Northeast.

LightFull Foods Inc., Mill Valley, Calif., has been spun off from parent company Brand New Brands Inc. The company debuted its first product, LightFull Satiety Smoothie this year. The LightFull Foods board of directors is chaired by Thomas Simone, a natural products industry leader.